Neely B. Crees ^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9}

  General Notes:

Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 184

NEELY CREES. Neely Crees, deceased, was long and successfully identified with general agricultural pursuits in this part of the state, owning and operating five hundred acres of land.

His birth occurred in Pennsylvania, October 5, 1833, his parents being John and Sarah (McLAUGHLIN) Crees, who in 1835 established their home in Medina county, Ohio.

Two years later they removed to Wayne county, that state, there residing until 1844, when they returned to Pennsylvania. At the end of a year they took up their abode in Jefferson county, Iowa, and in 1849 went to Cedar county, where they continued to reside throughout the remainder of their lives.

They were the parents of six children, as follows:
Nancy, who is now eighty-one years of age;
Henry, who followed farming as a life work and passed away in 1905; Thomas, who is likewise deceased;
Neely, of this review;
Joel, who was called to his final rest in 1908; and
Joseph, who is a resident of Oklahoma.

Neely Crees, who was but two years of age when taken to Ohio, accompanied his parents on their various removals, being a youth of twelve at the time of his arrival in this state. His first ventures in the business world was as a miller but subsequently he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, purchasing five hundred acres of land in Cedar county. The cultivation and improvement of that property claimed his attention until he put aside the active work of the fields in 1894, having won a competence that obviated the necessity of further toil. On leaving the farm he came to Muscatine county, spending the remainder of his life in honorable retirement at West Liberty.

As a companion and helpmate on the journey of life Mr. Crees chose Miss EMMA JANE WYANT, a daughter of Isaac and Judith Ann ( Guild ) Wyant, who were natives of New Jersey.

Leaving that state, they came to Iowa and here resided until called to their final rest.

Their children were nine in number, namely:
John, who is deceased; Mrs. Crees; George W.; Frank C.; Mary Catharine, the deceased wife of James Cooper; Elizabeth H., who is the wife of D. W. Butler, a merchant of Alliance, Nebraska; Anna Belle, who died in infancy; William; and Otis B.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Crees were born eleven children, as follows:
two who died in infancy;
Isaac W., a farmer of Cedar county;
Sarah, the deceased wife of George Miller;
Julia, the wife of Charles Morrison, of Cedar county;
John T., who follows farming in Cedar county;
Annie, who is the widow of Henry Beeson and makes her home in Davenport, Iowa;
Carrie Belle, who is deceased;
Emma J., who has likewise passed away;
Neely Edgar, who is employed as a bookkeeper in Davenport, Iowa; and Myrtle Eva.

Mr. Crees gave his political allegiance to the democracy, while in religious faith he was a Presbyterian. Fraternally he was identified with the Knights Templar Masons, being a worthy exemplar of the teachings of the craft. His widow now resides in West Liberty with her youngest daughter, having a nice home there. The circles of her friends is a wide one, for she enjoys the warm regard and esteem of all who know her.
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  Noted events in his life were:

1. 1850 US Census, 28 August 1850, Iowa Township, Cedar, Iowa, United States. ⁵ Page 85, Roll 182, Dwelling 47, Family 47
Iowa Township, Cedar County, Iowa
Neely Crees...16..PA
(Living with parents.)

2. 1860 US Census, June 1860, Goshen Township, Muscatine, Iowa, United States. ⁶ Page 132, Dwelling 922, Family 917
Goshen Township, Muscatine County, Iowa
Neely Crees...26..PA
(Living with parents.)

3. 1870 US Census, 26 August 1870, Iowa Township, Cedar, Iowa, United States. ⁷ Page 20, Dwelling 146, Family 147
Iowa Township, Cedar County, Iowa
Neely Crees...37..PA..Farmer
(Living with wife and 2 children.)

4. 1880 US Census, June 1880, Iowa Township, Cedar, Iowa, United States. ¹ Page 170C, Roll 0331
Iowa Township, Cedar County, Iowa
Neely Crees...Self..46..PA..Farmer
(Living with wife and 6 children.)

5. 1885 Iowa State Census, January 1885, Iowa Township, Cedar, Iowa, United States. ² Page 370, Line 5, Dwelling 3, Family 3
Iowa Township, Cedar County, Iowa
Township 79, Range 3, Section 16, Southwest Quarter of the SE Quarter
Neely Crees..51..PA..Farmer
(Living with wife and 7 children.)

