History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties

"History of Lincoln, Oneida, and Vilas Counties Wisconsin"

Compiled by George O.Jones, Norman S. McVean and Others. Printed in 1924 by H.C.Cooper. Jr. & Co., Minneapoli-Winona MN. ill. 787 pages. The first two hundred pages are history of the three counties, the remainder of the book is biographies.

Biography

Lee, John P. who for 15 or 16 years has been pleasantly and profitably engaged in the culture of small fruits within the limits of the city of Tomahawk, was born at Delafield, Waukesha County, Wis., son of Peter and Elizabeth LEE. The parents wre natives of Ireland who came to the United States in 1848 while yet single, locating in Brooklyn, N. Y., where they were married. It was in the early 50's that they came to Wisconsin, settling in Waukesha County, where Peter LEE died in 1869. His wife Elizabeth died at the age of 74 in the year 1900. Their family numbered eight childre in all, of whom six are living, namely: Michael B., Mary, James, Frank, Kate and John P. Mary is the wife of Thomas NAKINS of North Dakota, James and Frank reside in Chicago, and Kate is the wife of William SHEEHAN of West Allis, Wis. The two deceased are Joseph and James. John P. LEE was reared at Delafield, Wis., where he attended common school. When 12 years old he was hired by a man who conducted a small farm to work for him eight months (the active farm season) for 50 dollars. After doing so he returned home for a while. Altogether he worked for that man eight years, during which time he received a thorough training in agriculture and horticulture, his employer being a man who conducted his place in accordance with modern scientific methods. After he left that farm Mr. LEE went successively to Marinette and Menomonie and was engaged for two years in logging. He next went to the Dakotas as a farm laborer, returning to Wisconsin in 1882 and locating at Wausau where for the next five years he was engaged in logging. In 1887 he came to Tomahawk, that being the year in which the village was founded, and here he continued in the same occupation, for 20 years handling the mill wood. At the end of that period Mr. LEE bought six acres of land within the city limits of Tomahawk and engaged in horticulture, in which occupation he has since continued, raising berries and small fruits, and making a specialty of ever-bearing strawberries, for which he finds a ready home market. He occupies a neat and comfortable residence of Kellystone finish outside and with a good modern equipment. Mr. LEE is one of the representative citizens of Tomahawk and for 20 years served as such on the county board. He is a charter member of the Commerical Club and was one of a committee of three on agriculture that was instrumental in organizing the Tomahawk Agricultural Society. He has always been strongly progressive and is as widely respected as he is well known. In 1889 Mr. LEE was married at Madison, Wis., to Sophronia WINTERS, daughter of James and Mary (ASHCRAFT) WINTERS. Her parents, both now deceased, were native of Missouri, and in 1861-62 James ASHCRAFT was engaged in fighting the Indians at Ft. Ridgely and New Ulm in the great Sioux outbreak. Mr. and Mrs. LEE are the parents of two children, Joy and Lowell.

Transcribed by Susan Swanson, from pages 648-649; History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties Wisconsin; Compiled by George O. Jones, Norman S. McVean and Others 1924, H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co

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