Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-11-21

had been actively engaged for sixty
five years, and at the age of 81, when
he retired, had personal charge of his
business and looked after the buying
OF goods. "A week ago Friday he was
taken to his bed with an acute stom-
ach and bowel trouble, complicated
with an affection of the heart, and he
has gradually grown weaker until
the end came. Mr.. Lee was the olde 1t
dry goods man In the city. and had
been in business here for almost forty
years. He had amassed three fortunes.
during his life, when he was worth
at either time from $4,000 to 100000,
but saw them swept away. He was OF
the sturdy New England character that
never knew the meaning of the words.
give up" and without becoming dis
couraged commenced again. Upon
coming to Marshalltown. in 1865. he
had less than $4,000. He has been very
successful In business here. notwlth-
standing the fact that he was consid-
cred one of the most generous men in
business ever in the city.
Elias Lee was the son of Josiah and
Chloe Newell Lee, and was born at
Hartland. VT, Jan. Is. 1878. His fam
lily has been famous for It's longevity,
the members OF several generations
having passed the allotted time of man.
Mr.. Lees youngest sister. now living.
Is 80, and all but one of his brothers
and sisters passed away after reach
ing the age Of so. One sister was 80
at the time Of her death.
Mr.. Lee entered the mercantile BUSH
ala xx,ta he A ne
age at Woodstock, VT, and worked
there for four years. He then went
south and until 1899 lived In Georgia
and Florida. He came north when a
young man. and located at Southport
Wis.,. now the city of Kenosha. He
was engaged as a clerk for time. but
soon succeeded to partnership. in the
general merchandise business where
he was employed, the firm being known
as Lee & Towslee. The business grew
and Mr.. Yowsiee sold, and for num-
Der OF years the firm was known as
Hale, Lee & Lay, the junior member
Of the firm, Nelson Lay. being the
father Of e. r. Lay, OF this city, Mr..
Lee retired from the firm later and took
as his partner his clerk Charles e..
Bromley, and for twelve or fifteen years
conducted general merchandise bus
mess under the name of Lee & Brom-
ley.
In 1855 the firm OF Lee & Bromley
decided to leave Kenosha and come to
Marshalltown, and engaged in business
here in little building where the FL
deity bank now stands. The firm con-
tinued in business until 1884. when the
Bromley interest was acquired by Mr..
Lee, who conducted the business alone
until he took as his partner. Mr.. f. r.
Benedict, who had been his clerk for
nine years. This was eleven years
ago, and the firm remained Lee &
Benedict until a year ago, when Mr..
III. q. Brintnall acquired an interest and
the firm name was changed to Lee,
Benedict & Co. The death of Mr..
Lee is to Mr.. Benedict a blow that is
felt as keenly as If the loos was that OF
a father If MIR. Lee had lived until
January IS. or reached the seth anni-
versary of his birth, he and Mr.. Bene-
dict would have been together for an
even twenty years.
Mr. Lee was twice married, the first
time June 10, 1871, at Mygatt Corners
Wis, little settlement near Racine, to
Miss Maria Mygatt. Mrs. Lee died at