Lee - John (Col)
Source: Weekly Argus News June 20, 1891 p 2
Thursday - Col. John Lee died with blood poisoning at his home on east Jefferson street. Funeral Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. Services by Dr. Cunningham. Col. John Lee was born in Montgomery County, March 11, 1826. His father was Elder John Lee whose home was a few miles east of Crawfordsville. He was a descendant of Richard Henry lee of the Colonial Congress and a relative of Gen. Robert E. Lee. When a young man he was engaged in business here and in 1856 was elected treasurer of the county. He was the first president of the Logansport, Crawfordsville and Southwestern RR and it was built under his administration. In fact he was engaged in various railroad enterprises at different times and lived to see them develop into valuable property. On May 12, 1849 he was married to Letitia West, daughter of Jeremiah West. They were the parents of two daughters and three sons. The daughters married Will and Maurice Thompson. Stephen and Richard are in the insurance business in Indianapolis while Frank is farming out in Oregon. Mr. Lee was a democrat of the old school and was a successful stump speaker. Among the governmental appointments held by him was the position of director of the northern Indiana state prison and also that of superintendent of Indiana schools at Salem, Oregon. He was an honored and respected citizen of National reputation and in his death the community sustains a serious loss.
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal 20 June 1891 – thanks to Kim H
On Thursday shortly after 10 o'clock, Col. John Lee died peacefully at his home on east Pike street after an illness of some six weeks, which was brought on by an attack of the grip.
John Lee was born in Montgomery county on March 11, 1826, and was the oldest native of Montgomery county at the time of his death. He was the son of Elder John Lee, of the Primitive Baptist church, who founded the Crawfordsville society. Mr. Lee enjoyed a common school education and then entered business with his brother in this city where he continued until 1856 when he was elected county treasurer and served one term. In 1860 he was appointed Deputy U.S. Marshal for Indiana. During the war he was a strong Union man and was treasurer of the Home Soldiers' fund of this county. In 1866 he was defeated for the State Senate by the anti-war Democrats who bolted his nomination. In 1865 he moved to his farm where he remained until 1869 when he begun his career in railroad circles. He was elected president of the Logansport, Crawfordsville & Southwestern and filled the position four years when he was elected president of the Lake Erie & St. Louis road. In 1875 he was made president of the Indianapolis, Delphi & Chicago road. In 1879 he became President of the Anderson & St. Louis road and at the time of his death was president of the New York & Chicago road. Mr. Lee has been highly favored in politics by the Democratic party, of which he was a life-long member. He has been frequently mentioned for Congress and high state offices, and was one time a director of the Northern prison. Last Winter he was appointed by Governor Hovey to represent the Eighth congressional district on the World's Fair commission. His death leaves the position vacant. Col. Lee was probably as well known as any man in Montgomery county. In 1849 he was married to Letitia West and five children were born to them, Mrs. J. Maurice Thompson and Henry Lee, of this city, Stephen Lee, of Indianapolis, Mrs. W.H. Thompson, of Seattle, and Frank Lee, of Washington State. He was a devout member of the Primitive Baptist church and a genial, warm-hearted man who will be greatly missed in the community. The funeral services was held Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock and was conducted by Rev. R.J. Cunningham
Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal Thursday, 18 June 1891
This morning shortly after 10 o’clock, Col. John Lee died peacefully at his home on East Pike Street after an illness of some six weeks, which was brought on by an attack of the grip. John Lee was born in Montgomery County on March 11, 1826, and was the oldest native of Montgomery County at the time of his death. He was the son of Elder John Lee, of the Primitive Baptist Church, who founded the Crawfordsville society. Mr. Lee enjoyed a common school education and then entered business with his brother in this city where he continued until 1856 when he was elected county treasurer and served one term. In 1860 he was appointed Deputy U. S. Marshal for Indiana. During the war he was a strong Union man and was treasurer of the Home Soldiers’ fund of