The Lees Family - 1850
From England to America
by Sheri Siebold, sherigen@yahoo.com
Last updated January 2005
          1.  Henry Lees, son of Moses Lees, was born in  Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, England 1808.  Henry died 1879 in Delhi, Delaware Co. Iowa, at 71 years of age. We may assume that he is buried in the Evergreen Cemetery where his first wife is buried. No tombstone.
          He married twice.  He married Margaretta (or Margaret) Preston in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, England, September 16 1833.  Margaretta was born in Bury, Lancashire, England, March 28, 1813.  Margaretta was the daughter of  ___ Preston and Ann Hobson.  Margaretta died April 8th, 1858 in Delhi, Delaware, Iowa, at 45 years of age. She was buried in the Evergreen Cemetery. She was last accounted for in 1850 Census, Boone Co IL.
          Henry married Catherine Purvis in Delhi Delaware Iowa, cir 1857. Catherine Purvis was born in Ireland around 1835. She died in Anita, Grant twp, Cass County Iowa, some time between 1896-1899). 
          Henry was listed as the head of a family on the 1850 Census in Caledonia Boone Co IL.  Henry was listed as the head of a family in the 1860 and 1870 Census in Delhi Delaware Iowa.
          Henry Lees and Margaretta Preston had the following children:
                 2         i. Mary Ann2 Lees was born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, Eng. October 3, 1834.  Mary died 1836 at 1 year of age.
                 3        ii. James Lees was born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, Eng., January 6, 1836.  James died 1842 in  Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, at 6 years of age.
    +          4       iii. William Lees was born July 25, 1840. More information below
    +          5       iv. John Lees was born December 25, 1844. More information below.
                 6        v. Mary Ann Lees was born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, Eng., February 2, 1848.  She married Issac J. Ammerman (1867).  She resided in Buena Vista Co. Iowa, 1901. Have never found her in census.
    +          7       vi. Cornelius George Washington (Bob) Lees was born July 27, 1850. See below.
Henry Lees and Catherine Purvis had the following children: 1) Lucy, b. 1862 - m. ? Prentice. 2) Fanny Lee, b. 1865; 3) Clara Lees, b. 1866; married Benjamin Franklin Swartz (1863-1935), Anita, Cass Co. IA; 4) Ida May Lees, b. 1869, retarded and instituted at the Iowa Institute for Feeble Minded Children in Glenwood, Mills Co IA. 5) Henry Lees, b. 16 Jan 1871, died 27 Dec 1943  Cass Co IA.; m. Ida May Stark, 20 Nov 1892; later divorced. 5) Frank Lees, b. Aug 1872; married Carrie Bell Hall (1877-1917) 30 Jan 1893; Anita, Grant, Cass Co. Iowa.
                 8      vii. James N. Lees was born in Delhi, Delaware Co., Iowa, 1857. Hhe was the last child that Margaretta bore, but James only remembers Catherine as his mother, therefore always stating that his mother was born in Ireland. He was a butcher by trade. He married No. 1 wife: "S. Lees", but apparently she died early - Grant, Cass Co IA. Later he married Elizabeth Angeline Thayer Leek.  They had two children: Mildred, 1906 and Rea T., 1908. Living in Guthrie Center, Guthrie Co. IA.   [This James Lees is in a family photo with wife Lizzie, when they visited his brother, Cornelius Lees in Spokane Washington around 1935-40]
          4.  William2 Lees (Henry1) was born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, Eng., July 25, 1840.  William died July 23, 1918 at 77 years of age.  Obituary for William Lees:
WILLIAM LEES DEAD Old Settler Passed away at 78 years of Age.
Was Civil War Veteran
Born in England--came to America at 8 years of Age--live in Columbus and vicinity 51 years.
