1909 Obituaries of John Martin Lee, Jr., a native of Union Parish Louisiana Submitted to the LAGenWeb Archives by T. D. Hudson, 2/2006 additional obituary submitted by Pauline Mobley & Beth Mathews, 4/2008 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ ================================================================================= NOTE: John Martin Lee, Jr. (28 Jan 1851 - 2 Oct 1909) was the son of John Martin Lee, Sr. (24 July 1829 - 30 June 1893) and Mary Jane Taylor (14 June 1831 - 18 Oct 1904). John M. Lee, Jr. served as deputy sheriff of Union Parish in the early 1870s, and then as Union Parish tax assessor. He later worked as land agent in various railroad companies. John M. Lee, Jr. was the grandson of several early Union Parish pioneers - Judge John Taylor and wife Jane Wood, and Martin Batte Lee and Lavincy Albritton. He was the great-grandson of Colonel Matthew Wood. ================================================================================== ================================================================================= Obituary of John Martin Lee, Jr., a native of Union Parish Louisiana Farmerville "Gazette" issue of 6 October 1909 ================================================================================= Hon. John M. Lee Dead Hon. John M. Lee, a native of Farmerville, died at his home in New Orleans last Saturday morning after a lingering illness of several years. His remains were shipped to Monroe and interred in the Monroe Cemetery Sunday afternoon amid a large concourse of sorrowing friends and relatives. The following sketch of his life appeared in the Sunday edition of the Shreveport Times: New Orleans, Oct. 2.- John Lee, known throughout the state, and particularly in North Louisiana, where he was born and reared, died at his residence on State street early this morning. Mr. Lee had been ill for some time and his death was not unexpected. His illness is said to be directly traceable to an accident which befell him at the Pan American Exposition at Buffalo some years ago. He was jammed between two cars and sustained serious injuries. Since that time he was never wholly a well man. Mr. Lee was born in Union Parish on January 28, 1851, and was essentially a self-made man, having educated himself on a farm. In early life he took a position with the Vicksburg, Shreveport and Pacific Road as land agent and later President A. C. Hutchinson made him general agent of the Southern Pacific Road and he moved from Monroe, where he was then living, to New Orleans. At the time of his death he was still with the Southern Pacific. Mr. Lee became widely known among public men as he attended every session of the State Legislature and was frequently at meetings of the State Railroad Commission. He had a great deal of personal magnetism and easily made friends and kept them. The deceased was married to Miss Vaida Burch of Farmerville in 1872 and she survives him. Two of his daughters are Mrs. H.R. Speed and Mrs. J. E. Wooten, both of Monroe. His son, Burch W. Lee, resides here. Mr. Lee’s only brother, Major J. G. Lee, was formerly commissioner of agriculture, and is now in charge of the State Experiment Station at Calhoun. ================================================================================= 1909 Obituary of John Martin Lee, Jr., a native of Union Parish Louisiana The News-Star Saturday, 2 October 1909 Page 4, Column 2 ================================================================================== JOHN M. LEE, JR., DEAD Former Well Known Citizen of Monroe Dies in New Orleans Mr. John M. Lee, Jr., for many years a resident of this city, died at his home in New Orleans this morning at 4 o'clock. He was in his fifty-ninth year. During his residence here, Mr. Lee was general land agent of the (?). S.& P. railroad, later accepting a similar position with the Southern Pacific Company, when he moved his residence to New Orleans. Mr. Lee was considered one of the best posted men on railroad matters in the State and his services were invaluable to the railroad companies he represented. Mr. Lee was a native of Union parish where he had many relatives and numbered his friends by his acquaintances, as was the case wherever he was known. He was a man of a genial disposition and spread sunshine wherever he went. Mr. Lee was a frequent visitor to Monroe up to the time of his confinement several months ago when he was forced to undergo an operation, and he always seemed to regard Monroe as his home. Mr. Lee is survived by his wife and three children, Mrs. H.R. Speed and Mrs. J. (?) Wooten of this city, and Mr. Burch Lee of Minden, Capt. Wood Lee, his older son, died during the Spanish-American War while in command of the Pelican Rifles of Baton Rouge. The funeral services will be held in this city at the residence of Mr. H.R. Speed at 3:30 o'clock tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon. The remains will arrive tomorrow morning from New Orleans accompanied by a Masonic escort. A committee from Western Star Lodge, of which he was a member, will meet the remains at Alexandria and escort them to Monroe. The funeral services will be conducted by Rev. J. (?) H. Wharton of the Baptist church of which Mr. Lee was a devout member. Following the church services the remains will be turned over to Western Star Lodge to be interred with Masonic honors. Stonewall Lodge Knights of Pythias will also attend the funeral in a body. The members of the Masonic and Knights of Pythias lodges are requested to meet at their respective lodge halls at 2:30 Sunday afternoon. ================================================================================= 1909 Funeral of John Martin Lee, Jr., a native of Union Parish Louisiana The News-Star Monday, 3 October 1909 Page 2, Column 3 ================================================================================== The Funeral of Mr. J.M. Lee, Jr. On yesterday morning the remains of Mr. J.M. Lee, Jr., of New Orleans, accompanied by the bereaved family and friends under a special Masonic escort from New Orleans, and one from Monroe who joined the party