The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1903-02-05

n. H., but his was the main RESPONSE
bility. and to this special work of ar
ranging and verifying the large
amount of accumulated material and
( of putting all in shape for publica.
ton, he devoted himself with an alb.
sorbing interest and with character.
istic energy. To complete it many
months of continuous and close appli-
cation were required.
| In the meantime, 1896 second re-
union of the descendants of John Lee
was held at Pennington, Conn, in the
arrangements for which Mr.. Lee was
one of the prime movers. AT this
meeting provision was made for the
publication of the book, which was
then nearing completion. It was is
sued in 1897 under the title of "John
| Lee, of Pennington, Conn.,, and his
Descendants volume. of 900 pages,
containing over 1000 names, together
with report of the reunion of the year
before. It represented patient, pains
taking labor, Investigations of records,
correspondence and travel, Esuch as
only those can appreciate!who have en-
gagged in similar undertakings. With
! him, however, it was a labor of love.
| The book contains mass of most in
teresting and valuable information
with reference tothe genealogy of the
| family, and will stand as monument
of his devotion to, its Interests. It
has been quite widely circulated
| among the descendantst!of John Lee,
and has found a place in numerous
reference Libraries East and West.
Two or three years later, in 1900, a
supplem entary volume1of nearly 200
pages, also compiled by Mr.. Lee, was
| issued, the continued researches of
himself and others having resulted in
the collection of much additional gene
illogical information and nearly 1000
more names of descendants residing in
different parts of this country, North
and South, and in Canada.
Character Citizenship, Final Illness
In character Mr.. Lee was a man of
the highest moral integrity. In bust
ness his dealings we're always on the
square. 1t was his constant aim liter
ally to "owe no man anything" He
was a man of exceptional energy and
of untiring industry. He was always
interested in public affairs, although
he never sought and seldom held pub
lie Office. Although always a regular
attendant upon and supporter of the
Congregational church of Kenosha, he
did not formally unite with it until
rather late in life. His early educa-
ton was supplemented by extensive
reading, habit which was continued
all his life, and by his observations IN
travel, in which his habit of keen OBJ
servation and his retentive memory
served him to the best advantage. By
these means he became an unusually
well informed man. He was of an ex-
ceeding1y practical turn of mind, very
methodical, and always made his plans
far ahead. He was frugal and temper
ate in his habits, was man of strong
will, was possessed of deep.seated
sense of justice aud right, was intense
in his convictions, and was especially
impatient at all manifestations of in
justice and wrong. Although not
demonstrative, he was strongly at
tached to his family and to his friends,
went. All the kindred who have known
him-and his genealogical investiga
tons brought him in contact with
many scattered all over the country
speak of him in warmest terms. He
| was a man of exceptional physical
elasticity and vigor, and this was
characteristic of him up to the time of
his last illness. Few would have sus-
pected from his appearance that he
had reached the advanced age which
| he did. He was correspondingly
vigorous mentally, and his mind was
clear almost to the last.
During all his absences of the past
| ten or dozen years from Kenosha he
remained loyal to the place which was
SO long his home, Of which he was one
of the early settlers, and in whose
welfare he was always interested.
Whenever it was practicable he al
ways returned to cast his vote in the
local or national elections. Wherever
he went he always had his local paper,
the Telegraph, Courier, of which, under
its different names, he had been a sub
scriber for over fifty years, sent to
him. In this way he constantly kept
| himself in touch with what was trans
piring at home. It was with extreme
regret that owing to his illness he was
unable TO visit the city last summer,
especially to be present at the Old
Settlers picnic of the county. Very
likely he had premonition that this
might be his last opportunity Of meet
ing his old associates and friends.
| The illness which finally resulted in
his death was contracted nearly a year
ago while in Florida. Recovering, suf-
ficiently to travel, he started north.
ward, and was barely able to reach
Clinton, Iowa, where friends were
awaiting him. From that time, from
a complication of difficulties, mainly
of the heart, his condition was practi.