Randolph  County,  Indiana

John  H. Lee


            An illustration of skill as a farmer as well as of the ability to concentrate efforts along some special line until success is achieved in that under taking is found in the case of John H. Lee, one of the progressive citizens of Randolph county, who is not only a successful tiller of the soil as the term is usually understood but has proven himself to be a standard authority on livestock, giving special attention to that department of his work from which no small part of his annual income is derived. He has spent most of his life in this locality, well knowing that no better place could he found in this or any other state for general agricultural purposes, not only on account of good soil, but proper climatic conditions, easy access to large market centers and other minor reasons.
            Mr. Lee was born in West River township, Randolph county, April 3, 1859, on a farm. He is a son of Ephraim and Elizabeth Jane (Ledbetter) Lee, both natives of Wayne county, Indiana, where they grew to maturity, were educated and married and from which locality they eventually moved to Randolph county, locating on a farm in West River township in the latter fifties, and here the father prospered, becoming one of the extensive land owners of this township.
            John Lee, the great grandfather of our subject was a native of England where he spent his early life, finally emigrating to the United States, being shipwrecked when crossing the Atlantic, he and only two others escaping with their lives. He established a home in the east, and his son, Samuel Lee, grandfather of our subject, finally settled in Wayne county, Indiana, and there his death occurred when his son Ephraim Lee, father of the gentleman whose name initiates this review, was only four years of age. Politically, Ephraim Lee was a Republican and was for many years active in public matters, but was never an office seeker. He and his family were members of the Friends church. His death occurred in 1906, his wife having preceded him to the grave in August, 1899. They were the parents of nine children, namely: Riley is a retired farmer of Modoc; Phoebe is deceased; Edward is a farmer of West River township; Minus lives in Muncie; Arminta is deceased; John H., of this review; Ruth is the wife of John Jones, of Modoc; Samuel is a carpenter and lives at Modoc; Liverna is the wife of Jacob Ross, a farmer and they live in Iowa.
            John H. Lee was reared on the home farm and he attended the rural schools in his district, and he remained with his parents until his marriage on November 28, 1880, to Ellen Keever. She is a daughter of Solomon and Mary (Barner) Keever, of Randolph county, the father now deceased, but the mother is living in Modoc. Mrs. Lee grew to womanhood in her native community and received a common school education. To our subject and wife one son has been born, Boyden, whose marriage took place March 22, 1902, when he espoused Emma Miller, a daughter of Isaac and Margaret (Roadcapp) Miller, of White River township, and they have two children, Lura and Willard Woodrow.
            When John H. Lee was first married he began farming for himself on a farm near Modoc. In the fall of 1891 he moved to Wells county, Indiana, where he lived five years engaged successfully in general farming, but in the fall of 1896 he returned to Randolph county and settled in White River township. In the fall of 1903 he moved to his present farm four miles southwest of Winchester, which place consists of eighty acres, well improved and under a high state of cultivation, and on which stands one of the most attractive and modern rural homes in the county. He also has substantial and convenient outbuildings, and he devotes much of his attention to stock raising and feeding for the markets. Mrs. Lee is a lady of decided artistic temperament, a lover of nature, especially flowers, and the spacious, shady and well-kept lawn bears evidence of her taste and work as a floriculturist.
            Politically, Mr. Lee is a Democrat, having been loyal to the principles of this party since 1892, and has been an active party man. He has been precinct committeeman several years, but he has never been an office seeker.
            He and his family are members of the German Baptist church and are active church workers, and influential in the various affairs of the community whether religious, educational, civic or material.
Past and Present of Randolph County, Indiana, 1914.
Contributed by Gina Richardson

Biography Index        Main Page

The Randolph County, Indiana INGenWeb family history site is maintained by Phyllis Fleming.  Copying is permitted for noncommercial, educational use by individual scholars and libraries. You may link to this page with prior permission, provided no fee is required to access the link, but no commercial use of this material is permitted.  This message must appear on all copied material.