The following article was found in the Wilkes-Barre (PA) Record, 20 Sep 1901, Page 10. If
anyone is interested in receiving a copy of this obituary, please send me your mailing
address.
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"H.Y. Rees of the Record yesterday afternoon received word of the death of his
brother, Harry J. Rees of Bluefield, W. Va., who passed away after an illness of several
months of Bright's disease and complications. He was the youngest son of the late
John Rees, a well known merchant in Merthyr Tydvil, Wales. He was born at Llangedock,
Carmarthenshire, Wales, June 17, 1845, at the residence of his maternal grandfather, the
late Henry Evans, manufacturer. He was educated at Bristol, England, and at Fuller's
Seminary, Merthyr Tydvil. After leaving school he for several years assisted his father
in his business. Leaving there, he took a position in the machine shops of White &
Co. in Seville, Spain, in which his uncle, Thomas P. White, was a partner. After his
return to Wales he again assisted his father in the commission business and for several
years was well known throughout South Wales as a commercial traveler. In the year 1868 he
emigrated to the United States and spent several years with his brother Herbert, who was
clerk for Wood, Morrell & Co. of Johnstown, Pa.
"From there he went to Scranton and was for two years assistant inside foreman at No.
4 colliery, Lackawanna Coal Co. He returned to Wales and for several years had a candle
manufactory at Pontypridd. He, however, was not satisfied and came to Luzerne County and
for several years resided at Sugar Notch. He was an apt scholar, an excellent historian
and a staunch Republican. About seventeen years ago he left with his friend William
Moody, and a number of men from Wilkes-Barre for Pocahontas to help get out 158 miners who
were killed by an explosion. He was appointed fire boss of that famous colliery, which
position he held for several years. He later became foreman of the same colliery. He was
the second mayor of Pocahontas, a position he held with honor during the time that the
town was filled with desperadoes. He owned several properties at Pocahontas, as also at
Bluefield, W.Va. He was a member of Loyal Cambrian Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons of
Merthyr Tydvil, and of the chapter at Tredegar, Wales.
"Deceased was married in 1887 to Mrs. Adelia Mulligan at Merthyr, Wales. She died a
year ago. He leaves five children - Mrs. Maud Carper, Roanoke, Va.; Robert Rees,
Bluefields; Mabel, Herbert and John, at home. The funeral will take place at Roanoke,
Va."
Nancy Cook
Pasadena, MD, USA