at Alexandria arrived in the city on a private car at 9:30 o'clock. At the depot, the remains were met by a large number of friends, and a committee from the Western Star Lodge No. 24 and escorted to the home of Mr. And Mrs. H.R. Speed, where the services were held on yesterday afternoon. At 3:30, the hour appointed for the funeral, the home of Mr. H.R. Speed was banked with floral offerings and filled to overflowing with friends of the deceased, not only from Monroe, but from Vicksburg, Farmerville and the nearby towns, where Mr. Lee was loved, honored and respected. Rev. J.U.H. Wharton, pastor of the Baptist church and intimate friend of Mr. Lee, conducted the services, during which was most feelingly and expressively sung the beautiful hymns, "Lead Kindly Light", and "Nearer My God to Thee". In his remarks over his cherished friend, Mr. Wharton referred to a long (NEWSPAPER IS TORN AT THIS POINT) -ing which time he knew him, as a public spirited gentleman, ever ready to promote the progress and upbuilding of the town or community in which he lived. As a devoted husband thoughtful and affectionate, as a father, kind, generous, and watchful, as a friend, true and sincere, as a Christian character, steady and firm, ready to answer the summons, which came as a gentle sleep, for the beating heart was softly touched by the finger of God and all was gently stilled. By a strange working of Providence, Mr. Wharton conducted the burial services over Mr. Lee's father and wrote the obituary, though to a different State, to the memory of his mother, and while stated Mr. Wharton, though this was a most trying occasion, if it was God's will, he was flad to be able to make this testimony, sacred to the memory of Mr. Lee. At the conclusion of Rev. Mr. Wharton's remarks, the Masonic order took charge, the services being conducted in part at the residence. The remains were carried through a beautiful passage way of flowers, tributes of love and friendship, by the Masonic pall bearers to the hearse. Messrs. F. P. Stubbs, D.A. Breard, G.M. Crook, R.B. Frizzel, G.P. Stubbs, J.W. Hyams of New Orleans, acting in that capacity. The honorary pall bearers were Messrs. W. Millsaps, J.T. Cole, Jno. E. Morris, R.M. McClendon, R.L. Rinehart, H.L. Gregg of West Monroe, Dr. W.L. Jones and Mr. R.P. Webb of Monroe, and Mr. St. Martin of New Orleans. The remains were followed to the Monroe Cemetery by a large concorse of friends and laid to rest with Masonic honors. Hon. Frederick Speed of Vicksburg, Past Grand Master of the State of Mississippi paid a fitting tribute to the memory of his friend and fraternal brother, Mr. Lee. () friends to accompany the () from New Orleans and to re() with them on the special this evening are: Mr. W. Moss, Past Grand Master of the State and member of Jefferson Lodge No. 191, Mr. Aaron Steeg, editor of the Square and Compass, Mr. Jos. Hyams, ex-speaker of the House of Representitives at Baton Rouge, Mr. St. Martin, sheriff of Jefferson parish, Messrs. Lynton Stubbs, J.M. Lee, Mrs. Hacket and Mrs. T.O. Lowry of New Orleans. Mr. Lee leaves a widow, two daughters, Madames J.R. Wooten and H.R. Speed of Monroe, and one son, Mr. W.B. Lee of Minden, to whom in their sad bereavement the News-Star offers sincerest sympathies. ================================================================================= 1909 Tribute to John Martin Lee, Jr., a native of Union Parish Louisiana The News-Star Friday, 22 October 1909 Page 4, Column 4 ================================================================================== The News-Star Friday, October 22, 1909 Page 4, Column 4 Action of Stonewall Lodge No. 8, Concerning the Death of Broth-er John Martin Lee Brother John Martin Lee having answered the last summons and passed to the Grand Lodge on high, Stonewall Lodge No. 8, Knights of Pythias, does hereby place on record its great sorrow at his death and its feelings of sympathy and coompassion for the loved ones left to mourn. Brother Lee was born in Farmerville, Union parish, January 28, 1851, and died in New Orleans, October 2, 1909. His father was John M. Lee, Sr., who was sheriff of Union parish for years. His mother was the daughter of Judge Taylor, the first district judge of Union Parish. He was educated in the public schools, such as they were in those days, but secured most of his education through his own personal efforts and determination. He was essentially a self-made man. He was a deputy sheriff of Union for a number of years, and after that served as tax assessor. Later he became a clerk in the State Senate, and this was his first taste of public life. After that he became the land agent of the Vicksburg, Shreveport & Pacific railroad and established his headquarters in Monroe. His last service was as general agent of the Southern Pacific and in this capacity he was known in the railroad world far and wide. Brother Lee was married in 1872 to Miss Vada Burch of West Point, Georgia, and she with one son, Burch, of Minden, and two daughters, Mrs. H.R. Speed and Mrs. J.E. Wooten, of Monroe, survive him. As showing the character of our brother, we quote the remark of a prominent railroad man who had been closely associated with him: "One of the great secrets of Mr. Lee's success was that he never lost his temper. I never saw John Lee angry. He never bore malice. He was forgiving. I have seen men abuse him, but the next time Mr. Lee met them he was just as if nothing had happened. His great heart and towering nature made them feel so little that they could never do enough for him. That is the way he won those who at times may have tried to be ugly. His nature would not let people fall out with him." We commend to the members of our order the splendid facts stated above nd urge them to seek the emulation of treaits so helpful. Resolved, That this action of the lodge be communicated to the family and that they be assured of our sincerest sympathy in their sorrow; that the proper engrossing be made in the records of the lodge; and that the usual publication be made. GEO. D. BOOTH, Chairman. J.L. KALISKI, ROBT. W. FAULK.