William Lees who was stricken yesterday died last night at his home in Columbus. He would have been 78 years old had he lived till July 25. He had resided in Columbus 51 years. He was a civil war veteran and member of the G.A. R. having served 3 years in the 4th Iowa cavalry. He was born in England, his parents coming over when William was a lad of 8. He was a retired farmer and veterinary Surgeon. He leaves a wife one son and four daughters: Mrs. Geo. Cla of Joplin, Mrs. Robt. Steinman of Chanute, Mrs. Ed Anderson of Ottawa and I.W. Lees of Trinidad, Colo., also two step children to whom he was closely attached, Mrs. Edna Zuk of Trinidad, Colo. and Mr. T.P. Bumgartner of Neutral. All of these will attend the funeral services which will be held at the M.E. church  followed by internment in the Park cemetery. His brother, John Lees, residing in Columbus is also a civil war veteran.
Found in Family Bible of R.D. Steinman, RR4 PO BOX 243, Chanute, KS  66720, 1985. Sent to me.
          William Lees married twice.  He married Temperance (Tempie) ________ in Iowa, (1868).  Secondly he married Rhoda Ella (Bumgartner) (1880's). He moved to Lyons, Cherokee County Kansas within the year of 1870 and continued to live in Cherokee County KS all his life.
          
Rhoda Ella (Bumgartner) Lees, 4 - 14 - 1854/ 1 - 11- 1913, tombstone inscription, Columbus, KS.
          William Lees and Temperance (Tempie) had the following child:
                 9         i. Ida3 Lees was born in KS (1868).  She married Robert Steinman. She resided in Chanute Kansas in 1918. According to the obituary of Wm. Lees.
          William Lees and Rhoda Ella Bumgartner had the following children:
               10        ii. Grace Lees was born 1881.  She married Edward Anderson. She resided in Ottawa Kansas in 1918, at the time of her father's funeral according to obituary.
               11       iii. Sarah Ellen Lees was born February 2, 1884.  Sarah died April 26, 1885 at 1 year of age.  Her body was interred in City Cemetery, Columbus, Cherokee Co. KS,  Daughter of Wm. and Ella.
               12       iv. Leona Lees was born in KS 1886.  She married George Clay.  She resided in Joplin Missouri in 1918 at the time of her father's funeral - obituary of William Lees.
               13        v. J. W. Lees was born 1889.  He resided in Trinidad CO 1918 at the time of his father's funeral - obituary.
          5.  John2 Lees (Henry1) was born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, Eng., December 25, 1844.  John died July 9, 1924 at 79 years of age.  Mentioned in Georgia Ann's obituary that the family moved to Kansas and Columbus area in October 3, 1878. Modern Light, obituary, December 3, 1914, Columbus KS.
          He married Georgia Ann Crooks in Collinsville, IL, (1877). 
 Mrs. John Lees Dead  (OBITUARY)
Aged Lady Succumbs to Kidney Trouble After Long Illness.
Mrs. Jno. Lees of 411 North Kansas Ave. died at her home November 27, 1914 at 10:25 A.M. from a complication of diseases with kidney trouble the most serious.
Mrs. Georgia Ann Crooks was born in Collinsville, Ill., where she married her husband, Jno. Lees, who survives her. The Lees family moved to Kansas and Cherokee County, Oct. 3, 1878, where they have resided continuously since that time. Mr. Lees ran the Frisco house on the site of the present L. J. Slease building for many years. He and his wife, now deceased, formed a large county acquaintance and friendship.
The funeral was held from the Baptist church Sunday afternoon at 2:30. Rev. W.S. Smalley officiated, after which officiation the Ladies Relief Choir took charge and conferred the honor due upon the body. Mrs. Lees is survived by a husband, John Lees; by a daughter, Bessie M. Thornston of Scammon, Kans., and Harry Lees at home. One sister, Mrs. Sarah Long of Wichita, Ks, and a niece, Miss Josephine Barboks, of Chicago Ill, were present at the fneral. Mrs. Lees also had a brother, Robert Crooks, and sister, Hattie Newell, who were present at the funeral.
Mrs. Lees leaves a host of friends to mourn her going.
(Obituary sent to me)
          John Lees and Georgia Ann Crooks had the following children:
               14         i. Elizabeth M. {Bessie} Lees was born in Iowa June 1879.  Elizabeth died 1949 at 70 years of age.  Her body was interred 1949 City Cemetery, Columbus, KS.  She married  _______ Thornton.
