For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 184
NEELY CREES. Neely Crees, deceased, was long and successfully identified with general agricultural pursuits in this part of the state, owning and operating five hundred acres of land. His birth occurred in Pennsylvania, October 5, 1833, his parents being John and Sarah ( McLaughlin ) Crees, who in 1835 established their home in Medina county, Ohio. Two years later they removed to Wayne county, that state, there residing until 1844, when they returned to Pennsylvania. At the end of a year they took up their abode in Jefferson county, Iowa, and in 1849 went to Cedar county, where they continued to reside throughout the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of six children, as follows: Nancy, who is now eighty-one years of age; Henry, who followed farming as a life work and passed away in 1905; Thomas, who is likewise deceased; Neely, of this review; Joel, who was called to his final rest in 1908; and Joseph, who is a resident of Oklahoma.Neely Crees, who was but two years of age when taken to Ohio, accompanied his parents on their various removals, being a youth of twelve at the time of his arrival in this state. His first ventures in the business world was as a miller but subsequently he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, purchasing five hundred acres of land in Cedar county. The cultivation and improvement of that property claimed his attention until he put aside the active work of the fields in 1894, having won a competence that obviated the necessity of further toil. On leaving the farm he came to Muscatine county, spending the remainder of his life in honorable retirement at West Liberty.
As a companion and helpmate on the journey of life Mr. Crees chose Miss Emma Jane Wyant, a daughter of Isaac and Judith Ann ( Guild ) Wyant, who were natives of New Jersey. Leaving that state, they came to Iowa and here resided until called to their final rest. Their children were nine in number, namely: John, who is deceased; Mrs. Crees; George W.; Frank C.; Mary Catharine, the deceased wife of James Cooper; Elizabeth H., who is the wife of D. W. Butler, a merchant of Alliance, Nebraska; Anna Belle, who died in infancy; William; amd Otis B. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Crees were born eleven children, as follows: two who died in infancy; Isaac W., a farmer of Cedar county; Sarah, the deceased wife of George Miller; Julia, the wife of Charles Morrison, of Cedar county; John T., who follows farming in Cedar county; Annie, who is the widow of Henry Beeson and makes her home in Davenport, Iowa; Carrie Belle, who is deceased; Emma J., who has likewise passed away; Neely Edgar, who is employed as a bookkeeper in Davenport, Iowa; and Myrtle Eva.
Mr. Crees gave his political allegiance to the democracy, while in religious faith he was a Presbyterian. Fraternally he was identified with the Knights Templar Masons, being a worthy examplar of the teachings of the craft. His widow now resides in West Liberty with her youngest daughter, having a nice home there. The circles of her friends is a wide one, for she enjoys the warm regard and esteem of all who know her.
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