Israel Rees who descends from a well-known Welsh family, is now living a retired life in Hebron , for many years he engaged in farming and stock raising. He was born in the Union Township,
January 7, 1835, his grandfather, Theophilus Rees, in company with Thomas Philipps, both of whom were men of means, having come from Carmarthenshire, South Wales, to the new world, sailing on the ship Amphion, April 1, 1795, and arriving in the United States nine weeks later, bringing with them a number of their neighbors who promised to reimburse them for paying their fare as soon as they earned the money in America. The located in a big valley, Chester County, and Pennsylvania, there was a Welsh Settlement, but they remised there only a short time, when they repaired to Beulah Cambria County, Pennsylvania, there messrs, Rees and Philipps Remained until, 1801, then the purchased two thousand acres of land from Sampson Davis, a Welshman of Philadelphia, in what is now the northeast quarter of Granville Township, this county, and during the same year Mr. Rees sent his son John to erect a cabin on the property and to clear a portion of it for cultivation, so that the their members of the family should be able to sustain themselves upon their arrival, and the following year they settled upon their purchase, which is known as the Welsh Hills. Of his colony Theophilus Rees, was founder promoter. He was a scholar and a man of acknowledged integrity, whose labors were of great benefit to his countrymen. After the coming to the Granville colony 1805, he, having a knowledge of the english Language (some say he didn't know a lick of english) , worshiped in the Welsh Hills Church established by the colony until the organization the Welsh Hills Church in 1808.
Among the children of Theophilus Rees were Martha, Elizabeth, Theophilus, Samuel, Mary and John, all of whom were born in South Wales. John Rees, who was the father of our subject, wedded Barbara Roads, and they had the following children; Katherine, and Theophilus (deceased) : Elizabeth who became the wife of James Black, of this township' John, a resident of Kansas: Mary wife of William Cunningham, ; Israel; Jane: and Maud, who became the wife of Calvin Grove,. Their fathers birth occurred December 7, 1785, and he departed this life in
September, 1842, while his wife passed away in December 1846. He was a soldier in the war of 1812 and was taken prisoner under General Hull.
Israel Rees spent his early life in the county, where he acquired his education in the district schools, and when thirteen years of age went away, remaining for five years, the termination of which period he returned. Locating in Union Township where he engaged in general farming, making a specialty of sheep-raising and wool-growing until the year 1904, when he went to Hebron where he built an elegant home in which he is now residing in retirement. He owns a two-hundred acres farm and another containing two hundred and forty-five acres in union township, both of which are highly improved and under cultivation. Mr Rees has given every Attention necessary to make the property desirable and his farms are amoung the finest in the county.
On November 15, 1857, Mr Rees wedded Elizabeth Stoolfire, a native of the Keystone State, born July 10, 1836, and a daughter of Jacob and Isabel (Rogers) Stoolfire, to this union were born five children, Stanley, the eldest wedded Augusta Friend, Daughter of Charles and Aleinda (Mills) Friend, and had one son Leroy Tenney, who is the teller for the Newark Trust Company; Fredrick Waldo passed away in infancy; Clara resides at home; Sherman residing on the old home place, wedded Mabel Moore, a daughter of J. W. and Margaret Somerville Moore, and they have two children, Barbara, Kathryn and Ellis Moore; Leonard, who is a machinist for the Panhandle Railroad Company, resides in Logansport, Indiana. Mrs Rees departed this life February 17 1898, and on September 24, 1903, Mr Rees wedded Lorena Stoolfire, her father having come from Washington County, Pennsylvania, in 1836, her mother also having been a native of that state, both of whom settled in the union township. Mr Rees and his children, and one grandchild, Leroy Tenney Rees, were born in the old brick house which belonged to his mother, and which had been erected at an early date on the home place. Mr Rees has always been a stanch supporter of the Republican Party , being and able advocate of its principles, and since casting his first vote he has always been loyal to its candidates and used his influence in securing their election. He is not affiliated with any societies or fraternal organizations. HIs business affairs having always demanded his undivided attention, but being a man who considers his religious obligations of the highest import he has always been prominent in Christian work and is affiliated with that body of people known as the disciples of Christ, because he believes in the church to which he belongs is working to that end. His long life has been one of the uprightness, his industry and enterprise having not only contributed to his own prosperity but also to that of the community, and he is favorable known as one of the townships most worthy characters and representative citizens |
