Capt. James Rees

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Husband Capt. James Rees ¹

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           Born: 25 Dec 1821 - ? Wales 1
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           Died: 
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       Marriage: 

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Wife

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Children

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1 M Thomas M. Rees ²

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           Born: 4 Jan 1845 - Pittsburgh, Allegheny Co, PA 3
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         Spouse: Fannie Irwin (      -      ) 2
           Marr: 11 Dec 1872 3

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2 M David A. Rees ⁴

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           Born: 30 Jun 1858 - Pittsburgh, Allegheny Co, PA 4
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         Spouse: Maude Milburn (      -      ) 4
           Marr: 13 Apr 1887 4

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General Notes: Husband - Capt. James Rees

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He came to America with his parents from Wales in 1827, when but seven years of age. He was one of nine children. The family settled near Wheeling, West Virginia, where the father died within one week after his arrival in this country. James, the son, above named, was put to work to learn the shoemaking trade, but soon abandoned that and went to farm pursuits. Soon the family removed to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and he first worked in a coal mine, pushing coal cars from the dingy pit; later he entered the Bakewell glasshouse, where he worked industriously for the sum of one dollar and fifty cents a week. Each Saturday night he would place in his mother's hands his earnings. He was by nature a mechanic and soon obtained employment in the machine shops of Pittsburgh, where he worked for fifteen months at three dollars a week. In the midst of steamboat building his young mind soon grasped new ideas of the possibility of steam power. Day and night did he work with mind and hands to master his trade as machinist and solve the new problems ever confronting that day in the introduction of improved steam navigation. At the same time he was giving over his scant earnings to aid his mother in the support of the family. As time went on he succeeded and received higher wages. He saved his money and by adding dollar to dollar became forehanded enough to purchase an interest in a shop of his own. He had been made foreman of the Rowe & Davis shops and later owned an interest in the same. In 1854 he bought the corner of Duquesne way and Fourth street, where the great plants were later built and where he operated until his death, yearly increasing in skill, popularity and wealth. Early in the eighteen-fifties he established a line of steam freight and passenger packet boats, which he operated with success until 1865, when the railroad took the business. He then turned his whole attention toward the building of steamboats and steam engines. Most of the large steamboats which plied on the water courses of the west and south were built under his direction at Pittsburgh. From 1860 to the date of his death this work was his chief occupation. To James Rees & Sons must be ascribed the honor of having constructed the first steel-plate steamboat built in the United States. In 1878 the business assumed immense proportions and they sought business in South America and other foreign ports, where they sold many boats. The "Rees Stern-Wheelers" attracted the attention of the Russian government and this concern sent the plans and specifications to that Empire, from which were constructed the numerous boats on the Volga and Dneiper rivers.
Captain Rees was always public-spirited and active in local affairs in Pittsburgh. He was an active member of the fire department; member of the city council; and his judgment was ever looked up to by those having the interest of the growing city at heart. Socially he was genial, affable and companionable. He had a wonderful fund of anecdotes which he used with much pleasing effect on all occasions. His home was situated at 5045 Fifth avenue. In manner he was thoroughly democratic. He knew the names of all of his many workmen and freely conversed with each. At the time of his death he was at the head of two large manufacturing plants\emdash the James Rees & Sons, boiler makers, and the James Rees Duquesne Engine Works. Throughout the entire shipping world they became famous as leaders in their specialties\emdash boats and engines. Up to 1898 they had constructed over six hundred steamboats, which plied on the waters of three continents.

1 John W. Jordan, LL.D, A Century and a Half of Pittsburg and Her People, Vol. IV (New York: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1908), Pg 268.

2 John W. Jordan, LL.D, A Century and a Half of Pittsburg and Her People, Vol. IV (New York: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1908), Pg 267.

3 John W. Jordan, LL.D, A Century and a Half of Pittsburg and Her People, Vol. IV (New York: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1908), Pg 269.

4 John W. Jordan, LL.D, A Century and a Half of Pittsburg and Her People, Vol. IV (New York: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1908), Pg 270.