6. 1895 Iowa State Census, January 1895, West Liberty, Muscatine, Iowa, United States. ³ Page 443, Family 1, Line 19
West Liberty, Muscatine County, Iowa
Neely Creese..61..PA..Retired Farmer
(Living with wife and 3 children.)

7. 1900 US Census, 18 June 1900, West Liberty, Muscatine, Iowa, United States. ⁴ Sheet 9A, District 114, Dwelling 201, Household 203
West Liberty, Muscatine County, Iowa
506 Spencer, home owned, no mortgage
Years Married: 37
Head..Neely Cress..Oct 1833..66..PA..Retired
(Living with wife, 2 children, and widowed son-in-law.)

8. Cemetery: Oak Ridge Cemetery, 9 February 1908, West Liberty, Muscatine, Iowa, United States. ^{8 9} Find A Grave Memorial #113322308

Neely married Emma Jane Wyant, daughter of Isaac Wyant and Judith Ann Guild, on 26 February 1863 in Cedar, Iowa, United States.^{1 2 3 4} (Emma Jane Wyant was born on 17 September 1845 in Ohio, United States,^{1 2 3 4 7 10 11 12} died on 23 January 1921 ¹² and was buried after 23 January 1921 in West Liberty, Muscatine, Iowa, United States ¹².)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

1. 1870 US Census, 26 August 1870, Iowa Township, Cedar, Iowa, United States. ⁷ Page 20, Dwelling 146, Family 147
Iowa Township, Cedar County, Iowa
Neely Crees...37..PA..Farmer
Emma Crees...35..OH..Keeping House
Isaac Crees...3..IA
Sarah Crees...1..IA

2. 1880 US Census, June 1880, Iowa Township, Cedar, Iowa, United States. ¹ Page 170C, Roll 0331
Iowa Township, Cedar County, Iowa
Neely Crees...Self..46..PA..Farmer
Emma J. Crees...Wife..35..OH..Keeping House
Isaac Crees...Son..13..IA
Sarah M. Crees...Dau..11..IA
Julia S. Crees...Dau..8..IA
John T. Crees...Son..6..IA
Judith A. Crees...Dau..--..IA
Mary J. Crees...Dau..10m...IA

3. 1885 Iowa State Census, January 1885, Iowa Township, Cedar, Iowa, United States. ² Page 370, Line 5, Dwelling 3, Family 3
Iowa Township, Cedar County, Iowa
Township 79, Range 3, Section 16, SouthWest Quarter of the SE Quarter
Neely Crees..51..PA..Farmer
Emma J. Crees..38..OH
Isaac W. Crees..18..IA
Sarah Minnie Crees..15..IA
Julia S. Crees..13..IA
John T. Crees..10..IA
Judith Ann Crees..7..IA
Emma Jane Crees..3..IA
Neely Edgar Crees..1..IA

4. 1895 Iowa State Census, January 1895, West Liberty, Muscatine, Iowa, United States. ³ Page 443, Family 1, Line 19
West Liberty, Muscatine County, Iowa
Neely Creese..61..PA..Retired Farmer
Emma J. Creese..49..OH..Housekeeper
Anna Creese..17..Cedar County, IA..Student
Edward Creese..11..Cedar County, IA
Myrtle Creese..8..Cedar County, IA

5. 1900 US Census, 18 June 1900, West Liberty, Muscatine, Iowa, United States. ⁴ Sheet 9A, District 114, Dwelling 201, Household 203
West Liberty, Muscatine County, Iowa
506 Spencer, home owned, no mortgage
Years Married: 37
Head..Neely Cress..Oct 1833..66..PA..Retired
Wife..Emma Cress..Sep 1844..55..OH..Housekeeper..11/6
Son..Edgar W. Cress..Jan 1884..16..IA..At School
Daughter..Myrtle E. Cress..Dec 1886..13..IA..At School
Son-in-law..George M. Miller..Oct 1866..33..PA..Harness Maker..Widowed
Boarder..Fred Brant..Oct 1852..47..GER..Shoe Business