this county. In 1866 he was defeated for the State Senate by the anti-war Democrats who bolted his nomination. In 1865 he moved to his farm where he remained until 1869 when he begun his career in railroad circles. He was elected president of the Logansport, Crawfordsville & Southwestern Road and filled the position four years when he was elected president of the Lake Erie & St. Louis Road. In 1875 he was made president of the Indianapolis & Springfield Road and a year later held the same position for the Indianapolis, Delphi & Chicago Road. In 1879 he became president of the Anderson & St. Louis Road and at the time of his death was president of the New York & Chicago Road. Mr. Lee has been highly favored in politics by the Democratic party, of which he was a life long member. He has been frequently mentioned for Congress and high state officers, and was at one time a director of the Northern prison. Last winter he was appointed by Governor Hovey to represent the eighth congressional district on the World’s Fair commission. His death leaves the position vacant. Col. Lee was probably as well known as any man in Montgomery County. In 1849 he was married to Letitia West and five children were born to them, Mrs. J. Maurice Thompson and Henry Lee, of this city, Stephen Lee, of Indianapolis, Mrs. W. H. Thomson, of Seattle, and Frank Lee, of Washington State. He was a devout member of the Primitive Baptist Church and a genial, warm hearted man who will be greatly missed in the community. The funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock and will be conducted by Rev. R. J. Cunningham. -s
Source: Crawfordsville Journal 18 June 1891
Crawfordsville, June 18. Special. This morning at 10 o'clock CoL John Lee died peacefully at his home after an illness of six weeks, which was brought on by an attack of la grippe and which resulted in blood poisoning. John Lea was born in Montgomery county, Indiana, March 11, 1626. His father was the pioneer of the old school Baptist church in western Indiana and the launder of the Crawfordsville society. His paternal grandfather was a soldier under Gen. Washington and his lineage the same as that of Richard Henry Lee president of the colonial congress and one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Gen. Lee, the famous confederate commander, was also kin to him. The early life of the subject of this sketch was devoted to hard labor. He assisted in opening and improving three farms but found time to acquire the rudiments of an English education. At nineteen he began as a clerk for hie brother and five years after was a partner in the business and in l856 he was elected treasurer of Montgomery county on the democratic ticket. He served two years. In 1860 he was deputy U. 8. marshal and in 1561 when the war broke out sided with Stephen A. Douglass and was in favor of a vigorous prosecution of the war. He spent much time in collecting sanitary supplies and pushing them forward to the soldiers in the front. Many years of his life were spent in prospecting and pushing forward various railway enterprises. He was the president of the Lake Eie & St Louis railroad, of the Indianapolis & Springfield, and in 1876 of the Indianapolis & Chicago, now known as the Monon. In 1879 he was elected president of the Anderson & St. Louis road, now known as the Midland, and in the same year was elected a director of the state prison north. At the time of his death he was the president of the New York & Chicago road and a member of the world's fair commission. During Cleveland's administration he had charge of one of the Indian schools at Salem, Ore. He was married May 12. 1840, to Miss Letitia West, the daughter of a wealthy farmer of Montgomery county. Three sons and two daughters blessed the anion. One of the latter married the Hon. Maurice Thompson, and the other his brother, Mr. Lee was a member of the old school Baptist church. He was a democrat from bis boyhood and always interested himself in the fortunes of his party. In 1S7S he was a member of the stats central committee and one of that organization to take direct charge of the canvass of that year, which resulted in a decisive democratic victory. II was a good stump speaker and frequently canvassed the state for the democratic state and national tickets. In 1S79 he created much enthusiasm in Ohio in advocating the election of Gen. Ewing to the governorship of that state. He was an honored and respected citizen of national reputation, and in his death the citizens of his own immediate community and those of the state sustain a serious loss. He was an honest, reliable friend, a kind husband and father and an upright, intelligent and faithful citizen.