Gilbert, Frank T.  "Historic Sketches of Walla Walla, Whitman, Columbia and
Garfield Counties, Washington Territory; and Umatilla County, Oregon."
Portland, OR: Print & Lithographing House of A.  G.  Walling, 1882.  p. a32.
 
RAYMOND R.  REES

   is one of the old and successful merchants of Walla Walla, senior member of
the firm of Pees, Winans & Co.  He was born in Butler Co., Ohio, in 1833, and
emigrated to Oregon in 1854.  In 1861 he went to Walla Walla and became one of
the founders of the Washington Statesman, having been a printer for a number of
years.  In 1865 he abandoned journalism and entered the mercantile business,
being now one of the leading merchants of the city.  He served two terms as
County Treasurer, and in 1880 was chosen to the lower house of the Legislature.
In 1855 he was one of those who, seeking gold, found themselves in the Colville
mines when the Indian war broke out, cutting them off from the settlements; and
with a few comrades he remained during the winter in that section of country.
We have learned little of Mr. Rees except in an indirect way through the general
public, as he was in San Francisco at the time we were investigating for
biographical notes.  Through sources such as were at our command, we learned
that he was a member of the Board of Trade, a front rank man in all matters of a
public nature either political or financial, a free thinker with a philosophical
turn of mind, a liberal Democrat, a genial companion, and a gentleman of
generous and honorable instincts.

* * * *

Submitted to the WA.  Bios Project in February 2007 by Diana Smith.

Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project.  Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.