[or-roots] Philander Lee (1802-1887) and family

Marsha Bradley-Luthy pmml at wvi.com
Wed Oct 29 17:42:39 PST 2003


I noticed you are in Montana.  My son is Columbia Falls.  Virgene where are
you?  Do you need copies of these
documents?
----- Original Message -----
From: "Virgene and Dean Travis" <travis.north at centurytel.net>
To: "Oregon Roots List- OR" <or-roots at sosinet.sos.state.or.us>
Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2003 1:53 PM
Subject: [or-roots] Philander Lee (1802-1887) and family


> I'm a descendant of Philester Lee, one of Philander Lee's brothers.  Most
of
> the date and name info. below comes from Candis Sanders, a descendant of
> Philander and much of her information comes from Winifred Jane Saltmarsh
> Raines ( 1910-1986)the original Lee Family genealogist and a granddaughter
> of Elvira Belle Lee (1835-1915) who is a dau. of Philander (see below).
> Hope this helps with the confusion
> about Philander Lee.
>           Virgene Travis in Montana
>
>
> PHILANDER LEE b. 22 Feb 1802 in Washington Co., NY, d. 12 Jan 1887 in
Canby,
> Clackamas Co., Oregon, son of Joseph Lee and Abigail Tallman.
>      He married on 20 Oct 1827 in Jefferson Co., NY
> ANNA HARVEY GREEN b. 17 Dec 1807 in Ovid, Seneca Co., NY and died 28 Mar
> 1900 in Canby, dau. of Isreal Green and Hannah Witter.
>       Their children:
> 1.  EMILY ARMINA LEE b. 22 Jul 1828 in Jefferson Co., NY, died
>         15 Dec 1857 in Canby, Clackamas Co., OR.  She married
>          JAMES ROLAND LEABO on 16 Mar 1851 in Clackamas Co.
> 2.  EDWIN TALLMAN LEE b. 11 Sep 1830 in Jefferson Co., NY; he
>          died 16 Jul 1872 near Corning, Tehama Co., CA
>              He was married 3 times.   I have names if anyone is
interested.
> 3.  HEMAN ALLEN LEE b. 29 Mar 1833 in Jefferson Co., NY.  He died
>          on & Jan 1914 in Canby. He married on 9 Apr. 1867
>           EDA ELIZABETH TICE.
> 4.  ELVIRA BELL LEE b. 24 Dec 1835 in Jefferson Co., NY; died
>           25 Jun 1915 in Lebanon, Linn Co., OR.  She married on 20 Aug
>          1854 in Sodaville, Linn Co., OR Terr ARTHUR VANCE
>           SALTMARSH.
> 5.  OREN LEE b. 12 Jul 1838 in Jefferson Co., NY.  He d. 11 Mar 1881
>          in Portland, Multnomah Co., OR.  He married on 26 Nov 1876
>          in Clackamas Co. CHLOE P. WHITING.
> 6.  CAROLINE EUPHEMIA LEE b. 6 Jun 1841 in Jefferson Co., NY, died
>         unknown date in Salem, Marion Co., OR.  She married on 3 July 1864
>         in Clackamas Co. Rev. GEORGE W. ROORK.
> 7. JASON R. LEE b. 22 Jun 1844 in Jefferson Co., NY; died Sept 1846
>          in Iowa.
> 8.  ALBERT HARVEY LEE, b. 22 Jan 1847 in Des Moines, Polk Co., Iowa
>          and died 23 Aug 1936 in Canby, Clackamas Co., OR.   He married
>         on 10 Sep 1871 to MARTHA JANE HALL in Canby.
