Alfred O Lee

Alfred O. Lee, who is engaged in business in Melrose, as an undertaker and dealer in lumber and furniture, was born on his father's farm, near New Lisbon, Ohio, April 16, 1830. His parents were George and Mary (Kissner) Lee, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Maryland. The father entered land near New Lisbon, Ohio, in 1818, and there carried on agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in 1872, at the age of eighty years, for he was born in 1792. His wife, who was born in 1799, passed away in 1889, at the very advanced age of ninety years. They were parents of twelve children: Sarah A., deceased, was the wife of Amos Hamilton, and after his death married Mr. Vogle; Elizabeth married Samuel Early, and after his death became the wife of Jason R. Stock, with whom she is now living in Kansas; William A. was married and at his death left a family; Henry K. died unmarried; George was married twice, and is now deceased; John P. married a Miss Garrison, and is now living in Salem, Ohio; Alfred O. is the next younger; Ezra is the eighth in order of birth; Harvey W. resides near New Lisbon, Ohio; Mary J. is the widow of George Chandler, and makes her home in New Lisbon, Ohio; Catherine is the wife of a Mr. Lewis; and Alvin resides in New Lisbon, Ohio.

Upon the old family homestead in the Buckeye State Alfred O. Lee was reared, and the district schools of the neighborhood afforded him his educational privileges. He was married on the 14th of February, 1853, to Miss Elizabeth Glass, a native of Ohio, and to them were born eight children named as follows: Ellen, who became the wife of Albert Hancock, and died leaving two children; John P., a merchant of Pearland, Texas; Ida B., wife of C. S. Wood, who is living in Fremont county, Iowa; Mary J., wife of S. C. Warfield, an agriculturist of Fremont county; Henry M., who wedded Miss Lizzie Loche, and is operating a farm in Nebraska; William L., who died in childhood; Harry A., who married Miss Maud Davis and follows farming in Monroe county, Iowa; Albert G., who wedded Mary Guthrop and is his father's partner in the lumber and furniture business in Melrose.

Mr. Lee dates his residence in Iowa from 1857. During the first three years he lived in various parts of the State, and in 1860 located permanently in Monroe county, where for a time he carried on agricultural pursuits. He then engaged in carpentering, and established a furniture and undertaking business in Melrose. In the spring of 1880 he also embarked in the lumber trade, which he still carries on. He has a well stocked furniture store, which is filled with goods of modern design, and in the various departments of his business is receiving a liberal patronage. His reputation for straight-forward dealing is above question and his business career is in this respect very exemplary. He has won the confidence of the community and the respect of all who know him, for his life has been well spent. In politics he is a Prohibitionist, and is a friend to every reform movement that has for its object the uplifting of humanity.