Samuel Rees (October 3, 1846 – October 24, 1914) was a pioneer businessman and property developer in Los Angeles, California, where he was a member of the City Council and of the Board of Public Works in 1891–92.
Rees was born on October 3, 1846, in Staffordshire, England, the son of William Rees and Jane Stanton. He received left school early in order to go to work, and at age 21 he emigrated to America. He was married to Lydia Dangerfield of Staffordshire in 1869, and they had seven children, Lillie (Mrs. E.A. Guest), Rosa F. (Mrs. A.I. Smith), Minnie E. (Mrs. F.C. Elliott), Ethel R. (Mrs. Searle), Harry S., Walter N. and Samuel C.[1][2] His wife was treasurer of a Boyle Heightswomen's suffrage club in 1896.[1]
He died in Los Angeles on October 24, 1914, after an illness of "several months, ... attributed to liver trouble."[3]
Vocationedit
Rees began work in America as a clerk for the Pennsylvania Railroad in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for seven years before settling in Los Angeles, where he was a bookkeeper for a firm of blacksmiths and wheelwrights. He then entered into business with Robert E. Wirsching: They did general blacksmithing and built wagons "in a large shop on Aliso Street." The firm sustained losses of $15,000 in the floods of 1884, but it rebounded and became successful, moving to larger quarters on Los Angeles Street, where it sold "modern agricultural implements."[1]
He became prosperous by buying unimproved land "remote from the business and residential areas of the city," including 17 acres, at $20 an acre, in an area that later became Boyle Heights," where he built his home.[1]
Rees was a founder of the Hollenbeck Heights Methodist Church.[1] "A clever and caustic rhymester, with a flair for the caustic, Mr. Rees is said to have enlivened numerous council and business meetings with verse about his associates and subjects before the board." He was the author of newspaper articles concerning the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. He was a Republican, a Mason and a member of the Pioneer Society of Southern California.[1]
^ abcdefghLuella Sawyer and Clare Wallace, Los Angeles Public Library reference file, 1934, 1936, with sources as noted there
^The Los Angeles Times obituary stated his survivors were "Mrs. Lillie S. Guest, Mrs. F.C. Elliott, Mrs. A.I. Smith, Miss Lydia Rees and Messrs. Harry, Samuel and Robert Rees."[1]
^"Pioneer Passes to Final Rest," Los Angeles Times, October 25, 1914, page IV-13
^"Would Abolish Death Penalty," Los Angeles Herald, April 30, 1909
February 27, 2024
samuel, rees, october, 1846, october, 1914, pioneer, businessman, property, developer, angeles, california, where, member, city, council, board, public, works, 1891, member, angeles, city, council, wardin, office, december, 1890, december, 1892preceded, byrobe. Samuel Rees October 3 1846 October 24 1914 was a pioneer businessman and property developer in Los Angeles California where he was a member of the City Council and of the Board of Public Works in 1891 92 Samuel ReesMember of the Los Angeles City Council for the 9th wardIn office December 5 1890 December 12 1892Preceded byRobert E WirschingSucceeded byGeorge W CampbellPersonal detailsBorn 1846 10 03 October 3 1846Staffordshire EnglandDiedOctober 24 1914 1914 10 24 aged 68 Los Angeles CaliforniaPolitical partyRepublican Contents 1 Personal 2 Vocation 3 Community 4 ReferencesPersonal editRees was born on October 3 1846 in Staffordshire England the son of William Rees and Jane Stanton He received left school early in order to go to work and at age 21 he emigrated to America He was married to Lydia Dangerfield of Staffordshire in 1869 and they had seven children Lillie Mrs E A Guest Rosa F Mrs A I Smith Minnie E Mrs F C Elliott Ethel R Mrs Searle Harry S Walter N and Samuel C 1 2 His wife was treasurer of a Boyle Heights women s suffrage club in 1896 1 He died in Los Angeles on October 24 1914 after an illness of several months attributed to liver trouble 3 Vocation editRees began work in America as a clerk for the Pennsylvania Railroad in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania for seven years before settling in Los Angeles where he was a bookkeeper for a firm of blacksmiths and wheelwrights He then entered into business with Robert E Wirsching They did general blacksmithing and built wagons in a large shop on Aliso Street The firm sustained losses of 15 000 in the floods of 1884 but it rebounded and became successful moving to larger quarters on Los Angeles Street where it sold modern agricultural implements 1 He became prosperous by buying unimproved land remote from the business and residential areas of the city including 17 acres at 20 an acre in an area that later became Boyle Heights where he built his home 1 Community editRees was on both the Los Angeles City Council and the city Board of Public Works in 1891 92 1 While on those bodies he was able to increase the size of Hollenbeck Park from the original 3 5 acre gift to about 30 acres 1 Rees was a founder of the Hollenbeck Heights Methodist Church 1 A clever and caustic rhymester with a flair for the caustic Mr Rees is said to have enlivened numerous council and business meetings with verse about his associates and subjects before the board He was the author of newspaper articles concerning the 1893 World s Columbian Exposition in Chicago He was a Republican a Mason and a member of the Pioneer Society of Southern California 1 In 1909 he joined with others including Griffith J Griffith to work within a Prison Reform League on behalf of a more humane treatment of prisoners including the abolition of capital punishment 4 References edit a b c d e f g h Luella Sawyer and Clare Wallace Los Angeles Public Library reference file 1934 1936 with sources as noted there The Los Angeles Times obituary stated his survivors were Mrs Lillie S Guest Mrs F C Elliott Mrs A I Smith Miss Lydia Rees and Messrs Harry Samuel and Robert Rees 1 Pioneer Passes to Final Rest Los Angeles Times October 25 1914 page IV 13 Would Abolish Death Penalty Los Angeles Herald April 30 1909 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Samuel Rees amp oldid 1161460702, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
