John Robertson Lee was born May 12, 1844 in Franklin, Ohio. According to family stories, he served in the military in Australia sometime before 1864. From 1864 to 1867 he served with the Texas Rangers. On June 26, 1867 he enlisted in the regular Army in Toledo, Ohio and was a private in Troop I of the 8th US Cavalry. He was discharged in New Mexico on June 26,1870. He was twice wounded in action and still carried part of an arrowhead that inflicted one of his wounds until the day he died.
According to one obituary he "served for six years in the Indian campaign, in lower California and New Mexico as a member of the 7th cavalry regiment." The Veterans of Foreign Wars gave him a full military burial.
He had two wives, Allie M. Jessup (Jesiop), who he married sometime before 1873, and Minnie Fitzgerald, who he married on Sept. 27, 1896 in Altus, Franklin County, Ark. He lived with Minnie in Altus and then in 1900 he was living with her in Wallace Township, Burton County, Ark. From 1920 until he died, he was living with his son, Bertrum, and daughter-in-law Mabel in Taylor Township, Howard County, Ind. and listed himself as a widower. But Minnie was very much alive. In the 1930 census, while John was still living with Bert, she was living with their daughter Naomi Lee Blanscet and her husband in Texas, likewise listing herself as a widow. They were separated at least as early as 1920, according to the census records.
The family had always known her surname as Fitzgerald but since I've found her death certificate with her father's surname as Townshend, she seems to have been married before marrying John R. Lee.
He died at 1:30 am at his son's home after having arterial thrombosis for a month and senile gangrene for 3 weeks.
According to family stories, he worked on the railroad with his son, Bertrum. His occupation in the 1900 census was listed as a carpenter. According to his death certificate, he was a butcher.
In addition to his son, Bertrum, he and his first wife, Allie, had Lerona May, Etta Pearl and Clarence Arlington Lee. He had two children by his second wife, Minnie, a daughter Naomi Olivia (who married John Blanscett) and an unknown child who is believed to have died young.
He was a charter member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, inducted 1901.
Sadly, the grave marker has since been stolen from the cemetery site.
There is a family story that John Robertson Lee is a distant cousin of Robert E. Lee but that has not been confirmed.
According to one obituary he "served for six years in the Indian campaign, in lower California and New Mexico as a member of the 7th cavalry regiment." The Veterans of Foreign Wars gave him a full military burial.
He had two wives, Allie M. Jessup (Jesiop), who he married sometime before 1873, and Minnie Fitzgerald, who he married on Sept. 27, 1896 in Altus, Franklin County, Ark. He lived with Minnie in Altus and then in 1900 he was living with her in Wallace Township, Burton County, Ark. From 1920 until he died, he was living with his son, Bertrum, and daughter-in-law Mabel in Taylor Township, Howard County, Ind. and listed himself as a widower. But Minnie was very much alive. In the 1930 census, while John was still living with Bert, she was living with their daughter Naomi Lee Blanscet and her husband in Texas, likewise listing herself as a widow. They were separated at least as early as 1920, according to the census records.
The family had always known her surname as Fitzgerald but since I've found her death certificate with her father's surname as Townshend, she seems to have been married before marrying John R. Lee.
He died at 1:30 am at his son's home after having arterial thrombosis for a month and senile gangrene for 3 weeks.
According to family stories, he worked on the railroad with his son, Bertrum. His occupation in the 1900 census was listed as a carpenter. According to his death certificate, he was a butcher.
In addition to his son, Bertrum, he and his first wife, Allie, had Lerona May, Etta Pearl and Clarence Arlington Lee. He had two children by his second wife, Minnie, a daughter Naomi Olivia (who married John Blanscett) and an unknown child who is believed to have died young.
He was a charter member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, inducted 1901.
Sadly, the grave marker has since been stolen from the cemetery site.
There is a family story that John Robertson Lee is a distant cousin of Robert E. Lee but that has not been confirmed.
