J D Lee headstone

John F Lee at John D Lee headstone in Columbus KY

My direct ancestor William Lee’s oldest son was John David Lee.  He was born 14 Feb 1852 in Newton, Dale County, Alabama according to family records and is more or less confirmed by federal census records from 1860, 1870, 1880, and 1900.  He died in Dec 1907 according to his tombstone in Columbus Cemetery in Hickman County.  He appears age 21 in 1870 census, 26 in 1880 census, and 48 (b Feb 1852) in 1900 census.  He is shown age 6 in 1860.  The 1870 data appears to be in error.  If he was born in 1852 the census data should be 8, 18, 28, and 48 respectively.  There may be a reason for the earlier census data to show him 2 years younger than he was but I don’t know what it might be.  The 1900 data at least matches the tombstone, if that is ‘our’ John D Lee’s tombstone!  There is no guarantee that it is although family tradition claims it to be him.  That assumption is supported by the large number of family pictures taken by the tombstone in years past.

Family tradition, and an article in cousin James Clement’s newsletter claims John provided service to the Confederacy during the Civil War.  A John D Lee served in the CSA during the Civil War as a lieutenant in company B 7th regiment, Ky Cav.  Entered service 26 Sept 1861, served until 20 April 1865 when he took the oath of amnesty and allegiance at Paducah KY on 11 May 1865.  He had a fair complexion, dark hair, blue eyes and 5 ft 8 inches tall.  A copy of the paper is included in the 20 May 1974 issue of ‘Our Family Tree’ newsletter published by James A Clement Jr OSB.  I have trouble believing this person is ‘our’ John D however.  Given the date shown on what we think is his tombstone and that given in the census records, he would have been the ripe old age of 9 when he enlisted!  The confederacy might have been hard up for troops later in the war but in 1861 I doubt they would have taken a 9 year old, certainly not as a lieutenant, although he could have been elected as an officer later in the war.  There were several John Lee’s in service for both sides during the war and I suspect cousin Clement’s paper belongs to one of them.

Some things that we do know include his wife’s name was Lula (or some variant spelling).  She was born in Oct 1860 in Kentucky according to census records and they were married, probably around 1880 in Kentucky since they appear in Kentucky in the 1880 census as husband and wife.  James Clement data shows her maiden name as Gayle.  This is supported by the fact that their oldest son was named Henry Gayle Lee.  They had five children that I know about:  Henry, Walden Campbell Lee, Owen Merideth Lee, Frank Burton Lee, and Mable Lee.  It’s interesting that Henry’s death certificate shows his father John born in Germany!  Evidently he didn’t talk much to his kids about their grandfather!  Walden Campbell is interesting as he left a string of descendants all named Walden Campbell.  This lends some support to my theory that their grandmother’s name was Elizabeth Walden and not Waldron as was recorded in a family bible.  We also know that by 1870 the family had left Alabama and moved to Fredericktown in Madison County Missouri.  In 2009 I drove to Fredericktown, which is not far from my home in
Rolla, and visited the courthouse and historic sites.  The old depot where William worked as a freight agent is still standing although barely.  It was built in 1867 for the St. Louis and Iron Mountain RR.  Land records at the courthouse show William and Elizabeth selling a lot to the railroad in 1871 that was purchased earlier by John.  Why this was transacted this way is a mystery.  John next shows up in Hickman County KY in 1880 with his mother and his new wife Lula but no William.  I am assuming that William died sometime between 1871 and 1880 but have found no evidence of his death or burial.  John is shown working as a hand for the railroad in 1880, a tradition that apparently started with his father and continued down through several generations.