Butts County GaArchives News.....Brief History of Henry S. Lee June 7 1887
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Don Bankston http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00024.html#0005864 November 13, 2003, 11:21 pm

Middle Ga Argus

Henry S. Lee
A Brief History of His Life, From Youth to Manhood

The brief history of a noble life that is ended can result only good to those 
who read it.  With this fact prominently before me I will give, as best I can, 
a short account of the life of one whose virtues have bloomed in the hearts of 
the associates to fade nevermore.

Henry Saunders Lee was a son of Larkin D. Lee, and was born in this county on 
the 30th of January 1851.

About the first, and most commendable traits of character that developed in the 
disposition of the boy, was his sobriety, and repeated refusals to touch the 
enticing sweetened “toddy.”  Although of a retiring disposition, he was 
cheerful in the performances of every duty that devolved upon him.  Thus, at a 
very early period of his life he exhibited an ability to “weed his own row” 
should he ever be thrown upon his resources.

When Henry Lee reached the age of 19 he had accumulated enough money to pay his 
schooling one year; and entered school at Fayetteville, Ga., with Professor 
Richter, now of Oxford, as his teacher.  While there, which more than a year, 
he made great progress in learning, and left school with an education that can 
only be acquired by a broad, comprehensive mind, augmented by untiring 
application.  He also made many friends at that place who loved him like a 
brother. I chanced to stop in Fayetteville about two years ago, and many 
questions were asked me concerning him since he had gone to Texas.  The 
surprise of his old school-fellows was great when informed that his sphere in 
life was so humble as that of country school teacher, knowing, as they did, 
that his mental and educational qualifications were such as would have enabled 
him to have distinguished himself in any of the learned professions.

After finishing his literary education he went to Jackson county and taught 
school for some time, at the earnest request of his patrons.  His school, 
however, was abandoned that he might acquire a special business education.  
This purpose was accomplished after a year of hard study at Moore’s Business 
College.  As to his ability, moral and social standing, he was highly 
recommended by Professors Moore and Goldsmith, also by Col. R. T. Dorsey for 
some time judge of the only court of Atlanta.

Prof. Andrews, principal of the school at Fairburn, offered him a liberal 
salary to teach the theory of book-keeping in connection with his literary 
branches.  This he declined saying he would “pile rock rather than teach 
school.”  Instead of following the examples of less accomplished young men who 
are eager to unfurl to the breeze evidences of learning, he chose to isolate 
himself from the glare of the world and make his living by bodily strength.

In the winter of 1879 he went to Liberty Hill, Texas, where he remained for 
five years.  While his disposition was not of a migratory tendency his abode in 
Texas was adventurous and romantic.  He made several trips over the plains with 
a compass and Texas pony as companion – some of the trips being two hundred and 
eighty miles in length and extended into the Indian Territory.  In preparing to 
camp, the pony was tied to a stake which was carried along for the purpose, 
while a rope encircled the spot on which he reposed.  I am informed that the 
prairie is infested with rattlesnakes, and that a singular fact is they will 
not crawl over a rope.  Hence, the propriety of their device.  He also cut 
cross ties for a railroad for some length of time locating his camp about 
twelve miles from any human habitation. It is queer to contemplate a young man 
of his worth and culture assuming such a weird guise of life in the wild West, 
when a broad avenue to success and distinction was opened up for him in his 
native State.  But such are recorded facts, and make up the most eventful 
incident in the history of his life.

But while indulging in these varied phases of life he never lost his love for 
good books.  His happiest hours were spent in communing with the wise through 
the medium of his books, and for the business he preferred a clandestine spot.  
He absorbed knowledge as a sponge absorbs water, and so retentive was his 
memory he could recall the substance of everything of importance he ever read.

Upon receiving intelligence of the severe illness of his father he returned to 
Georgia in 1881.  Shortly after his arrival he engaged in the mercantile 
business, in which he continued until his death.  In his dealings with his 
fellow-man he was strictly honest-not from policy, but because he believed it 
to be right.  The man never lived who can accuse him of willfully 
misrepresenting anything; or deviating from what he conscientiously conceived 
to be right.  I am not unapprised of the breath of this assertion; neither am I 
ignorant that the language does the subject but feeble justice.  The value of 
his life as a criterion was inestimable.  But all earthly things must come to 
an end.  There is nothing visible in all this universe that bears the stamp of 
eternal durability.

“Henry was stricken with typhoid-pneumonia on the 13th of May.  Such poignant 
suffering men seldom undergo.  But he complained very little.  During this last 
sickness he professed Christ as his Savior.  While his body was racked with 
terrible agony, his tongue parched with fever and his life slowly ebbing away, 
he used this, among other similar expressions:”This life is but a span – a 
glaring show, and if necessary we should give up everything in love to God.”  
He died at Peeksville, Henry County, Ga., May 26,1887.  Only a short while 
before he died he asked his friends if they intended to live a religious life.

We point to his virtues as his monument; we point to his life as one wherein 
truth and virtue far excel the empty sound of fame.

It is pleasant to dwell upon his noble qualities of mind and heart, but the 
flame of this ephemeral life has been extinguished; finished, is the example so 
worthy of emulation; consummated is the work assigned him by the God on whom he 
trusted to bear his Immortal Spirit to a home beyond the confines of earth, 
glorious and worth striving for.
P. L.
Middle Ga. Argus – Week of June 7,1887




This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/

File size: 6.7 Kb