My Genealogy Hound

REBECCA C. REES, widow of John Rees, and daughter of John and Susanna (Schwenk) Christman, was born in Lower Pottsgrove township, where she has always lived, December 15, 1818.

John Christman (father) was born and always lived in Montgomery county. Although he learned the trade of a shoemaker he never followed it, devoting his life to farming. Mrs. Christman was the daughter of a prominent farmer in Frederick township, but she always lived in Lower Pottsgrove township. Mr. Christman died in 1857, aged fifty-seven years, and his wife survived him some years, dying at the age of sixty-eight. They had four children, three daughters and one son. They all married. Equilla, the oldest daughter, married John Minter, of Philadelphia, where they reside. She is ninety-four years old and her husband is ninety. He has been retired for many years. One daughter lives in Reading, at the age of eighty-seven. The son resides in Washington, D. C., or did until a few years ago. Jacob Christman (grandfather) always lived in Montgomery county, where he was a farmer. He died many years ago. His wife was Mary Christman.

John Rees, husband of Mrs. Rees, died in May, 1892, at the age of seventy-six years. They removed to the present home of Mrs. Rees in 1840, and built the house as it stands today. Mr. Rees was the founder of the station at Sanatoga, and was the progenitor of many other enterprises. In politics he was a Democrat, and was a great support to the party. He was a member of the Lutheran church, and is buried at Limerick Center, where generation after generation of his family were buried before him. He died after a life of usefulness, honored by all with whom he had ever had dealings. They had no children, but Mrs. Rees has an adopted daughter, Rebecca Sheeler, who is heir to all the estate of the family. Mrs. Rees has not been in good health for several years. She is the possessor of many pieces of antique and valuable pieces of china and furniture which have belonged to the family for many generations.

John Rees (father of Mrs. Rees’ husband) was a farmer and lived on the present home of Mrs. Rees. He owned all the property for many miles around Sanatoga. He was also a shoemaker, and purchased the farm when he emigrated to America in the time of William Penn. The mill on the farm is two hundred and ninety years old, and has always been owned and operated by the Rees family. John Rees, Sr., married Anna Schwenk.

Rebecca Sheeler, the adopted daughter, married Bernard Sheeler, and they have ten living children, viz: John R., Joseph C., Blanche L., Lincoln H., Paul M., Edith M., William B., Mary E., Emma D., and Jennie. A son Bernard died in infancy.