Squire
Whitaker Brees was born on March 30, 1835 in Chemung Co., NY. He was the son of
John Brees III & Mary Ann Moore.
Ellen
M. Rutan was born on March 12, 1843 in NY. She was the daughter of Peter Rutan
& Jane Sherman
THE FAMILY OF SQUIRE BREES & ELLEN RUTAN:
 |  | Squire Brees & Ellen Rutan | Squire Whitaker
Brees married Ellen M. Rutan on March 12, 1861, and they had 7 children.
According to birthplaces I have for their children, they lived in Factoryville,
NY (1862), Otokee, OH (1864) Horseheads, NY (1867)n and then Otokee, OH again
(1869). The family is listed on the 1870 census of Seneca Twp., Lenawee, Co.,
MI, along with several of Squire's Brees uncles and cousins. Continuing with birthplaces
of Squire's children; they were in Piketown, OH (1871), and East Saginaw, Mich.
(1874). They moved from Michigan to Minnesota about 1874, and they are listed
on the 1875 state census of Owatonna, Steele Co., MN. They moved from Steele to
Douglas County, MN in 1878 with Squire's brother Solomon Brees & his family;
Solomon kept a diary on this trip that is posted on this site. Squire and his
family are listed on the 1880 & 1885 censuses of Orange, Douglas Co., MN.
Their youngest child was born in1882 in Hudson Township, MN, and the family moved
to Todd Co., MN in 1886. (Solomon & family also moved to Todd Co., MN in 1891).
They are listed on the 1895 state census of Grey Eagle, Todd Co., MN, and on the
1900 & 1905 censuses of Birchdale (PO Grey Eagle), Todd Co., MN. There is
a land patent for Squire W. Brees dated June 1, 1903 for land in Birchdale Twp,
Todd Co., MN. Squire Brees died on May 27, 1906 in Grey Eagle, Todd Co., MN.
Ellen Rutan Brees died on September 12, 1919, also in Todd Co., MN. They
are buried in Lakeview Cemetery, Grey Eagle, MN. |
The Children of Squire Brees & Ellen Rutan:
 | 1) Linnie Brees | Philena "Linnie" Brees
was born on January 30, 1862 in Factoryville, New York. Linnie's parents had
a child born in Otokee, OH in 1864, another born in Horseheads, NY in 1867, and
another that was also born in Otokee, OH in 1869. Linnie is listed at age 8 with
her parents on the 1870 census of Seneca Twp., Lenawee, Co., MI, along with several
of Squire's Brees uncles and cousins. Linnie's parents had a child in Piketown,
OH in 1871, and another in East Saginaw, MI in 1874. The family moved from Michigan
to Minnesota about 1874, and Linnie, age 13, is listed with her parents on the
1875 state census of Owatonna, Steele Co., MN. In 1878 they moved to Douglas County,
MN with her uncle Solomon Brees & his family (See Solomon's
Diary). Linnie is listed at age 18 with her parents on the 1880 census of
Orange, Douglas Co., MN. Linnie marred James E. Allen on January 18, 1881
and they had 8 children. Based on birthplaces of their children, they lived in
Minnesota through June 1887, but moved to Washington by December 1891. The family
is listed on the 1900 census of Stevens Precinct, Spokane Co., WA, and on the
1910 census of Graves, Spokane Co., WA. They are listed on the 1920 census of
West Cheney, Spokane Co., WA, and on the 1930 census of Graves, Spokane Co., WA.
