The Redwood gazette., 1934-03-08
RITES HELD MONDAY
FOR MRS. EMMA LEE,
8l,PIONEER MOTHER
Came to America When a Baby,
Married Fort Ridgely
Soldier in 1870

Funeral services were held Monday
afternoon for Mrs. Emma Lee, 81,
who died early Saturday morning at
the home of her daughter, Mrs. j. F.
Knudson, after an illness of three
weeks.
Rev. G. E. Martin, pastor of the
Methodist church, was in charge of
the services which were held at the
Knudson home and burial was in the
Sleepy Eye cemetery. Songs were
, sung by niece, Mrs. Rex Werring,
of Minneapolis and C. A. Fobes, H.
V. Starr and Fred Anthony.
The pail bearers were; Fred Muir
set, H. M. Aune, Otto Melges, c. L.
Farver, A. C. Burmeister and Bert
Kleaver. Flower bearers were Mes
danes E. A. Carruth, j. A. Johnson
and Fred Murset.
Emma Werring was born at South
Petherin, Cornwall, England, May 8,
1851, the fifth child of William Werr-
ing and Joanna Phillips Werring.
During the next year the parents de-
cided to emigrate to America and so
with their children crossed the At
lantic in a sail boat. The trip took
over ten weeks, and the baby Emma's
first birthday occurred during the
voyage. They landed at Montreal,
June %, 1852 and came down the st.
Lawrence river, settling at Yorkville,
near the home of the mothers BROTH
er, Thomas Phillips, at Racine, Wis
conSin.
To Minnesota in 81
In 1857 they moved to Dodge coun-
ty, Minnesota and in 1866 they set
tied on a homestead six miles north
of Sleepy Eye in Brown county. A
grandson, William Werring Jr. now
lives on the same farm. They were
pol the old Indian trail between Sleepy
Eye lake and Fort Ridgely where the
1ndians were daily visitors; the fam
lily went through all the dangers and
trials of first settlers in new coun-
ltry.
The first great sorrow came when
the father, while floating logs down
the Minnesota river, slipped off
raft and was drowned.
Mrs. Lee taught the first school in
that part of the country-school be-
ing held in the wood shed of their
nome. She previously had attended
school in Rochester, going to and
rom in the old stage coaches.
With her future husband, Palmer
Lee, who was stationed at Fort
2idgely, and her sister and her hus-
oand, Mr.. and Mrs. Isaac MARITIME,
she attended the memorable officers
banquet and ball at the fort when it
vas at its best. With the lovely
rounds and buildings, the cut flow
IS, silver, and china at the banquet,
t was quite an event. One of the
commanders took his badge from his
:oat and pinned it on her dress; Mrs.
Hnudson has this keepsake.
Married at 19
At the age of 10, April 9, 1870, she
md Palmer Lee, the son Of another
,ioneer family living near the Mime
ota river and the fort, were married
New Ulm and went to live on their
omestead just west of Golden Gate.
ere, April 15, 1872, the son, William
the late DR.. w. P. Lee Of Fairfax
Id later of Northfield) was born.
he log house where they lived still
ands.
With her small son, Mrs. Lee was
passenger on the Chicago and
orth Western train on its first trip
est from Sleepy Eye.
l'During the grasshopper scourge,
-, hen grain could not be raised, they
oved temporarily to another farm
Shutdown township, Redwood coun-
and raised stock. This was on the
Ill between Springfield and Red
:. Continued on Page 10)