John Dees was the eldest son of Rufus Dees. He had to spend most of his school age working for his dad in the fields, therefore education was secondary. Even though he only possessed a third grade education, he had the business savvy of a college student with a master Degree.

 Allily the daughter of Melvin Crisp, attended the Somerton Public School System where she completed the eight grade. She continued her education at the Yuma Union High School through her junior year. During this time she met her husband to be, John Dees. They were introduced by his sister Willie Irene who was also attending the same high school.

 John and Alliliy were married on January 7, 1933 and they established their first home on forty acres in the North Gila Valley. They farmed roe crops and raised hogs there until May of 1950. They purchased squatter’s rights and move to 160 acres of undeveloped and destitute land that was later named the “Island”. It was nicknamed this because of the ever changing course of the Colorado River, which prior to the dam’s construction, the water left pockets of land that resembled islands. John worked the nearby farm which was owned by the Wilken’s family, while at the same time developing his own farm. He used the water from the Wilken’s pump to provide irrigation to his farm until his own well could be drilled.

 The road in and out of the farm was in extremely poor condition and was comprised mostly of sand, which made it very inaccessible to travel.

 In the center of this land, which contained a growth of cottonwood trees, stood an unfinished small wood frame house which lacked electricity or running water. Without electricity the family had to rely on kerosene lamps for light and gas stoves for heating water to cook. Just outside the house was hand pump, which provided water for whole family and animals. The hand pump was very hard work, in that one had to manually pump and carry buckets of water to the house and out to thirsty animals. John Dees had the foresight to search for the heart (water) of the land. He selected the highest point of the farm to set the well, then directed the driller where to dig. They drilled down to the core of Mother Earth until he reached the main vain of life. The pump served many purposes to the farm and also provided a swimming hole for the children. He also used portions of the pump water with his daughter’s Dolores Martin and Loreatha William’s family farms. Today the well is still providing water to any part of the Island.

In the early 70’s their eldest son, Alexander had assumed the responsibility of running the farm. Using the business skills that his father had passed on to him and the experience from previous employers, he turned it into a cattle ranch. Today Dees Brothers Brangus is nationally known for quality.

 The “John Dee Da” reunion held on the family ranch each year over Labor Day week end has become the tradition of love, unity and the remembrance of those whose lives became our legacy.

By: Felix Dees