SOURCE: "History of the Catholic Church In Indiana"-- by Charles Blanchard, 1898  
{via Dearborn County Mail List}

THOMAS NEES of Lawrenceburg, Ind., is a son of John and Amelia (Koch) Nees, the former a native of Germany, who came to the United States in 1847, and the latter a native of America, and both now reside in Aurora, Ind., where the father conducts a hotel. He was a school-teacher in Ohio for several years.

Thomas Nees was born in New Richmond, Ohio, September 8, 1858; he attended the common schools, and also the Cincinnati Business college, and at the age of twenty-five years engaged in business in Pittsburg, Pa., where he lived for several years. In 1889 he opened business in Lawrenceburg for himself - hotel, restaurant, bar and coal yard - the last under the name of the Lawrenceburg Coal company, which is doing the largest business in its line in the city.

Mr. Nees was married to Susan A. Pelgen, a daughter of Fred and Clara Pelgen, of Indiana, and this union has been blessed with three children: Amelia C., Fred J., and Aloysius T. All are members of St. Lawrence`s Catholic church, and in politics Mr. Nees is a democrat, and, as such, has filled several county offices as assistant, being very popular with his party as well as with the general public.