From the "Biographical Memoirs of
Wells County,
Indiana," 1903, B. F. Bowen, Publisher. Full page photos of Jonathan R. Lee and Mrs. Jonathan R, Lee (Susannah (
Banter) Lee are included.
JONATHAN R. LEE, one of the oldest residents of
Wells County, now living a life of honorable retirement, is a native of
Miami county,
Ohio, born on the 2nd day of December, 1822. His father, William Lee, an early settler of
Ohio, was a native of
Virginia, as was also the mother, whose name before marriage was Martha Little. These parents were married in
Virginia and for a few years thereafter lived in that state, Mr. Lee followed the shoemaker's trade for a livelihood. Thinking to better his financial condition further west, William Lee moved to Piqua,
Miami county,
Ohio, where he ran a shoe shop about five years and at the expiration of that time engaged in agricultural pursuits in the county of
Clark. About the year 1847 he took up his residence in the newly settled county of
Delaware,
Indiana, where he entered a tract of land and began the work of clearing a farm. After a few years there he disposed of his place and purchased land in the county of Wabash, where in due time he cleared a large farm and became well-to-do financially. Subsequently he sold out and moved to
Huntington county where he lived the remainder of his days, dying on his farm, a short distance east of the city of
Huntington, after reaching a good old age. His first wife, the mother of the subject of this sketch, died in Piqua,
Ohio, and later he entered into the marriage relation with Margaret Haney, who survived him a number of years.
To William and Martha Lee were born four children, namely: Margaret, deceased; Jane, widow of
Abram Seamore; Jonathan R., and Martha, who died in childhood. By his second wife Mr. Lee was the father of six children, five of whom are living at the present time: William; Samuel; Ezra; Catherine, widow of Daniel Haney;
Jonas, the oldest of the second family, has been dead a number of years; Jacob, died in the Civil war, and Susannah, also dead.
The early life of Jonathan R. Lee was spent on a farm in
Clark county,
Ohio, and it was there that he received his educational training in the subscription schools, attending the same until about fifteen years old. He then accompanied his parents to
Indiana and for a number of years thereafter his life was closely identified with the pioneer period of
Delaware county. He assisted his father to build a small log cabin on the latter's place and though but a lad of fifteen did his full share in cutting down timber, piling logs and other hard work necessary to clear land and fit it for cultivation. He also met with many interesting incidents peculiar to life in the backwoods, one of which was the killing of a large deer, with a gun which his father had forbidden him to take from the house, thinking such weapons dangerous in the hands of a lad unexperienced in their use.
Mr. Lee grew up a strong and vigorous young man and was able to do his full share of clearing, cutting wood and other hard work long before attaining his majority. In 1842, when twenty years old, he was united in the bonds of wedlock to Miss Susana
Banter, of
Virginia, and immediately thereafter commenced farming on rented land in
Delaware county, where he spent the first two years of his married life. At the end of that time he bought forty acres of unimproved land in
Wells County, for which he agreed to pay the sum of one hundred and fifteen dollars, going in debt for the greater part of the amount. Erecting a small log cabin of the most primitive pattern, eighteen by twenty feet in size, he and his good wife set up their domestic establishment, cheered by a sense of ownership such as their previous experience had not brought to them. He then addressed himself to the larger task of clearing his place and by dint of hard work, frequently prolonged far into the night, prepared for cultivation the first spring about six acres, which were planted in corn. Between attending his crop and clearing, during the following summer he increased the area of cultivatable ground so that by fall he was enabled to sow quite a number of acres in wheat which in due season yielded bountiful returns. Meantime from the sale of such products as could be spared and by trading in live stock he greatly reduced the debt on his farm and it was not long until the place was entirely free of incumbrance (sic). Six years after locating in
Wells County he was able to purchase other land and from that time on he continued to add to his real estate until he became the owner of about four hundred acres, the greater part of which was brought to a high state of cultivation. After his boys married and left home and Mr. Lee by reason of advanced age was no longer able to run his farm, he divided the estate among his eight children, giving to each forty acres and retaining eighty acres for his own use. As a farmer he early took high rank in his township, having always been a man of progressive ideas and sound judgement in matters pertaining to the pursuit of agriculture. He also achieved an enviable reputation as a raiser of fine horses and in this way made the greater part of his wealth; there was always a great demand for his horses, as they were of superior breeds and well calculated for draft and general farming purposes. Later in life he devoted considerable attention to the raising of fine hogs, in which he was also successful, adding very materially to his income from this source alone.
After a happy married life of a half century's duration, Mrs. Lee entered into rest on the 17th day of March, 1894. She was a most faithful and loving companion and true helpmeet to her husband during the long period they lived together, ministering to him in times of suffering, encouraging him when the world looked dark, and contributing to his success in the days of his prosperity. She bore him eight children, all of whom are living at this writing (1902): their names are William, a prosperous farmer of
Jackson township, this county; Elizabeth, wife of Samuel H. Palmer, also a resident of Jackson; Margaret, widow of the late Philip
Elkin and, since the latter's death a number of years ago, her father's devoted companion, especially since the death of Mrs. Lee; she is the mother of one son, Daniel K., who was nine months old when his father died, but since that time he has made his home with his grandfather whose interests he now looks after with the most filial regard; he married Miss Emma Kiser; Lucy J., the next in order of birth, married
Meredith Capper, a farmer and stockraiser (sic) of Pulaski county; John, a teacher, married Miss Montry C. Kilander; George W. is a resident of
Jackson township; Sarah A. is the wife of Thomas Morris and lives at Mt. Zion, this county; the youngest member of the family is Mary, now the wife of George
McFarland, a well known resident of the county of
Wells. All the children of Mr. Lee are honorable, upright citizens of integrity of character and occupy enviable positions in the several communities in which they have resided.
Mr. Lee has passed the eightieth milestone on life's journey, but is remarkably active for one his age, being able to get about with comparative ease, also retaining to a marked degree the possession of his mental powers. His coming here and the settlement of this township were almost coeval events and to much of its growth and prosperity it is indebted to him. He has been a western man in the broad sense of the term, and is one of the few left to tell the story of the struggles, adversities and final successes of the pioneers to whom the people of the present day owe such a deep debt of gratitude. Forty years ago Mr. Lee, with his good wife, joined the Universalist church and commenced the Christian life that has characterized him ever since. Born and reared a Democrat, he faithfully upheld the traditions and doctrines of that political faith until the organization of the Greenback party when he gave his allegiance to the latter, firmly believing the financial policy which it advocated to be for the best interest of the American people. Of late years he has paid little attention to politics, voting for men and principle rather than at the dictates of party leaders. Throughout his entire career he has tried to live up to his ideal of right, in view of which fact there is nothing in the future that he need fear.
Transcribed from a photocopy of the original by Earl W. Hoffman, 14 January 2001.