>
> Below are some of my notes on Philander Lee:
>
> 1830 U.S. CENSUS:  Lyme, Jefferson Co., New York, page 261
>  Philander Lee: 1 male 5-10, 1 male 20-30, 1 female under 5, 1 female
20-30
>
> !1835 NEW YORK STATE CENSUS: Living in/near Lyme, New York, Film #895,240,
> Book 2: Philander Lee, 3 males, 2 females, 1 female under 16, no males
> eligible for military, 130 acres, 13 cattle, 7 horse, 17 sheep, 44 hogs,
20
> yds. fulled cloth, 40 yds. flannel cloth
>
> 1840 U.S. CENSUS:  Lyme, Jefferson Co., New York, page 638
> Philander Lee -- 120001,101001
> 1 male under 5
> 2 males 5-10
> 1 male 30-40
> 1 female under 5
> 1 female 10-15
> 1 female 30-40
>    NOTE 1:  On the same page is Daniel Griggs -- 1001100001, 0000101
>    NOTE 2:  In the 1840 census index, there is another Philander Lee in
> Ellisburgh, Jefferson Co., New York on page 27 as follows:  100001, 10101
>
> 1846 RESIDENCE: Ottumwa, Wapello, Iowa
> Vol. I, 1841-49 Iowa Census, Wapello Co: Philander and Philester Lee both
> listed in 1846 and 1847
>
> REASON FOR MIGRATION: The following is an excerpt from the Lebanon
Express,
> Lebanon, Oregon on 21 December 1970:
> ASTHMA PROMPTED LEE FAMILY'S MOVE ACROSS THE OREGON TRAIL
>     The autobiography of Anna Lee was the basis of a series of stories
> printed in the Lebanon Express a year ago. However, that story did not
> include the following material, furnished by a descendant of Edwin Lee,
Mrs.
> Gladys Martin of Sacramento, California.
>      Edwin Lee [son of Philander & Anna Green Lee] experienced little of
the
> adventure of the Oregon Trail -- but
> much physical suffering.  According to his daughter, Mary Elizabeth Lee
> Roberts -- he was born with asthma.  Because of this ailment, the family
> moved (1846) from his birthplace in New York to Iowa where his
grandfather,
> Israel Green, lived.
>      That climate didn't agree with him, either, so after much
consultation,
> the entire branch of the Lee family decided to go to Oregon.  They had
heard
> the climate was more healthful and the winters milder.
>
> MIGRATION: All four children of Josephus Lee (including Philander Lee)
> joined together in St. Joe, Missouri on the "Oskaloosa Train" June 15,
1847
> led by Captain Wiley Chapman.  Coming west with Philander and Anna (Green)
> Lee were four sons and three daughters, their seventh child dying in Iowa
in
> September 1846.  He was then the youngest, named Jason.  Their eighth
child,
> Albert H., was born in January 1847 in Iowa.  The family arrived in Oregon
> on November 15, 1847.
>
> LAND: Oregon Donation Land Claim, Certificate No. 2795. 647 acres in
> Sections 33 and 34 and Section 4, Twp. 4S, Range 1E.  Born Feb. 22, 1802
> Washington Co., New York.  Married  Anna Green (born Dec 1807) daughter of
> Isreal & Hannah (Witler [sic]) Green) on October 20, 1827, Jefferson Co.,
> NY.  Arrived in Oregon December 1847; settled claim in Jan/Feb 1850.
> Affidavits: Rice Pendleton, Champion Pendleton, Herman (sic) H. Lee (son),
> Lucius A. Seeley, Isaac F. Beals.  Town of Canby is now part of this
claim.
> Responsible for 80-foot wide streets in the original platted portion of
the
> City of Canby.
>
> HEALTH: Philander had asthma.
>
> OCCUPATION: From Shirley Isaac of Watsonville, California in April 1997:
> "Philander was a farmer and a rancher.  Hazel Jenkins told me that
Philander
> started from scratch as he was not rich and had a large family."
