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DANIEL R. CREE

 

Daniel R. Cree is numbered among the prosperous and progressive agriculturists of Taylor county, owning and operating a valuable farm of two hundred and fifty-five acres on sections 5 and 8, Marshall township.  A native of Illinois, his birth occurred in Henry county on the 29th of April, 1864, his parents being Robert and Mary E. (Piper) Cree, the former born in Ohio and the latter in Pennsylvania.  The father was reared in the Buckeye State and in early life removed to Henry county, Illinois, where he was married, there carrying on agricultural pursuits for a number of years.  In that county three of his children were born.  The year 1869 witnessed his arrival in Iowa, the family home being established in Page county, where he purchased a farm of one hundred acres near Clarinda.  He devoted his time and attention to the further improvement and cultivation of this farm and later purchased more land, becoming the owner (page 303) of three hundred acres.  Subsequently he sold his property in Page county and in 1902 came to Taylor county, where he invested in four hundred acres.  His remaining days were here spent with his children, his death occurring on the 14th of February, 1909.  His remains were laid to rest in the cemetery at Gravity.  He had become a very successful farmer and business man and was well known and highly respected throughout the communities in which he resided.

 

Daniel R. Cree was a little lad of five years when he was brought by his parents to Iowa, and on his father's farm in Page county he was reared to manhood, attending the common schools in the acquirement of his education.  He resided under the parental roof until he reached his majority, in the meantime assisting his father in the cultivation of the home farm and at the same time gaining a thorough and comprehensive knowledge concerning the best methods of plowing, planting and harvesting.  Upon attaining man's estate he started in business on his own account, wisely choosing as his life work the occupation to which he had been reared.  He went to Chase county, Nebraska, and homesteaded a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, improving the same and making his home thereupon for three years.  Later he returned to Page county and operated his father's farm, also purchasing an adjoining farm, where he continued to reside until 1902.  In that year he came to Taylor county and invested in eighty acres of his present farm, falling heir to the rest of the two hundred and fifty-five acres on sections 5 and 8, Marshall township, where he has since made his home.  He has brought his fields under a high state of cultivation and his farm, in its neat and attractive appearance, stands as a monument to his industry and thrift, being one of the valuable and desirable properties of the township.  Mr. Cree has made a close study of agriculture and is methodical, systematic and progressive in his methods, so that he has gained rank among the enterprising and substantial farmers of the locality.  He carries on general farming and also devotes much time to the raising of horses, cattle and hogs, both branches of his business proving sources of gratifying remuneration.

 

It was during his residence in Chase county, Nebraska, that Mr. Cree was united in marriage to Miss Ada Clabaugh, a native of Taylor county, Iowa, and unto this union were born three sons and four daughters, but one daughter, Carrie M., passed away when four years of age.  The others are: Rilda E., Ora L., Arthur W., Glenn I., Elva M. and Loretta A.  On the 20th of November, 1899, the wife and mother was called to her final rest, and on the 14th of April, 1901, Mr. Cree was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Mabel (Muckey) Hutchinson.  She is a native of Page county, where she was reared and educated, and is a daughter of Jasper and Emma Muckey, early settlers of Iowa, coming originally from New York.  Jasper Muckey, the father, was born in Schenectady county, New York, on the 11th of May, 1828, and in 1869 removed to Page county, Iowa.  Later he sold his farm there and removed to Sharpsburg, where he passed away on the 25th of January, 1907.  In 1850 he had married Miss Emma McQueen, also a native of the Empire state, who still survives and makes her home in Sharpsburg.  They were the parents of eleven children, all of whom reached mature years, while two sons and eight daughters are still living.  By her former marriage Mrs. Cree has one son, Doyle W. Hutchinson, who is now attending the public schools.

 

Mr. Cree exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party, doing all in his power to further the interests of that organization in the community, although he has never sought nor desired public office as the reward for party fealty.  He has rather preferred to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs and is justly accounted one of the representative and substantial farmers of the community, while his many good traits of character make him honored and respected by all with whom he has come in contact.