Lee, John S. bio

Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County, Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States, and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890; page 353-354; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
John S. Lee. The agricultural regions of America have given a foothold to many a poor young man, who by reason of his determination to succeed, his industrious habits and his quick appreciation of favorable circumstances, has overtaken Dame Fortune and won his crown. One of this class, residing in Lewistown Township, is the gentleman above named, who is now numbered among the solid men of the township, in which he virtually commenced his career as a farm laborer. His home farm consists of one hundred and twenty acres of well improved cultivated and pasture land, upon which stands a complete line of good buildings. In addition to this he is the owner of a tract comprising one hundred and fifty acres on sections 9 and 16, and a quarter of section 12.
In order to appreciate the efforts and qualities which have led to the success of our subject, it may be well to say a few words regarding his parents and his early home. His father, Barton Lee, was born thirteen miles from Baltimore, Md., and there reared to manhood. During the early settlement of the Blue Grass State he went thither, locating in Lewis County, where he purchased a tract of heavily timbered land. There he began a clearing, building in the wilderness a hewed log house in which our subject opened his eyes to the light November 12, 1823. the father cleared and improved his estate, continuing to reside upon it until 1842, when he passed through the valley of the shadow of death. His good wife, formerly Ruth Smith, a native of Lewis County, died in 1825. Eight of her children were reared to maturity, but the only one now living is our subject, the youngest member of the family.
Mr. Lee was reared in his native county, pursuing his education in the subscription schools, which were carried on in a primitive log schoolhouse. As soon as he was large enough to do so, he began to bear his share in the farm work, continuing to take a greater and greater part therein as his years and strength increased. He worked with his father until the death of the latter, and then continued on the home farm until 1846. At that time he accompanied a neighbor to the Prairie State, their journey being made with a four-horse team. Here Mr. Lee sought employment in the occupation to which he had been reared and was soon engaged by the month as a farm hand.
In 1849 Mr. Lee was enabled to purchase eighty acres of heavily-timbered land, of which twelve acres had been cleared and upon which a log cabin stood. There he began housekeeping in 1850, in a few years being able to purchase the eighty acres adjoining, making a good farm upon which he resided thirty-three years. He cleared the greater part of the first eighty, built good frame buildings and surrounded himself with the comforts which his energy had won and his industry deserved. In 1883 he rented this land on section 12, and bought that upon which he now resides. In the meantime he had purchased the other property mentioned and placed his financial affairs on a sound basis.
November 14, 1850, the interesting ceremony occurred which gave Mr. Lee a faithful and efficient companion. His bride, formerly Miss Emily Walker, was born in Lewis County, Ky., to William and Nancy Walker. The happy union has been blessed by the birth of three children, but one of whom was reared to mature years. This was William F., who was born in 1851 and died in 1888. He was educated in this county, becoming well informed, and following in his father's footsteps as a man of industrious habits and good principles. October 3, 1877, he was united in marriage with Eliza Bearce, daughter of Orsen and Jane Bearce, whose sketch appears in this volume [page 896]. She is a native of Lewistown Township, and is an intelligent, whole-souled woman. She and her four children, Ralph, Jennie, Mary E., and John Orsen, live with our subject, whose home is made cheerful and pleasant by her efforts. Mr. Lee is a firm believer in the principles of Democracy.