>
> 1850:  From Oregon Census Records Index 1851-1859, Vol. I:
>  Lee, Philander     Washington Co.   1850
>
> 1850 U.S. CENSUS: Milwaukie, Clackamas Co., Oregon Territory, 20 Sep 1850,
> Page 23, Family 184
> Orlando Lee age 50  farmer    all born NY, except Albert
> --Anna         age 44
> --Emily         age 22
> --Edwin        age 20
> --Herman      age 17
> --Elvira         age 14
> --Orrin          age 12
> --Caroline      age   9
> --Albert        age   3            b. Iowa
>
> 1860 U.S. CENSUS:  Clackamas Co., Oregon, Family 1068
> Philander Lee  age 58  farmer  2,500  600  b. NY
> -- Anna          age 52                               b. NY
> -- Heman        age 27                               b. NY
> -- Caroline       age 19                               b. NY
> -- Albert         age 13                                b. IA
>
> 1870 U.S. CENSUS:  Oregon City, Clackamas Co., Oregon, Family 455, page
113
> June 1870
> Philander Lee   age 68  farmer      b. NY    $1800/$1000
> Anna              age 62  kpng hse   b. NY
> Mary               age 16                  b. OR
> Lebo, Josiah     age 48  laborer      b. OR
>
> 1880 U.S. CENSUS:  Canby, Clackamas Co., Oregon, ED12, page 20, June 15,
> 1880
> Lee, Philander                 age 78  farmer  NY MA VT
> --Annie                           age 72
> --Millard            grd-son  age  7
> Knotts, Annie   grd-dau   age 25
> -- William          grd-son   age   6
> -- George          grd-son  age   3
>
> WHO WAS PHILANDER LEE? written in 1976 by Myra Wenton of Canby, Oregon.
> This article was written for the May 1976 dedication of the Philander Lee
> Elementary School at 1110 S. Ivy Street in Canby, Oregon.  A portion of
the
> article follows:
>      Philander Lee was an 1847 covered wagon pioneer of the Oregon Trail
at
> the age of 45.  His wife and mother of eight, Anna Green Lee, was 40.
Baby
> Albert, born in January 1847, and six older children came with them.
Jason,
> their seventh child, had died in September 1846 in Iowa after the Lee's
> four-month trip from New York, where both were born and where they
married.
>      (After arriving in Oregon,) the Lees wintered at Linnton and grew
> vegetables on Sauvie Island to sell to villagers in Portland. They then
> sought their own homes.  Philander and Anna came that fall of 1848 to
Baker
> Prarie, buying "squatter's rights" and building a log cabin.  In 1850 they
> gained title to their land claim and in 1860 built a frame house, the
first
> in what is now Canby, Oregon.
>       Philander, his oldest son Edwin, and brother Philester, joined the
> gold rush to California in 1849.  They earned enough to return to Oregon
and
> buy apple trees which Philander planted on part of his 636-acre land claim
> in 1852.  Lee's trees produced fruit for hungry gold-seekers in
California.
> Lee and his sons hauled apples in home-made boxes by wagon and ox-team
over
> the tortuous route to the steamboat landing in Oregon City, seat of
> government for the Oregon Territory and until 1871 the nearest post
office,
> for transport to San Francisco.
>      Pushing their Oregon & California line up the valley, railroad
builders
> apprached Lee for land in 1870.  Lee, a man of vision and action, sold for
> $2,960  111 acres of his claim for the 24-block city, 12 lots in each
block.
> Parts of other claims were also bought for the westerly part of the town
> surveyed by George Weidler on Baker Prairie.  Lee's sale was contingent on
> wide streets, as he recalled experiences with Oregon City's narrow ones by
> the bluff.  His youngest son, Albert, turned the ox-team, measured the
turn
> at 80 feet, the width of the streets in the original Canby townsite.  On
> Aug. 9, 1870, the city's plat was filed in Oregon City.
>      Maj. Gen. Edward R. S. Canby, hero of Civil and Indian wars, had come
> to Oregon that summer to command the Army's Dept. of the Columbia.  The
> popular hero's name was given the new town.  Canby's plat is No. 14 in
> Clackamas county records.  Filed earlier, in 1863, was the plat of the
> one-acre Baker Prairie Cemetery in which Lee and his wife, Anna, are
buried.
