Thomas J. Rees
Thomas J. Rees was born in Glamorganshire, Wales, March 5, 1816. He was the son of John Rees and Ann Jones Rees. Thomas worked in the coal mines during his boyhood. After being converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints he became active in preaching the gospel and became president of what was known as the White Lion Branch of the Church.
Thomas married Margaret Davis,in Wales and together they made preparations for their emigration to Utah. Early in 1856, a large company of Welsh Saints, under the direction of Daniel Jones, prepared to leave for America. By this time Thomas and Margaret were the parents of eight children. The company, inlcluding the Rees' family, left Liverpool on the ship S. Curling April 19th and arrived in Boston May 23, 1856. The family immediately took a train for Iowa City, Iowa where Thomas helped to ready handcarts and soon they started across the plains in the Edward Bunker company. Sometimes the smaller children were privileged to ride in one of the wagons.
As they traveled on they saw many buffalo and sometimes were fortunate enough to procure a little meat to help with their scanty provisions which consisted mostly of cornmeal for "Johnny cake," bacon and beans. There were five wagons carrying provisions and when the food got low it was rationed. Rees Lewellyn, of Fountain Green, supervised its distribution. Margaret said they often went to bed hungry. After three months on the plains the company arrived in Salt Lake City on the 2nd day of October.
Thomas Rees and family located in North Ogden the first winter. In the spring of 1857, Thomas with his eldest son, Henry, who was then 19 years of age, made a trip to California with a company driving cattle. Returning in 1858, they found the family had moved to Spanish Fork because of the coming of Johnston's Army. The Rees family stayed in Spanish Fork during the winter of '58, and in the spring of '59 moved to Wales, Sanpete Co. where Thomas worked in the coal mines for many years.
Thomas became the owner of ten acres of land in the Big Field just east of Wales and on his land he raised enough grain to support his large family, two more children having been born to them after their arrival in Utah. He was a hard worker, but his health was never good due to the many years spent underground in the coal mines. They owned a commodious house which was a fathering place for their many descendants. Eliza R. Snow, visiting in Wales, gave Margaret the pattern of the Temple apron which was given to her by the Prophet Joseph Smith.
In later years Thomas was ill most of the time. This necessitated his wife going out to work and she was away from home many hours during the day. He died March 24, 1882 at the age of sixty-six years. The lovely old home stands today and one of his great granddaughters lives in it. He was buried in the Wales City cemetery.
