My Genealogy Hound

J. W. REES, farmer, P. O. Feesburg. This gentleman is a grandson of Abel Rees, a native of New Jersey, who settled in Kentucky about 1800, and early in the present century settled in the present limits of Brown County, Pleasant Township, on the farm now owned by H. L. Penn. Here he became a land-owner, and cleared most of his farm, though, being a blacksmith, he devoted considerable time to his trade; he made a specialty of making edged tools, and particularly chopping axes, for which he was very much noted. He remained a resident of the county during his life. His marriage was celebrated soon after coming to Ohio. He had a family of fifteen children, of whom Daniel, the father of our subject, was the first; he was born in 1806, and matured in Pleasant Township, where he resided until about 1830, when he settled in Lewis Township, and died in the seventy-third year of his age. He was a man nearly six feet tall, possessing a strong constitution, which enabled him to withstand many pioneer difficulties. During life, he owned over 200 acres of land He had a good knowledge of the trade of his father, but devoted most of his life to farming. His death occurred on the farm now owned by Baker Johnson. He was married, when about twenty-four years of age, to Rebecca Craighead, a native of Brown County, and daughter of Robert Craighead, a pioneer of the county. She was a few years his junior, and preceded her husband about six years to her eternal home. Both were consistent members of the M. E. Church. Their children were eleven in number; nine reached maturity, and four are now living. Of the family, our subject, the third child, was born February 27, 1834, in Brown County, where he has always resided. He had the benefit of the common schools only, but from a natural taste and his own efforts, he became a good vocal musician, and for nearly twenty years taught music in connection with farming, the latter receiving most of his time through life. Threshing wheat in the fall and winter received his attention for over a quarter of a century, but in 1867 he was unfortunate and lost his left arm while engaged in this pursuit. His attention is now wholly devoted to his farm of 82 ½ acres. Publicly, he has served as Justice one term, and associated with the School Board many terms. He was married, in 1858, to Charlotte E., daughter of Martin Fite, of New Hope. Five children are the result of this union, three of whom have been teachers in public schools.