Jacob Griffin Rees moved to Kansas in 1857, settling near Lane in Franklin County, after growing up in Ohio. He had volunteered to serve in the Mexican War, but returned to Ohio in 1847 to publish the Greenville Journal. In 1858 he was a member of the Leavenworth Constitutional Convention, and in 1861 he was elected to the State Legislature, serving as senator from Franklin, Anderson, and Allen counties.

In 1862 Rees was commissioned a captain in the 11th Kansas. He then recruited and commanded Company F. Rees' military activities included service at battles of Prairie Grove, Arkansas (1862) and Fort Wayne, Indian Territory (1862), commandant and provost marshal of Independence, Missouri, and Inspector-General on the staff of General McKean.

Rees resigned from the service in 1865 for health reasons. Later that year he was elected to the House of Representatives of the State Legislature. In 1879 Rees was a director of the Paola and Fall River Railroad.

Jacob Rees' granddaughter, Mariee Rees, was born in Greeley, KS in 1891. She spent her life in Greeley and married Chris Wustefeld in 1914.

One of Chris and Mariee's daughters, Marjorie Wustefeld, was born in 1915. She taught at Greeley High School and St. John the Evangelist Catholic School. Marjorie married Henry Wildgen in Greeley, KS in 1945. Henry was a soldier, manager of the former Wildgen Lumber Co., and took up various positions in Kansas government.

One of Marjorie and Henry Wildgen's sons, Mike, was born in 1947 in Great Bend, KS and held many political positions throughout his life, including city manager of Lawrence, KS.