James' occupation is listed as Farm Labor in 1900, as Farmer in 1910 & 1920,
and as a Janitor, High School in 1930. Philena "Linnie" Brees Allen
died on April 02, 1936, probably in Spokane Co., WA. James Allen died on February
10, 1943 in Spokane Co., WA. Notes for Philena "Linnie" Brees Allen |
 | 2) Sylvester Brees | Sylvester
S. "Vet" Brees was born on May 01, 1864 in Otokee, Ohio. Sylvester's
parents had a child born in Horseheads, NY in 1867, and another that was also
born in Otokee, OH in 1869. Sylvester is listed at age 6 with her parents on the
1870 census of Seneca Twp., Lenawee, Co., MI, along with several of Squire's Brees
uncles and cousins. Sylvester's parents had a child in Piketown, OH in 1871, and
another in East Saginaw, MI in 1874. The familiy moved from Michigan to Minnesota
about 1874, and S. L., age 11, is listed with his parents on the 1875 state census
of Owatonna, Steele Co., MN. In 1878 they moved to Douglas County, MN with his
uncle Solomon Brees & his family (See Solomon's
Diary). Sylvester is listed at age 16 with his parents on the 1880 census
of Orange, Douglas Co., MN. Sylvester never married. He built a house on an island
in the middle of Big Birch lake in Grey Eagle, Todd Co., MN, and he had several
pets including two bears. He is listed at age 31 witih his parents on the 1895
state census of Grey Eagle, Todd Co., MN. I have not found him on the 1900 census
at this time, but he is listed on the 1905, 1910 & 1920 censuses of Grey Eagle
Twp, Todd Co., MN. He is listed on the 1930 census of Birchdale Twp., Todd Co.,
MN living near the household of his married brother Fred. Sylvester S. Brees
died on September 02, 1935 in Todd Co., MN. He is buried in Lakeview cemetery,
Grey Eagle, Todd Co., MN. Notes for Sylvester S. Brees Photos of Sylvester S. Brees |
 | 3) Inman Brees | Inman
Brees was born on July 05, 1867 in Horseheads, Chemung Co., New York. Inman's
parents had a child born in Otokee, OH in 1869. Inman is listed at age 3 with
her parents on the 1870 census of Seneca Twp., Lenawee, Co., MI, along with several
of Squire's Brees uncles and cousins. Inman's parents had a child in Piketown,
OH in 1871, and another in East Saginaw, MI in 1874. The family moved from Michigan
to Minnesota about 1874, and I. M., age 7, is listed with his parents on the 1875
state census of Owatonna, Steele Co., MN. In 1878 they moved to Douglas County,
MN with his uncle Solomon Brees & his family (See Solomon's
Diary). Inman is listed with his parents on the 1880 & 1885 censuses of
Orange, Douglas Co., MN. Inman is listed on the 1895 & 1900 censuses Grey
Eagle Twp., Todd Co., M; in 1895 he is listed with his parents, and in 1900 he
is in the household of his married sister Kitty Brees Dix, and next to the household
of his married sister Mary Brees Watts. Inman married Edna B. Call on January
29, 1905 and they had one daughter, Grace, born in 1907. The family is listed
on the 1910 census of Lake Hattie Twp., Hubbard Co., MN. They are listed on the
1920 & 1930 censuses of Round Prairie Twp, Todd Co., MN. Inman Brees died
on January 29, 1945 in Grey Eagle, Todd Co., MN. He is buried at Lakeview
cemetery, Grey Eagle, MN. Edna moved to Washington after Inman died, and she died
on March 04, 1969 in Otis Orchards, Spokane Co., WA. Edna is buried at The Pines
Cemetery, Opportunity, WA. Notes for Inman Brees Photos of Inman Brees Family |
 | 4) Mary Brees | Mary Jane Brees was born on
February 08, 1869 in Otokee, Ohio. She is listed at age 4 months with her
parents on the 1870 census of Seneca Twp., Lenawee, Co., MI, along with several
of Squire's Brees uncles and cousins. Mary's parents had a child in Piketown,
OH in 1871, and another in East Saginaw, MI in 1874. The family moved from Michigan
to Minnesota about 1874, and Mary J., age 5, is listed with her parents on the
1875 state census of Owatonna, Steele Co., MN. In 1878 they moved to Douglas County,
MN with her uncle Solomon Brees & his family (See Solomon's
Diary). Mary is listed with her parents on the 1880 & 1885 censuses of
