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GEORGE E. LEE owns and operates an excellent farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Coffins Grove township, this county, and has been identified with the welfare of this part of the state during his entire life as he was born in Delaware county.  His birth occurred May 18, 1877, and his parents were James and Mary (Rowe) Lee, the former a native of Ireland, born Apr. 10, 1834, and the latter born in Apple River, Illinois, Jan. 22, 1842.  George E. Lee is one of a family of thirteen children, of whom mention is made on another page of this work in connection with the sketch of the father.      George E. Lee attended the public schools in the acquirement of his formal schooling and in the meantime aided by father in the work of the farm, thus familiarizing himself with practical methods of agriculture.  When a young man of twenty-three he started out in life for himself and has during his independent career followed the occupation of which he was reared.  In the fall of 1907 he was enabled to purchase one hundred and sixty acres of land situated on Section 20, Coffins Grove township.  He raises grains and also graded stock and as he is located but two and one-half miles from Masonville he has a convenient market, which facilitates the disposal of the products of his farm.  As his land is fertile and as he uses modern methods of cultivation his yield of grain per acre is high and since he understands the raising of stock his cattle and hogs are in fine condition and bring a good price upon the market.      On the 13th of March, 1901, Mr. Lee was united in marriage to Miss Lois Smith, a daughter of John N. and Anna (Keith) Smith.  Her father was a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and her mother of this county, their marriage occurring in Hazel green township.  To Mr. and Mrs. Lee have been born two children, George H. and Mildred H.      Mr. Lee is a member of Camp No. 587, I. O. O. F., of Masonville and is popular not only in that organization but in the community at large.  He is prospering as the years pass and his resources are constantly increasing and all who know him concede that his success is due entirely to his able management and tireless labor. Source: History of Delaware County, Iowa And Its People - Illustrated - Vol. II Publ.  Chicago:  The S. J. Clark Publishing Company 1914 - Page 510

Mr. & Mrs. James Lee

JAMES LEE.  For many years James Lee was a well known resident of Delaware county and witnessed much of its growth and development, taking an active part in the work of improvement especially along agricultural lines.  He was born in Ireland on the 10th of April, 1834, and the following year was brought by his parents to the United States, the family home being established in Illinois, where he was reared and educated.  The Black Hawk war had occurred only three years before their arrival in that state and there was every evidence of pioneer life with its attendant hardships, privations and difficulties.  Amid such surroundings James Lee was united in marriage to Miss Mary Rowe, who was born in Apple River, that state, Jan. 22, 1842.  Not long after their marriage they removed to Iowa, settling in Delaware county, and in November, 1874, took up their abode upon a farm near Masonville, where they resided until 1909, or for a period of thirty-five years.  Mr. Lee bent his energies to the development of the place and succeeded in bringing his fields under a high state of cultivation.  Year after year he carefully tilled the soil, and the abundant harvests which rewarded his labors brought to him a substantial competence, enabling him at length to live retired.  Accordingly, in the year 1909, he left the farm and removed to a comfortable home in Manchester, where his remaining days were passed.      Mr. and Mrs. Lee became the parents of thirteen children, as follows:  Henry,  who lives in Minnesota; Edward, who passed away in Portland, Oregon, June, 28, 1914; Thomas, who is engaged in farming in Delaware county; Elmer J., residing at Harris, this state; Eliza, the wife of Robert J. Robinson, of Nebraska; Emma, the wife of Charles Morris, residing near Dundee, this state; Etta, who was a twin to Emma and died in infancy; Alfred, who was drowned June 4, 1887; Lorena, the wife of Alfred Tripp, residing near Dundee; George E., a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work; Mattie, who married Jesse Rigney, of Wyoming; Clara, the wife of Verne Livesay, of Oregon; and Nevada Pearl, who lives in Portland, Oregon.      Mr. Lee made every effort to provide a comfortable living for his family and equip them for life's practical and responsible duties.  He deserves much credit for what he accomplished in a business way, for he started out in life without any special advantages and worked his way upward through persistency of purpose intelligently directed.  His many sterling traits of character gained for him the high regard of a large circle of friends.  He died at his home in Manchester, June 30, 1910, and was survived by his wife until June 28, 1911. Source: History of Delaware County, Iowa And Its People - Illustrated - Vol. II Publ.  Chicago:  The S. J. Clark Publishing Company 1914 - Page 398