John J. Rees Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Page 281

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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HONORABLE JOHN J. REES, proprietor of one of the largest estates of 
Powell township, in Edmunds county, and an ex-soldier, is one of the 
prominent citizens of that part of the state. He is one of the first 
settlers of the county and since the organization of the county has 
taken an active part in advancing the better interests of his 
community. He owns and operates a remunerative tract of land, and his 
home, located on section 15, with its pleasant surroundings, is the 
result of his industry and careful methods. He has acquired a knowledge 
of his calling that few less favored by nature have gained, by 
following with earnest efforts and progressive ideas that have received 
his approval. 

Mr. Rees was born in Wales, January 21, 1839, and was the eldest of a 
family of four children born to William and Elizabeth (Johns) Rees. His 
paternal grandfather, George Rees, and his maternal grandfather, John 
Johns, were farmers of Wales, and both resided in Pembrockshire, South 
Wales. Our subject's father was born in Wales, and followed the 
occupation of a farmer, and our subject's mother died there when John 
J. Rees was but nine years of age. When our subject was but twelve 
years of age the family emigrated to America, and settled in New York, 
near Utica, where the father engaged in farming. In 1857 he removed 
with his family to Portage county, Ohio, and the father's death 
occurring in 1860, broke up the Ohio home and the family became 
scattered. 

The early education of our subject was received in his native land and 
after his emigration to this country he assisted his father on the 
farm. At the beginning of the Civil war he enlisted for the cause of 
the Union in Company F, Seventh Ohio Infantry, the date of his 
enlistment being April 21, 1861. This company was among the first 
troops enlisted for a three months' service, after which he re-enlisted 
for three years. They were sent to Benwood, West Virginia, and during 
the year 1861 were in that state. They were at the battle of Cross 
Lanes, and in December of that year the regiment moved to Romney, West 
Virginia, camping there until March. During the spring of 1862 he was 
in the battles at Winchester and Port Republic, and afterward engaged 
in Cedar Mountain and the second battle of Bull Run. Soon afterward he 
was taken sick with malarial fever, as a result of exposure through 
several days rain, while guarding an ammunition train and commissary 
department. He never fully recovered from that illness, and March 4, 
1863, was discharged from the service. Upon his return to his home in 
Ohio, he was given a captain's commission in the home guards by 
Governor David Todd, of Ohio, which commission he held during the rest 
of the war. He purchased a farm comprising fifty acres and engaged in 
that pursuit as far as his health would permit. He leased coal land in 
1 867 and engaged in coal mining and farming for about thirteen years, 
in which he met with much success. He went to Edmunds county, South 
Dakota, in the spring of 1883, and took up the southwest quarter of 
section 15 in Powell township. He took a pre-emption and tree claim and 
later a homestead, and by hauling lumber and supplies from Aberdeen, 
thirty-five miles distant, erected a good house and established a 
comfortable home. At that time no buildings were in sight of the place 
and there were but few shanties east of there. Our subject is now the 
possessor of four hundred and eighty acres of land and cultivates all 
of section 15 in Powell township. He has a complete set of farm 
buildings and is considered one of the substantial farmers of that 
region. Ordinarily crops average about six and a half bushels per acre, 
but in 1885 the yield per acre was twenty-three bushels. 

Mr. Rees was married in 1863 to Miss Mary A. Thomas, daughter of John 
W. Thomas, a farmer of Tahnage, Ohio. Seven children have been born to 
Mr. and Mrs. Rees, as follows: William, wheat buyer of Ipswich; Frank, 
proprietor of a general store in Ipswich; Arthur; George; Hattie; Ida; 
and Edith, the five latter named living at home. Mr. Rees takes an 
active part in the affairs of his county, and in 1898 was elected to 
represent his county in the state legislature. He was one of the first 
justices of Edmunds county, and his fidelity to his people brings him 
the highest praise. He has many times been a member of the county 
central committee of the Republican party, and is a stanch advocate of 
Republican principles. He voted for Abraham Lincoln, since which time 
he has cast his vote for every Republican presidential candidate.