Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-07-21

taking this view of things the undertake
ing of adding the name and short
sketch of Mr. Mylo Lee to the ARGUS
gallery of local men of worth, is one
that affords much qualification.
Mr.. Lee. who stands second to none of
the prominent business men of the city,
comes from an ancestry peculiarly and
purely American. and it is seldom that
one can trace his family history as clearly
as Mr. Lee. Certainly none can do 1t
with more iustiisble pride. John
Lee came from England to America as
early AS the first half of the seventeenth
century, settling at Pennington, Conn.
He married native of this
country aud it is in this union that
is traced line of honorable ancestry
from which finally comes the subject of
this sketch.
MyIo Lee was the Youngest son of Eli,
sha and Amira ScoviIIe Lee and was born
in Connecticut Nov. - 1S2S Elisha
Lee died in New York state, whittier be
had gone on business il 1850, al the age
of ftty>four, and four years later
his widow came west and the remainder
of her days were spcn ut her sons house,
where she died in 1880. having reached
the ripe old age of eighty one years.
Mt Lees father being a farmer, as well
as merchant and manufacturer, Mylo's
younger years were spent in filling the
soil and acquiring what nowledge he
could in the common schools, until the
attainment of his fifteenth year, from
which age up to twenty he clerked in a
mercantile establishment at Hartford and
then spent a year in dry goods estsb-
lishment in New York city, He was
forty miner, and went to California via
Cape Horn, returning two years later as
sailor before the mast via Good Hope.
In 1852 he came to Rock Island engage
ing at once in merchandising In 1858
the banking house of Fish Il Lee was
formed, but it fell IN the financial crash
of 81 For the next three years he was
engaged in the fire insurance business
In February, 1860 he erected at Black
Hawk. Colorado, the first stamp mill
ever operated IN that territory. The
company was known as the Black Hawk
Mining company, and the firm being Lee,
Judd & Lee. The concern was for five
years operated successfully, and some of
the best mining lands in the territory aC-
quired.
Returning to Rock Island in 1869 Mr..
Lee bought controlling interest in the
| Argillo Tile Works, situated near Carbon
| Cliff Mr.. Lees investment amounted
to 800, 900 and it was a venture that did
not give promise of immediate results of
a satisfactory nature, but Mr.. Lee was
cnterprislng and of so much of specu-
lative disposition as to take such risks
The institution was OF comparatively
small nature and not altogether remuner-
alive, but Mr. Lee put his shoulder to the
wheel. and under his mana cement and
direction the industry has grown to be
one of the most flourishing in Rock ISL
and county, and one of the most impor-
tant in the northwest The capital stock
has been largely increased and the capaC'
ity of the works enlarged as the growth
of business has exaCted Quite recently
new building has been added to thu
works, much larger engine put IN ant
sewer tile added to the products of thu
industry. Thus it is that the Argill'
Works now manufacture everything il
the shape of tile that is made by any
similar institution in the country. TIT
works manufacture annually sixty tons o
fire brick. sidewalks and culvert ant
sewer thing and all the various product
of frst-class clay. The shipments ar
very extensive and reach out to all part
of the country. The Argillo brick ant
tile which are manufactured in all size
and shapes, are in special demand. tn
daily shipment being fifteen to twent
car loads. The works cover some tiv
acres and form hive of industry il
themselves.
Mr.. Lee was married at Almond, N Y
March 8, 1855, to Miss Margaret r. Conk
lin, and their married life has been bright
ened by seven children; Mrs G "
Lewis, living in Dakota; Mrs. F. G
Denkmsn, of this city; Rev. Ora
ham Lee, Lake Forrest, Ill; Mylc
at Beardstown. and Myra, Thoms
G. and Alice B. in this city Nj
Lee has on Moline avenue. one of tn
| peasantest homes in Rock Island. whel
he delights to provide all the comfort an
happiness possible for his family.