Thomas Clopton Rees

Thomas Clopton Rees

1829-1893

Thomas Clopton Rees

Martha Olivia Kimbrough (2nd wife)

Thomas Clopton Rees was my maternal great great grandfather, the son of James Rees and Rebecca Mathews Smith. He was born in Jasper County near Clinton, GA on June 8, 1829. The family moved frequently due to his father's occupation as a minister. By the early 1840's the family had settled in Muscogee County on Hamilton Road (now Veteran's Parkway) near present day Northside High School. The Rees family owned a farm in the community and as Thomas grew into manhood he continued to farm. On November 29, 1855 he married Martha Minerva Kimbrough, the daughter of William B. Kimbrough and Jane Ann Nutt.  They settled near Martha's grandmother Sarah Stallings Kimbrough the widow of Thomas Kimbrough.  There were a variety of neighbors with diverse occupations living near the Rees and Kimbrough families. Larkin Davidson, a lawyer and farmer was the Rees's closest neighbor. Edward Beers, a tailor, Charles Blake, a teacher, Jacob Hugh, a dentist and David Dean, a dentist also lived in the community. Wiley Cannon, John Murrain and James Moon were farmers in the area. (1850 U.S. Federal Census, Muscogee County, GA)
In the mid 1850's with several Baptist churches already in the area, Methodists  decided to build a church. The church, located about eight miles from Columbus, was built on land owned by Benjamin A. Clark, who later deeded the land the church stood on. One third of the church was set aside for enslaved people, so they could attend worship. Dr. Lovick Pierce dedicated the church on the second Sunday of August 1855, giving the members "a spiritual feast of nearly three hours."  After Thomas and Minerva married, they began attending Pierce Chapel along with his youngest brother Joseph. In 1861, on the deed of Pierce Chapel Methodist Church Thomas Rees was listed as a Trustee.  (Louise Calhoun Barfield, The History of Harris County, Georgia, 1827-1961, {Columbus, Ga, Columbus Printing Co., 1961} p.395) 

The 1860's were destined to bring drastic changes to the small rural community. Following the secession of 1861, Georgia governor Joe E. Brown called for volunteers, set up munitions factories, seized the Federal mint at Dahlonega, and made it illegal to distill grain into liquor. The Georgia Legislature authorized one million dollars to raise an army and prepare for war. (one million dollars into today's currency would be worth approximately thirty two million dollars). Though Georgians rushed to enlist,  clothing, weapons and essential equipment were already in short supply.  (John H. Martin, Columbus, Georgia, From It's Selection as a Trading Town in 1827 to It's Partial Destruction by Wilson's Raiders in 1865,  Georgia Genealogical Reprints, 1972)      

All of Thomas's brothers enlisted in the war, only the youngest, Joseph died (1862). Thomas Rees only has limited participation in the war. he enlisted in John Pemberton's Company, Muscogee Calvary on July 13, 1863. The purpose of this calvary unit was to provide local defense within a hundred mile radius of Columbus, Georgia. He served a short time in Atlanta and mustered out there on February 4, 1864. 

The economy, though stable in 1860, was unable to bear the financial pressures the war brought. Georgia tried to finance the war with bonds and treasury notes, but it was insufficient, and inflation was soon running rampant. Food prices soared and clothing prices were exorbitant. 
Martha Minerva Kimbrough died on December 17, 1864. She was buried in the Pierce Chapel Cemetery. Thomas Rees was left with four young children. 

On December 18, 1865, Thomas married Martha Olivia Kimbrough, Martha Minerva's first cousin. Martha Olivia was the daughter of Archibald Malachi Kimbrough and Nancy Dickerson. 

The war brought severe financial problems to the Rees family. Thomas continued to farm but stayed deeply in debt to the large cotton brokers in Columbus. He ventured into politics in the 1870's and became a local judge in the Nances community. He was active in the Democratic Party and ran for Tax Receiver of Muscogee County in 1874. (Columbus Daily Enquirer, December 9, 1874, p.4) 

Thomas Rees died on February 6, 1893. The last twenty years of his life had been a financial struggle. Fourteen children and ever decreasing farm land on which to grow crops were certainly a heavy burden. His obituary stated that he "reared a large family and bequeathed them something better than wealth-a good name and religious impress on every child." (Columbus Daily Enquirer-Sun, February 8, 1893, 4.)

Martha Olivia developed heart problems and died in her home on February 1, 1902. Thomas and Martha are buried in the Pierce Chapel Methodist cemetery along with many of their children.

 

Children of Thomas and Martha Minerva Kimbrough Rees:

1) Cora Rees 1857-1935 
    m. Albert Pitner

2) Annie  Rees 1859-1945
    m. Jeremiah Griffin Gray

3) Raiford Kimbrough Rees 1861-1898
    
4) Suda Ella Rees 1863-1864

5) Thomas Matt Rees 1864-1943
    m. Virginia Clark
 

Children of Thomas and Martha Olivia Kimbrough Rees:

1) Archibald Tulian Rees 1868-1945

    m. Eddie Bowden

2) James Clement Rees 1870-1949

    m. Mary Lucille Dodd

3) Vara Rosco Rees 1873-1901

4) Henry Butler Rees 1875-1963

    m. Gussie Olive Gibson

5) Rev. Albert William Rees 1877-1955

    m. Augusta Lee

6) Erin Maude Rees 1882-1901

7) Thaddeus Lawson Rees 1883-1948

    m. Irene Lester Daniels

8) Griffin Gray Rees 1886-1948

    m. Mary Hogan

9) Marvin M. Rees 1889-1966

Thomas Clopton Rees

Martha Olivia Kimbrough Rees

Martha Minerva Kimbrough