Rees, John Evans - Biography

John Evans Rees

John Evans Rees, the first Bishop of Wales, Sanpete county, Utah, was born Nov 16, 1821, in Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorganshire, Wales, the son of John Rees and Elizabeth Evans. He married Mary Williams April 13, 1849, and becoming a convert to "Mormonism" he emigrated to America in 1850. After stopping about two years in Illinois, he continued his journey to Utah in 1852, crossing the plains in Cooley and Miller's ox train. After living temporarily in the Sesisons settlement (Bountiful) the family moved to Manti in December, 1853, and participated in the Indian difficulties that winter.

Early in the spring of 1854 they associated themselves with others in the settling of Ft. Ephraim, where they resided until 1859, when they located at Wales, becoming thus also some of the first settlers of that place. Here Brother Rees spent the remainder of his days. He acted as presiding Elder of the infant settlement from the beginning and was Bishop from 1877 until the time of his death. Brother Rees filled a mission to Wales in 1870-72. By his wife (whom he married in Wales) he had eight children, seven of whom are now (1914) alive.

Bishop Rees died March 24, 1903, at Wales, Utah, at the advanced age of eighty-one years and five months, leaving a widow, two months his senior and blind, two sons and five daughters, besides a large number of grand children and also great grandchildren.