OTHER BIOGRAPHICAL INDEXES: 1879 1889 1903 1911 1930 Source: PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD ALBUM of VERMILION COUNTY, ILLINOIS containing Full Page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County. together with Portraits and Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of the Presidents of the United States Publ: Chicago Chapman Brothers. 1889 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z   THOMAS LEE.  Among others who came to Central Illinois during the period of its pioneership was the sturdy English-born citizen with the substantial traits of character handed down to him by his ancestors, the qualities of industry and perseverance, which were bound to win.  He assisted in the development of the soil, in the building up of communities, and almost without an exception acquired a competence.  Mr. Lee is one of the representative men of his nationality and an early settler.  He came to Illinois in 1856 and took up his residence in Vermilion County in 1874 on section 32, township 23, range 12.  During the period of his fifteen years' residence here he has opened up a good farm of 120 acres and secured himself against want in his old age.      Our subject was born in Devonshire, England, Sept. 17, 1838, and lived there until approaching the eighteenth year of his age.  He was the first child of the family to leave home, and the occasion was one naturally mixed with regret and some apprehensions.  Embarking at Liverpool, he made the long voyage across the Atlantic in safety landing in new York and proceeded directly to Illinois, locating first in Peoria County.  He worked on a farm there several years, and about 1860 changed his residence to Woodford County.  In that county he purchased wild land, where he opened up a good farm and lived about twelve years.  During this time he put up good buildings, planted an orchard, fenced his land, and, in fact, effected the improvements naturally suggested to the progressive agriculturist.      In Woodford County, Ill., our subject was married, Mar. 8, 1862, to Miss Grace Huxtable.  The young people began life together on the new farm, and after selling out, Mr. Lee traveled all over the west and the Pacific Slope, but came back to Illinois, not being able to find any section of country which suited him better.  He then came to this county and purchased the farm where he now lives.  There were no buildings upon it to speak of, but he soon provided a shelter for his family, and here he has since remained, carrying on general farming and stock-raising successfully.  He cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860, and has since been a stanch supporter of the Republican party.  He believes in the doctrines of the Baptist Church, of which he is a member, attending services at Hoopeston.      Seven of the eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Lee are still living  - Herschel J., Lizzie, Clarence, Delmer, Newton, Jennie and Morris.  The eldest son has been in the farther West for the past four years.  Lizzie became the wife of Loren Briggs, and they live on a farm west of the Lee homestead; they have two children.  Clarence married Miss Ada Redden and lives in Butler Township.  The other children are at home with their parents.  Mrs. Lee was likewise born in Devonshire in 1843, and came to America with her father when a child of nine years; the family settling on Kickapoo Prairie.  The father farmed there for a time and then removed with his family to Woodford County, where Mr. Lee made the acquaintance of his future wife.  Mr. Huxtable, also a native of Devonshire, came to America in 1852, and carried on farming in Woodford County until 1887.  Then, retiring from active labor, he took up his residence in Benson, Woodford County, where he now lives and is married to his second wife.  His first wife died in England.      William Lee, the father of our subject, also a native of Devonshire, England, spent his entire life there.  He married Miss Susanna Davey, and they became the parents of five sons and three daughters, all of whom, with the exception of two daughters, came to America, together with the mother, who died in Benson in January, 1888. Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Vermilion County, Illinois - ) Publ. Chicago: Chapman Brothers - 1889 ~ Page 211 NOTES:

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