Crees, Joseph

CREES, HANEY, COPPERSMITH

Posted By: Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer
Date: 6/29/2019 at 11:34:36

JOSEPH CREES
October 05 ~ May 02, 1897

Biographical and Historical Record of Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa
(Lewis Publishing Company. Chicago. 1887. p. 670.

JOSEPH CREES, one of the worthy pioneers of Decatur County, and a prosperous and enterprising agriculturist of Grand River Township, where he resides, on section I, is a native of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, born October 5, 1814, his parents, Henry and Mary M. (Haney) Crees, being natives of the same State, his father born in Penn's Valley, in Berks County, and the mother born at Clearfield, in Clearfield County. They reared a family of ten children whose names are -- John, Esther, David, Elizabeth, James, Joseph, Henry, Philip G., Jacob and Mary Ann. Joseph, our subject, passed his early life in working on the home farm, and in a saw-mill, receiving a limited education in the subscription schools of those early days. He was united in marriage, in February, 1834, to Miss Catherine Ann Coppersmith, who was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Michael and Catherine (Kounce) Coppersmith, and to this union were born eleven children -- Michael, Rebecca, J. F., Maria, Henry, Catherine, Sarah, Joseph, Anna D., and two who died in early childhood. In 1845 Mr. Crees started for the Territory of Iowa, going down the Ohio River to the Mississippi, then up the Mississippi to Fort Madison and located in Jefferson County, where he entered 140 acres of land from the Government. He improved his land in Jefferson County, living on it till 1854, when he came to Decatur County, and entered 480 acres of Government land on section 6, Decatur Township; 120 acres of Government land on section 1, and forty acres on section 12, Grand River Township, all his land being in one body. He first built a log cabin on section 6, Decatur Township where he commenced improving his land. In 1859 he removed across the line into Grand River Township; where he has made his home. He has a good two-story residence, built with all modern improvements, and surrounded by beautiful shade trees, and has a large and commodious barn for his stock and grain, and on his land he has a fine orchard. Mr. Crees at one time owned 740 acres, but has divided a large portion of it among his children, yet still retains 205 acres, which is one of the best farms in the county. He was bereaved by the death of his wife, January 30, 1883. She was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, Mr. Crees being a member of the same church, in which he holds the position of steward. He has always taken an active interest in religious or educational matters, and in every enterprise which tends to the advancement of his county, he being one of the pioneers who helped build the roads, bridges, schoolhouses and churches in this county.

(Submitted to the Decatur County GenWeb site by Christy Jay, email: Jaygenie@aol.com)