Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-07-20

Judgment and pushed by his remark
able persistency and energy he brought
order out of chaos, put the Courier on
a strictly business basis, gave 1t a
wide circulation and made it a great
success. Then he branched out in the
ownership of other properties, making
use of the young men as managers
whom he had discovered and carefully
trained. His leading business charac,
teristic might be described as pains
taking method and persistent energy.
He never took anything for granted;
he must actually know. In newspaper
management ne developed in response
to his opportunities A number Of
bright young men are indebted for all
their business success to A. w. Lee.
They adopted his methods, amplifled
and enlarged upon them and won out.
When he had confidence in a young
man he trusted him implicitly and in
turn was trusted likewise. He never
allowed himself to be SO attached to
notion that he could not change upon
the presentation of something better
He was frequent attendant at news
paper conventions and was always
ready to compare notes with. his fell
low publishers. Editorial conventions
were source of much pleasure to
him. His sudden dropping out of the
ranks will occasion universal sorrow
among the editors and publishers of
the state. To them he had always
been genial and to tneir every request
responsive. His newspapers were dis
tinguished for giving the news with
, cut color or comment. He never
thought it wise to NEEDLE in all kinds
of local quarrels. He resisted all temp
tation to participate seriously in fac
tional fights. He was especially noted
for his love and devotion to his wife
and daughter and their family rela-
tionship.
On all his vacations he could not be
happy unless accompanied by mis- wife
and daughter His devotion in them
was uhself1sh and beautiful His per
sonal life was clean He believed in
temperance and taught the same be-
lief to the many young men associated
with him in business. Not little of
his success Is due to the fact that ne
wasted no time or strength in dissipa-
ton. He believed in prompt payment
Of bills and debts. He believed In
keeping his agreements. He had
through life of integrity built up a
credit which was practically without
limit. Had he lived ten years longer
his achievements in the business world
would have been large larger than any
emily just begun.
He made his home in Ottumwa,
where he had been president of the
Commercial club and where his activ-
ity for the building of his home city
l., 4c T,,x IL. 1><
be missed as he will be missed in OF
tumwa. When he located there about
eighteen years ago. Ottumwa was not
the Ottumwa Of today. He has helped
to make the place what it Is. He
realized it's opportunities and helped
to push the city along.
In journalism he is noted for
steady achievement. He believed in
going forward just as rapidly as his
constituency would permit He always
kept his papers ahead of the immedi,
ate local demand and sustained him.
self by the attainment of outside
patronage.
| The death of A. w. Lee is Iowa's
| loss, loss not only to his family but
to his city and state. He has been
stricken down at apparently the be-
ginning of his usefulness. His death
will be widely mourned.
The deceased was brother to the
wife of Hon. John Mahin, for fifty
years editor Of the Mucatine Journal.
john Lee Mahin, the successful adver-
Using agent Of Chicago. is his nephew.
| Mr.. Lee Mahin held his uncle with
the sincerest affectionate regard. Mrs.
Lee is a sister to Mrs. Johnson Brig
ham of this city. On yesterday Mr..
Brigham left Des Moines for Iowa
City and two or three hours after his
departure Mrs. Brigham received a
telegram announcing Mr.. Lees death.
Of course the body will be brought
home and the interment will DO in OF.