               15        ii. Harry M. Lees was born July 1886.  Harry died 1944 at 57 years of age.  His body was interred 1944, City Cemetery, Columbus, KS..
         7.  Cornelius George Washington  Lees (Henry1), better known as Bob Lees, was born on the Atlantic Ocean July 27 1850.  Cornelius died May 25, 1927 in Millwood Spokane WA, at 76 years of age. Information from death certificate:  ;76 yrs 9 mo. 28 dys, length of residence in District:  6 yrs. Informant:  Mrs. Jennie Lees, Millwood, Wash. (Source: Death/Military Pension papers, Veteran's Adminis., Muskogee, OK. rec'd by me. Reg. No. 1149a).
          He married three times.  He married Carolyn (Carrie) Dennis at Columbus Cherokee Co. KS, January 16, 1871.  He married Sarah Wright at Columbus Cherokee Co. KS, February 19, 1882. Cornelius was divorced from Sarah Wright at Columbus Cherokee Co. KS, May 8, 1884.   He married Amanda Jane (Jennie)Tague in Empire City Cherokee Co. KS, May 10, 1884. 
          Cornelius joined the regular army, signing up  in Debuque IA, November 1866.  Cornelius and brother, John joined within five days of each other in November 1866 to the regular U.S. Army for three years. When C.G. signed up at Debuque, Iowa he was 5'5 1/2, blue eyes and sandy hair, with a fair complexion.  He said he was 18 years old, actually he was 16, but throughout his life he either aged himself a few years or forgot how old he was on purpose!.
His regiment was sent to Fort Dalles, Oregon, and within a few months, C.G. contracted ;Army Diarrhea  (1867) and never fully recovered having chronic diarrhea and rectal disease all his life, disabling him at  "great lengths".
John and C.G. were soon to be dispatched to Southern Oregon at Camp Warner, near the Warner Lake region, which has an altitude of nearly 5,000 ft. The winter of 1867 was extreme and the entire company at Camp Warner was compelled to walk around in a small circle in the snow for several nights, not daring to lie down or sleep lest they should freeze to death. (OwyheeAvalance Ap 1867,  Portland Oregonian, Ag. 1867).
It was said that C.G. was a scout in Oregon, Idaho, and California, which is probable as it was this camp's job to stop the horse stealing and illicit trade going on between the Indians of Oregon and California. The camp was rebuilt 500 feet lower (under direction of Major General George Crook) in the west part of the valley. Apparently this camp closed in 1873.
Being discharged in Nov. 1869 at Camp Warner, the boys returned home at Delhi, Iowa, no longer boys.
          Cornelius was listed: 1870 Census in Delhi Delaware Iowa.  Cornelius Lees, age 17, was working as a farm laborer 5 houses down from his home.
         In a Court  Ward Agreement, January 7, 1883, Jonah and Barbara Troyer agreed to take care of Fannie Josephine Lees, daughter of Bob Lees - an almost 3 year old child (Columbus, KS).:
This agreement made and entered into between Cornelius Lees, Party of the first part, and Jonas M. Troyer and Barbra Troyer, parties of the second part. Witness that Cornelius Lees agrees to let Jonas and Barbra Troyer have Fannie Josephine Lees, daughter of said Cornelius Lees, party of the first part, said  Fannie Josephine Lees, is now going on three years old, said second parties, Jonas and Barbra Troyer agree to take said Fannie Josephine Lees and raise her, keep her till she becomes of age or marries. But if said Cornelius Lees at anytime wants to take said Fannie J. Lees away from said second parties, Jonas and Barbra Troyer before she (Fannie) becomes of age, before me said Cornelius Lees can get or take said child, he must pay the said second parties Jonas and Barbra Troyer the sum of Two dollars per week, from the time said second parties Jonas and Barbra Troyer took said child (it being the seventh day of January A.D. 1883)  Parties of the second part, Jonas and Barbra Troyer agrees to send said Fannie J. Lees to Common District School same as they do their own children.  This July 14th 1883. John W. Ayers, witness Filed for record July 14th 1883 at 3 o'clock pm. O.L. Woodruff, Register of Deeds by E.R. Pattyson, Deputy
          Cornelius was listed as the head of a family on the 1880 - 1900 Census at Columbus Cherokee Co. KS. Residing in Kansas and Missouri mining in zinc and lead mines. By 1910 Census he moved west and was farming in Sprague, Lincolcn Co Washington and finally back into mining around Kellogg, Shoshone Co. Idaho.