John Robertson Lee was born May 12, 1844 in Franklin, Ohio. According to family stories, he served in the military in Australia sometime before 1864. From 1864 to 1867 he served with the Texas Rangers. On June 26, 1867 he enlisted in the regular Army in Toledo, Ohio and was a private in Troop I of the 8th US Cavalry. He was discharged in New Mexico on June 26,1870. He was twice wounded in action and still carried part of an arrowhead that inflicted one of his wounds until the day he died.
According to one obituary he "served for six years in the Indian campaign, in lower California and New Mexico as a member of the 7th cavalry regiment." The Veterans of Foreign Wars gave him a full military burial.
He had two wives, Allie M. Jessup (Jesiop), who he married sometime before 1873, and Minnie Fitzgerald, who he married on Sept. 27, 1896 in Altus, Franklin County, Ark. He lived with Minnie in Altus and then in 1900 he was living with her in Wallace Township, Burton County, Ark. From 1920 until he died, he was living with his son, Bertrum, and daughter-in-law Mabel in Taylor Township, Howard County, Ind. and listed himself as a widower. But Minnie was very much alive. In the 1930 census, while John was still living with Bert, she was living with their daughter Naomi Lee Blanscet and her husband in Texas, likewise listing herself as a widow. They were separated at least as early as 1920, according to the census records.
The family had always known her surname as Fitzgerald but since I've found her death certificate with her father's surname as Townshend, she seems to have been married before marrying John R. Lee.
He died at 1:30 am at his son's home after having arterial thrombosis for a month and senile gangrene for 3 weeks.
According to family stories, he worked on the railroad with his son, Bertrum. His occupation in the 1900 census was listed as a carpenter. According to his death certificate, he was a butcher.
In addition to his son, Bertrum, he and his first wife, Allie, had Lerona May, Etta Pearl and Clarence Arlington Lee. He had two children by his second wife, Minnie, a daughter Naomi Olivia (who married John Blanscett) and an unknown child who is believed to have died young.
He was a charter member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, inducted 1901.
Sadly, the grave marker has since been stolen from the cemetery site.
There is a family story that John Robertson Lee is a distant cousin of Robert E. Lee but that has not been confirmed.
According to one obituary he "served for six years in the Indian campaign, in lower California and New Mexico as a member of the 7th cavalry regiment." The Veterans of Foreign Wars gave him a full military burial.
He had two wives, Allie M. Jessup (Jesiop), who he married sometime before 1873, and Minnie Fitzgerald, who he married on Sept. 27, 1896 in Altus, Franklin County, Ark. He lived with Minnie in Altus and then in 1900 he was living with her in Wallace Township, Burton County, Ark. From 1920 until he died, he was living with his son, Bertrum, and daughter-in-law Mabel in Taylor Township, Howard County, Ind. and listed himself as a widower. But Minnie was very much alive. In the 1930 census, while John was still living with Bert, she was living with their daughter Naomi Lee Blanscet and her husband in Texas, likewise listing herself as a widow. They were separated at least as early as 1920, according to the census records.
The family had always known her surname as Fitzgerald but since I've found her death certificate with her father's surname as Townshend, she seems to have been married before marrying John R. Lee.
He died at 1:30 am at his son's home after having arterial thrombosis for a month and senile gangrene for 3 weeks.
According to family stories, he worked on the railroad with his son, Bertrum. His occupation in the 1900 census was listed as a carpenter. According to his death certificate, he was a butcher.
In addition to his son, Bertrum, he and his first wife, Allie, had Lerona May, Etta Pearl and Clarence Arlington Lee. He had two children by his second wife, Minnie, a daughter Naomi Olivia (who married John Blanscett) and an unknown child who is believed to have died young.
He was a charter member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, inducted 1901.
Sadly, the grave marker has since been stolen from the cemetery site.
There is a family story that John Robertson Lee is a distant cousin of Robert E. Lee but that has not been confirmed.
Inscription
John R. Lee
Ohio
Pvt 8 US Cav
Indian War
June 28, 1934
Gravesite Details
His other son, Bertrum Arthur Lee
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
