H. K. Lee

H. K. LEE, an enterprising and reliable farmer of Silver Township, came from Blue Earth, Minnesota, to Cherokee County in 1879.  He was born in Columbia County, Wisconsin, October 21, 1854 and is a son of Oliver and Libbie (Howard) Lee, natives of New York and Vermont respectively.  The parents now reside in Dane County, Wisconsin.  H. K. was reared in the county in which he was born; he passed his youth in farm work, and attended the common schools.  In 1872 he came to Iowa and afterward went to Minnesota. The spirit of youth was still restless within him and he made several changes both in his location and occupation, before he was satisfed.  He spent some time in the pine woods of Minnesota, and in 1879 bought his present farm of 160 acres.  The place had been improved by Thomas Harden, so that Mr. Lee had not the task of the pioneer.  There is a good house, a barn, granary and cribs and four acres of beautiful grove.

Mr. Lee was united in marriage, in March, 1883, to Miss Annie Pennington, a daughter of Jesse Pennington, deceased, who was a well-known resident of the township.  Two children have been born of this union; Ruth and an infant son.  Politically, Mr. Lee is an Independent. He is a member of Finboy Lodge, No. 4990, I. O. O. F.  He is a man strictly honest in business and is worthy of the confidence in which he is held.

Jesse Pennington, deceased, late of Silver Township, was born in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, in July, 1827.  He was a son of Jesse and Rebecca (Colley) Pennington, natives of the State of Pennsylvania, of Scotch ancestry. He was married in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania, December 12, 1839, to Harriett Smith, a daughter of William and Martha (Laird) Smith, and a native of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.  Mr. and Mrs. Pennington removed to Cedar County, Iowa, in 1868, and resided there four years.  They then came to Cherokee County and lived there until Mr. Pennington's death.  They were the parents of six children: George Washington, who died in the army during the late Rebellion; Ruth McCracken, William S., Jonathan, Harriett A., wife of H. K. Lee, and Sarah R., wife of N. D. Gleason. 

Biographical History of Cherokee County, IA, W. W. Dunbar & Co Publishers, 1889

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