The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-09-04
MRS. LEE is DEAD
Widow of Bethany College
Founder Was in Michigan.
She Came to Topeka With Hus-
band in Early Days.
WORKED HARD FOR SCHOOL
DIR. Lee Was Prominent in
Church Work of State.
Daughter, Mrs. J. w. Stewart,
Now Lives Here.

Mrs. John Newton Lee, an early day
resident of Topeka, died Wednesday
afternoon, at o'clock at the summer
home in Wabaningo, Mich. Mrs. Lee
was the mother of Mrs. ]. W. Stewart.
OF 500 Lincoln street, and had spent
the winter with her daughter in To-
peka. Early in the summer Mrs. Lee
and Mrs. Stewart went to their cottage
on the lake.
Mrs. Lee was a pioneer of Topeka,
coming here 81 years ago when her
husband, Doctor Lee, was made rector
of Grace church. She was born Janu-
airy 7. 1898, and was the daughter Of
the Rev. Henry o. Sheldon, of the
Ohio conference and was married at
Sidney, o., on April ., 1851, (three
days before the firing on Fort Sump-
teri by Bishop Bedell. to the Rev. j.
n. Lee. They came to Topeka in
1866, and Doctor Lee immediately be-
came identified With the religious and
educational advancement of the grow
ing city. He was elected principal of
the Episcopal Female Seminary, now
the College Of the Sister of Bethany,
and Mrs. Lee was actively associated
with him in the development OF the
school. Their early work here was
that of pioneers, and was accompanied
Win ali the naruSnlpS OF pioneer me-
to which must be added the depriva-
lions of missionary life in a thinly
settled country.
Founders of College.
Doctor and Mrs. Lee were the prac-
tical founders and for eight years were
the life of this Episcopal school.
Those OF Topeka who recall the Fee
male Seminary of early days can never
disassociate Doctor and Mrs. Lee from
ifs growth and daveIOnupAnf
Prior to Doctor Lees connection
with the school but little effort had
been made to extend its influence be-
yond the city of Topeka, but during
his administration 1t became popularity
known and drew its patronage from
thruout the state. the attendance
growing from less than twenty pupils
to more than $50, which for those
days in this sparsely settled country
was a surprisingly large enrolment.
1t was during Doctor Lees connection
with Bethany that new buildings were
erected and the institution practically
was made free from debt and became
self supporting.
Second only to Doctor Lees ability
as executive and teacher was Mrs.
Lees talent at imparting knowledge.
And she was more than instructor in
the school. She was householder and
| friend to the pupils and from the
! humblest care to the position of great
est responsibility she was never found
wanting.
Left Topeka in 1873.
In 1873 DIR. and Mrs. Lee left To-
peka but in 1884 returned to Kansas,
and for four years lived in North To-
peka, where DR.. Lee was rector OF
the Church of the Good Shepherd
which prospered under his administra-
ton as never before nor since. Doctor
Lee died about fifteen years ago.
Mrs. Lee is survived by one daugh-
ter, Ruth Mary (now Mrs. John Wash
burn Stewart Of Topeka) and three
sons, Edward. who is president of the
Chicago & Western Indiana railroad;
John, of the firm Of Musgrave, OPP
penheim & Lee. of Chicago; and
George, physician in Chicago. with
whom she made her home until the
outbreak Of the war, when he enlisted
| and went nverseas