Robert Lee

LEE, BEATTY

Posted By: Lynn McCleary (email)
Date: 9/3/2018 at 06:25:06

Muscatine Journal, Monday, April 15, 1912, page 1

Robert Lee Dies At Capital City - Well Known Muscatine Man Victim Of Heart Trouble.

Death Was Sudden – Went to Des Moines for Purpose of Having Teeth Extracted.

Robert Lee, a well known Muscatine man, and one of the most prominently known men in the county passed away at Des Moines, Iowa, on Sunday morning, April 14, 1912. Information received from Des Moines today is to the effect that the local resident's death was due to heart trouble.

He went to the Capital on last Wednesday for the purpose of having several teeth extracted. His jaw had been broken in three places by a fall sustained some years ago in the West when he jumped from a swiftly moving train, and local dentists refused to remove the teeth. On Friday his wife received a letter stating that the specialist at Des Moines whom he had gone to see had refused to perform the operation immediately because of the probable fatal effects due to the broken jaw.

A consultation was to have been held on Saturday and some decision reached as to the advisability of the operation. Whether the teeth were extracted and the shock affected his heart is unknown as the local relatives today received no further information other than he died at the Mercy hospital there.

No member of the family was present at the time of his death, his wife and son leaving last evening. The decedent was believed to be in excellent health when leaving the city and wanted to have his teeth extracted while he was in that condition.

According to a dispatch received late today, Mr. Lee was stricken with heart disease while at the Randolph Hotel in Des Moines at 8:30 o’clock Saturday night and because of his serious condition was at once removed to the hospital. As far as us can be learned no dental operation was performed upon him.

It is expected that the body will be brought here this evening.

Native of Ireland.

Robert Lee, who had been retired from active work of late, was a native of Ireland but was brought to Muscatine County by his parents in his infancy. He was born in County Tyrone April 6, 1847, and was the son of Isaac and Mary (Beatty) Lee. His father came to America in 1847 in an old sailing vessel which reached the port of New Orleans after a voyage of sixteen weeks. Coming up the Mississippi river the travelers located in Seventy-six township, Muscatine county, Iowa, the father entering school land, upon which he built a log house and began to make a home in the wilderness. He was called away about nine years later and his remains were interred in a small cemetery in that township.

Reared upon the home farm Robert Lee received his early education in a small building which his father was instrumental in erecting, to be used as a Catholic church, but as educational facilities were few in the early days this structure was rented for school purposes. He subsequently came to Muscatine and finished his education in Brown's select school.

Robert and his brother conducted the farm together for eighteen years, becoming large live stock buyers and they became owners of nearly two thousand acres of land in Seventy-six and Cedar townships.

Since 1903 Mr. Lee had lived in Muscatine and gradually retired from active life he having by industry and good management attained a competence.

On April 1, 1885 he was united in marriage in Jones County, Iowa, to Miss Agnes Beatty. He is survived by his wife, one daughter Leola and two sons Ira H. Lee and Robert Lee.
One brother Isaac also mourns his death.

Mr. and Mrs. Lee were members of the Presbyterian Church although on his farm is a United Brethren Church which he has been a supporter of for years. A prominent Mason, he held membership in the Iowa Lodge, No. 2, A. F. & A. M.; Washington Chapter, No. 4, R. A. M. and DeMolay Commandery.

He enjoyed the respect of a large acquaintanceship and was one of the best known resident of the county. He was generous, upright and honorable in all things and merited the esteem in which he was held.

Muscatine Journal Tuesday, April 16, 1912 page 12

Hold Lee Funeral On Wednesday

Funeral Service Over Remains of Prominently Known Man to be Held at Presbyterian Church.
The remains of Robert Lee, a prominent Muscatine resident who died suddenly at the Mercy hospital at Des Moines on Sunday morning, were brought to this city last evening. The funeral services announced to take place at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the First Presbyterian church. Rev. J. B. Rendall, pastor of the church, will have charge of the service at the church, and the Masonic fraternity will conduct the burial service at the (Greenwood) cemetery.

According to statements made to day by members of the family, Mr. Lee did not undergo the dental operation which he had anticipated when he departed for Des Moines.