Lee, Frank A.

FORTNER, ALDRICH, BURBANK, BURBANK, WAITE, WHITNEY, TODD

Posted By: BCGS
Date: 1/2/2010 at 16:26:32

Frank A. Lee, holding the office of city clerk in Waverly, has ably and faithfully discharged the duties devolving upon him in that connection since January, 1909. His birth occurred in Nile, New York, on the 3d of October, 1854, his parents being Spencer and Mary (Fortner) Lee, both of whom were natives of the state of New York, the former born on the 6th of December, 1816, and the latter on the 3d of April, 1822. Spencer Lee followed general agricultural pursuits throughout practically his entire life. In 1856 he brought his family to Iowa, locating in Franklin township, Bremer county, where he acquired land and devoted his attention to farming until 1878. At that time he put aside the active work of the fields and took up his abode in Des Moines, where both he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives in honorable retirement. He served in the office of justice of the peace and made a creditable record in that connection. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Spencer Lee were born nine children, our subject being the sixth in order of birth.

Frank A. Lee obtained his early education in Franklin township and subsequently attended the Upper Iowa University at Fayette, while later he became a student in Lenox College at Hopkinton. When a young man of eighteen years he left the parental roof, attending college during the summer seasons and teaching school in the winter months. About 1876 he came to Waverly and secured a position as bookkeeper for T.C. Aldrich, who conducted the largest dry goods and grocery store in the city at that time. About a year later his employer failed, and he then attended the Iowa State College of Agriculture at Amers for one year. On the expiration of that period he returned to Waverly and went to work in the drug store of Dr. Oscar Burbank, his future father-in-law. About two years later he became a partner of the Doctor and subsequently purchased the entire business. In the meantime he had added books and stationery to the stock and conducted the enterprise successfully until 1883, occupying the corner store opposite the Fortner Hotel. In the year mentioned he disposed of his interests and, seeking a change of climate for the benefit of his impaired health, removed to Pierre, South Dakota, where he took a claim and remained for one year. At the end of that period he returned to this state and for a time was employed in the post office at Des Moines, while subsequently he embarked in the real-estate and loan business. Coming to Waverly in 1895, he was here engaged in the news and stationery business and also acted as agent for the United States Express Company until elected city clerk, which office he has filled since January, 1909. He represented the fourth ward in the council from 1901 - 1904 and was mayor of the city during 1904. He has won an enviable reputation as a capable and trustworthy public official and is recognized as one of the substantial citizens of Waverly, here owning a valuable residence property.

On the 31st of December, 1879, Mr. Lee was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Burbank, who was born in St. John, New Brunswick, Canada, on the 26th of November, 1853, her parents being Oscar and Caoline (Waite) Burbank, native of Maine. The father, a practitioner of medicine, became one of the earliest physicians in Waverly and remained a successful representative of his profession here until the time of his demise. For a number of years he was likewise engaged in the drug business in association with his son-in-law, Frank A. Lee. His efforts constituted a potent element in the growth and upbuilding of the town of Waverly and he was justly classed among its prominent and leading citizens. Unto our subject and his wife have been born four children, as follows; Edward, who died in infancy; Della A, who is the wife of Wilfred Whitney and resides in Chicago; Dorothy, residing in Waverly, who gave her hand in marriage to H.C. Todd, a traveling salesman for the Shapleigh Hardware Company of St. Louis; and Oscar, of Seattle, Washington, who is employed on a large passenger boat.

In his political views Mr. Lee is a progressive republican. In Masonic circles he is well known, belonging to the blue lodge, chapter, council, commandery and shrine. He served as master of the blue lodge for five years, as secretary of the chapter for twelve years and is a district lecturer of Iowa. He is a past chancellor in the Knights of Pythias lodge and has acted as deputy grand chancellor for several years. Mr. Lee likewise belongs to various insurance orders. His friends are many and the high regard tendered him is the expression of an appreciation of the upright, honorable life he has lived and his sterling principles of manhood and of character. He is ready to meet any obligation of life with the confidence and courage that come of conscious personal ability, the right conception of things and a habitual regard for what is best in the exercise of human activities.

History of Bremer County, Iowa Vol. II 1914