          Cornelius George Washington (Bob) Lees and Carolyn Dennis had the following child:
               16         i.  Josephine Francis 3 Lees (Fannie)  was born 1880. She was living  with her Uncle John in the 1900 Census. She married Charles Caspar Kane in Kansas City, in 1905. They had five children:  Charles, Laverne, Lucille, LeVeta Ellen, and Conrad Cornelius Kane.  She died in Kansas City Missouri, 2 June 1950.
          Cornelius George Washington (Bob) Lees and Amanda Jane (Jennie) Tague had the following children:
               17        ii. Bertha Mae Lees was born at Columbus, Cherokee Co. KS March 15, 1885.  Bertha died October 17, 1962 at Columbus Cherokee Co. KS, at 77 years of age.  She married Dana Sharpnack at Columbus Cherokee Co KS, May 29, 1903.
               18       iii. Bessie Belle Lees was born in Webb City, Jasper, Missouri,  August 29, 1887.  Bessie died March 21, 1956 in Chouteau Co. Montana, buried in Missoula MT.  She married Garrett Burkhart October 10, 1904.
               19       iv. John Bert Harrison Lees was born October 22, 1888.  John died November 21, 1946 in Pitcher Ottawa OK, at 58 years of age.  His body was interred 1946 in Cherokee Co. KS, Green Lawn Cemetery, 4 miles North of Pitcher..  He married Nora Holden October 3, 1911. Died of black lung from mining.
              20        v. William Morton Lees was born November 24, 1891, Columbus, Cherokee Co. KS. He died December 11, 1926, Opportunity, Spokane Washington, buried at Pines Cemetery. He married Ollie Rakestraw, date unknown.
               21       vi. Cornelius George Lees was born March 15, 1893.  Cornelius died September 30, 1951 at 58 years of age at Moses Lake, Grant Co. Washington..  He married Cora Peasley.
               22      vii. Charles Preston Lees was born March 14, 1895.  Charles died July 23, 1898 at 3 years of age.  His body was  interred 1898 City Cemetery, Columbus, KS. He had accidentally drank lye.
               23     viii. Faye Frances Lees was born in Cokedale, Cherokee Co KS September 11, 1899.  Faye died October 11, 1980, San Jose, CA, at 81 years of age.  She married Floyd Slothower August 31, 1924.
               24        ix. Ray Everette Lees was born January 13, 1901.  Ray died .  He married Ethel Woodward, August 31, 1924, (Columbus, Cherokee Co. KS).
               25         x. Dale Garrett Lees was born in Buffalo   Dallas   MO July 19, 1905.  He died March 1970 He married Edna Marie  Woodward September 2, 1924, (Columbus, Cherokee Co. KS). She died Nov 1979. They had two sons: Leonard Dale Lees, (b. 5 Jun 1925; d. 22 Oct 1978) and Eugene Albert Lees,  (June 1928).
          Cornelius George Washington (Bob) Lees had the following child (mother unknown):
               26        xi. Leona Mae Lees was born 1893.  Leona died 1968 at 75 years of age.  Her body was interred 1968, Park Cemetery, Columbus, KS.  She married Freeland Hart.  Apparently the mother died in childbirth as for a few years she was brought up by Jennie Lees. Unknown who raised her later. She looked very much like Bertha Lees and I remember seeing her as a little girl thinking she was my grandmother's sister. They would speak to each other in passing, but they never socialized.
MILITARY SERVICE:
After SERVICE:
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