For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 47
ROBERT LEE. Robert Lee, now living partly retired in an elegant home in Muscatine, is a native of Ireland but was brought to Muscatine county by his parents in his infancy. He was born in County Tyrone, April 5, 1847, and is a son of Isaac and Mary ( Beatty ) Lee. The father, who was also a native of County Tyrone, came to the United States in 1847 in an old sailing vessel which reached the port of New Orleans after a voyage of sixteen weeks. In the course of the voyage the old records of the family were water-soaked and the names written in the family bible were made almost illegible. 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. Later the body was removed to Greenwood cemetery, Muscatine, where it now reposes. In Ireland he was a farmer and a horseman, buying horses and putting them in good condition to be sold. In politics he was a whig. The grandparents on the paternal side were born and raised in Ireland, but the earlier generation of the family in the same line came from Scotland. The mother of our subject was born in County, Armagh, Ireland, and was there married. She departed this life in Muscatine county in 1877---(handwritten in the book by someone is- Apr. 8, 1883--and the 1877 is crossed out ). There are six children in the family, four of whom grew to maturity: Jane, now deceased; Isaac, of Muscatine; Margie, also deceased; and Robert, our subject.Reared upon the home farm Robert Lee received his early education in a small building which his father was instrumantal 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, the head of which is now an attorney of Muscatine. The family continued together until after the death of the elder sister and the marriage of the younger. Robert and his brother conducted the farm together for eighteen or twenty years, becoming large live-stock buyers and at the present time they are the owners of nearly two thousand acres of land in Seventy-six and Cedar townships, although not as closely identified with business interests as in earlier years. Since January, 1908, Mr. Lee has lived in Muscatine and is gradually retiring from active work, having by industry and good management attained a competence.
On April 1, 1885, Mr. Lee was united in marriage in Jones county, Iowa, to Miss Agnes Beatty. She is a daughter of Alexander and Mary ( South ) Beatty, the former who was born in Ireland and emigrated to this country, locating in Jones county, where he continued until his death in 1902. He was quite successful as a farmer. Mrs. Beatty was a native of Jones county and was called from earthly scenes in 1894. She is buried in a cemetery at Cascade, Iowa. Mrs. Lee was educated in the public schools and also became a student in the high school at Cascade but did not complete the course. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lee were born three children: Mary leola, now at home, is a graduate of the high school of Muscatine and also pursued a course in music at Monmouth College. Ira. H., who married Florence Zigler, resides on the home farm and is engaged in farming and stock-raising with his father. Robert E., is attending high school at Muscatine, being still at home with his parents.
Mr. and Mrs. Lee are members of the Presbyterian church, though on his farm is a United Brethren church, of which he has been a supporter for many years. Politically he is in sympathy with the republican party. A prominent Mason, he holds membership in the Iowa Lodge, No. 2, A. F. & A. M.; Washington Chapter, No. 4, R. A. M.; Webb Council, No. 18, R. &. S. M.; De Molay Commandery, No. 1, K. T., all of Muscatine; Kaaba Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Davenport. He and his wife and daughter are all members of the Eastern Star and he connected with the Commercial Club of Muscatine. He is possessed of many fine social characteristics but his friends are not all confined to fraternal organizations as they are to be found throughout Muscatine county or wherever he is known for he is a generous, upright and honorable man, who easily wins the confidence of those with whom he is brought in contact.
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