> He was 84 at death in 1887; she was 92 and died in 1900.
>      Although her children were grown, Mrs. Lee was interested in
education.
> She and Mrs. Wait (daughter-in-law of Oregon state's first supreme court
> chief justice, Aaron Wait) took story books to children of the "white
> school" on Baker Prairie after that one-room frame building was built.
The
> 1860 log schoolhouse was moved in 1863 to the east edge of Lee's claim,
and
> burned about 10 years later.  The "white school" was built by William
Knight
> about 1875 on the highest point of Wait's land at what is now 1408 N.
Holly
> Street in Canby. Church services were held in both the log and frame
> schoolhouses before Canby's first church was built in 1884.  Caroline
Lee's
> husband, the Rev. George Roork, a Methodist minister, held services in
both.
> (Note: Caroline is a daughter of Philander and Anna.)
>      Heman (sic) A. Lee, Philander and Anna's second son, became Canby's
> first mayor when the city was incorporated Feb. 15,1893, to become
Clackamas
> county's second earliest.  The 1847-born Lee, Albert, became Canby's first
> merchant when he and Caroline's husband opened Roork and Lee's store Aug.
1,
> 1871.  Albert Lee also was Canby's first railroad agent.  One of Albert's
> sons, Millard J. Lee, was the first white boy born in Canby.  M. J. was a
> champion bicycle rider, state legislator, pioneer in irrigation in the
Canby
> area, and is the man for whom the 1953-built ferryboat at Canby Ferry was
> named.  One of Heman's daughters, Ora Lee Cattley, was first queen of the
> Clackamas County Fair, first woman elected to the Canby Union High School
> board, and Canby librarian in her later years.  Other descendants of the
> Lees have made contributions through the years to the Canby community in
> which many of them still live.
>      In this U.S. Bicentennial year of 1976, Canby district 86 school
board
> has named its new elementary school at 1110 S. Ivy Street in recognition
of
> Canby's founder, Philander Lee.
>
> RESIDENCE: The following was written by Myra Weston of Canby, Oregon in
> January 1994 and submitted to me by Denise Swenson of McMinnville, Oregon:
> Three houses were homes to the Philander Lees in Canby, Oregon: First a
log
> cabin on what has become S.E. 1st Avenue, near the streets of Willow Creek
> tributary through Hazel Dell Gardens.  Second, the 1860 house of two
stories
> which a grandson, Warren P. Lee and his wife, Jane Mitts Lee, occupied in
> 1904, and which Warren moved west in 1914 and placed over a potato cellar.
> All four of the Warren Lee children were born there.  Damaged by fire
> Decebmer 6, 1956, the house was reduced to one story and still stands in
use
> in 1994.  Jane Lee lived there until her death in February 1978.  Its last
> owner was her daughter, Vesta Lee Tucker (deceased).  Third house, near a
> three-stemmed oak tree near the railroad and east of the second house's
1914
> location, was built in 1868 and both Philander and Anna Green Lee lived
> there through their final years. Later it was the property of Heman's
> youngest child, Ora Lee Cattley and her husband, George H. Cattley, its
> occupants for some years.  In 1967, the property was purchased by Package
> Containers, Inc., for a manufacturing plant which was built on the site of
> the largest Lee house.
>
> CEMETERY INSCRIPTIONS:  From Baker Prairie Cemetery, Canby, Clackamas Co.,
> Oregon
> LEE, Albert H.       1847 - 1936
> LEE, Anna Green   Passed Over Mar 28, 1900 aged 92 ys
>               (Note: Philander and Anna LEE share one headstone)
> LEE, Martha J.    Wife of Albert H. LEE Died May 15, 1890 aged 36 y 19d
> LEE, Millard J.     1872 - 1950
> LEE, Oren           b. 12 Jul 1838, died 1881
> LEE, Philander    Passed Over Jan 12, 1887 aged 84 ys 10 ms 18 ds
>       (Note: shares a headstone with Anna LEE)
>
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