Orange, Douglas Co., MN. Mary married Edward E. Watts on December 01, 1892
in MN and they had 4 children. The family is listed on the 1895 & 1900 censuses
of Grey Eagle Twp., Todd Co., MN. They moved from Todd County to Hubbard County,
MN between 1900 to 1910, and they are listed on the 1910, 1920 & 1930 censuses
of Lake Hattie Twp., Hubbard Co., MN. Edward died on December 01, 1932 in Hubbard
Co., MN. Mary Jane Brees Watts died on January 13, 1942 in Clearwater Co.,
MN. She is buried in Becida, Hubbard Co., MN. Mary Brees Watts organized an
annual Brees reunion for many years for the descendants of Squire & Solomon
Brees. Notes for Mary Jane Brees Watts Photos of Mary Jane Brees Watts Family |
 | 5) Luther Brees | Luther
Daniel Brees was born on November 23, 1871 in Piketown, Ohio. Inman's parents
had a child born in East Saginaw, MI in 1874. The family moved from Michigan to
Minnesota about 1874, and Luther, age 3, is listed with his parents on the 1875
state census of Owatonna, Steele Co., MN. In 1878 they moved to Douglas County,
MN with his uncle Solomon Brees & his family (See Solomon's
Diary). Luther is listed with his parents on the 1880 & 1885 censuses
of Orange, Douglas Co., MN. He moved with his parents in 1886 from Orange to Todd
Co., MN, and he is listed with them on the 1895, 1900 & 1905 censuses of Birchdale
Twp., Todd Co., MN. His father died in 1906, and Luther is listed with his mother
on the 1910 census Birchdale Twp., Todd Co., MN. Luther never married. In 1916
his sister Kitty became widowed, and she and her daughter Leona came to live with
Luther. They are listed on the 1920 & 1930 censuses of Grey Eagle, Todd Co.,
MN. Luther Daniel Brees died on September 21, 1953 in Todd Co., MN. He
is buried in Lakeview cemetery, Grey Eagle, Todd Co., MN. Notes for Luther Daniel Brees Photos of Luther Brees |
 | 6) Kitty Brees | Kitty
Alice Brees was born on January 07, 1874 in East Saginaw, Michigan. The family
moved from Michigan to Minnesota shortly after Kitty's birth, and "Kitie
A.", age 1, is listed with her parents on the 1875 state census of Owatonna,
Steele Co., MN. In 1878 they moved to Douglas County, MN with her uncle Solomon
Brees & his family (See Solomon's
Diary). Kitty is listed with her parents on the 1880 & 1885 censuses of
Orange, Douglas Co., MN. Kitty married Clark L. Dix on May 15, 1895 in
MN, and they 2 children, one of whom died in infancy. The family is listed on
the 1895, 1900 & 1910 censuses of Grey Eagle Twp., Todd Co., MN. Clark died
in on October 31, 1916 in Grey Eagle, Todd Co., MN. After Clark's death, Kitty
& Leona went to live with Kitty's brother Luther, who was a bachelor. They
are listed on the 1920 & 1930 censuses of Grey Eagle, Todd Co., MN. Luther
died on September 21, 1953 in Todd Co., MN. According to the Minnesota Death Index,
Kitty Alice Brees Dix died on July 01, 1958 in Hennepin Co., MN. She is
buried at Lakeview cemetery, Grey Eagle, MN. Children of Clark Dix & Kitty
Alice Brees are Leona (1907) & Lloyd (1914). Notes for Kitty Alice Brees Dix Photos of Kitty Brees Dix |
 | 7) Fred Brees | Frederick
Melvin "Fred" Brees was born on April 12, 1882 in Hudson Twp., Douglas
Co., Minnesota. He is listed at age 3 with his parents on the 1885 state census
of Orange, Douglas Co., MN. His parents moved to Todd Co., MN in 1886, and Fred
is listed with them on the 1895, 1900 & 1905 censuses of Birchdale Twp., Todd
Co., MN. His father died in 1906, and Fred is listed with his mother on the 1910
census of Birchdale Twp., Todd Co., MN. Fred married Elizabeth Little on
May 15, 1914 in MN, and they had 2 daughters. The family is listed on the 1920
& 1930 censuses of Birchdale Twp., Todd Co. Fredrick Melvin Brees died
on January 10, 1951 in Todd Co., MN. He is buried at Lakeview cemetery, Grey
Eagle, MN. Elizabeth died in October 1987 in Morrison Co., Minnesota. Her Social
Security number was issued in California sometime before 1951, and her last residence
is listed as St. Charles, Winona Co., Minnesota. Notes for Fredrick Melvin Brees Photos of Fred Brees Family |
