Lee Family – Page 7 – Heritage Ramblings

Wordless Wednesday: Lee Family Clock

Lee Family Clock, St. Louis, Missouri — *Lee Family Pillar Mantle Clock, St. Louis, Missouri*

The family oral history is that this clock sat on the fireplace mantle in the household of Samuel Lenton Lee (1849-1932) and later his son, Samuel J. Lee (1879-1964), and then grandson, Lloyd Eugene “Gene” Lee (1907-1991). It is known positively that it belonged to Samuel J. Lee and Gene Lee, but not verified that it was owned by the elder Samuel Lee. The two younger Lees lived on Alamo in St. Louis, Missouri.

Lee Clock- Detail — *Lee Clock- Pillar Detail*

Inside it has printing on how to use and regulate the clock, and states “Made and sold by Seth Thomas, Plymouth Hollow, Connecticut. Warranted Good.”

The clock is a wood veneer, possibly rosewood, with ebonized pillars and gold at the cap and base of the pillars. It appears that the clock face has been replaced as it has little wear. Note the “S” and “T” on the hands of the clock.

Further research is needed to date the clock. My very brief research suggests it may be from 1870-1875 or so.

The clock has not worked for more than a day or two since it has been in our possession, despite numerous rides to the clock repair shop.

Samuel Lenton Lee immigrated to Bunker Hill, Illinois in 1870, per censuses, at age 21, from his birthplace in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England. (Family oral history stated the year as 1856, but he would only have been 7 at the time.) He arrived in New Orleans and took passage on a boat up the Mississippi to Macoupin County, Illinois. On 7 Oct 1878, he married Louisa Marie Brandenberger- perhaps the clock was a wedding gift? Samuel died in Bunker Hill, and his son Samuel J. moved to St. Louis, Missouri, sometime between 1906, when he married Dorothy Adele Aiken (1884-1953) in Bunker Hill, and 1910, when he is found in the US Federal Census in St. Louis, Missouri.

So okay, I really cannot do a Wordless Wednesday post, and this will be my last. But what good is seeing an artifact if one does not know the history to make it a family treasure?

Notes, Sources, and References:

1) Family treasure.

2) Source Citation: Year: 1900; Census Place: Bunker Hill, Macoupin, Illinois; Roll: 324; Page: 10B; Enumeration District: 0051; FHL microfilm: 1240324. Ancestry.com. Accessed 7/2/14.

3) Source Citation: Year: 1910; Census Place: St Louis Ward 23, Saint Louis City, Missouri; Roll: T624_821; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 0355; FHL microfilm: 1374834.

4) Dating clock: https://www.antiqueclockspriceguide.com/labelstrademarks.php?lm=Seth%20Thomas

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Sentimental Sunday: Father’s Day 2014

Edward A. McMurray, Jr., with his daughter, 1955. — *Edward A. McMurray, Jr., with his first daughter, 1955*

There is a sadness in my heart today because on Father’s Day, I have no dad here to visit or call, none to cook dinner for, to hug, to tell him I love him. There is no father-in-law, nor grandfathers, or great-grandfathers left in my family either. I am thinking of them so much today though, so it is a Sentimental Sunday, and I appreciate all that they gave to me of themselves over the years to make me who I am today. I feel that one truly and fully understands the sacrifice of a father for his descendants once one has their own family. Even after being a parent for so many years, I still think of the events, wisdom, love, genetics, even quirks imparted by these paternal ancestors, and the light bulb goes on and I say, “Wow. They cared so much that they would even ___.”

This care and love extends to their participation in the military, too. Most were not fathers when they enlisted, but they already had that ‘take-care-of-the-future” thought strongly in their minds- enough to risk their very lives for it. Thankfully, none of my paternal ancestors gave their life in a battle to protect our freedoms, although some were wounded, either physically or mentally. All were changed by the horrors of war, but still went on to become fathers, hoping that future generations would be able to live more peacefully.

How can “Thank you, I love you.” ever be enough to say on this day, or ANY day???

A father is… PROUD.

Lloyd Eugene "Gene" Lee with his son Robert "Bob" Lee, winter of 1936. Bobbie was four years old. — *Lloyd Eugene “Gene” Lee with his son Robert “Bob” Lee, winter of 1936. Bobbie was four years old.*

A father is… a TEACHER.

*Edward A. McMurray, Jr., with his first grandson, about 1989.*

A father is… LOVING.

Bob Lee and son, 01 JUN 1959. — *Bob Lee and two-day old son, June 1959.*

A father is… FUN.

*Irving I. Cooper and his first grandchild, Feb. 1962.*

A father is… a HELPING HAND.

*George A. Roberts with his grandson, about 1926. Caption written by his grandson.*

A father is… PROTECTIVE.

*Dr. Edward A. McMurray, Sr. with his son, about 1924.*

A father is… a PROVIDER.

*1954- Edward A. McMurray, Jr., feeding daughter.*

A father is… A BUDDY.

A father is… SURPRISING.

*G. W. Helbling in his garden, August 1934. I had not know that he loved roses and gardening until I saw this picture, long after he passed away.*

A father is… LOVE.

Thank you, Dads.

Notes, Sources, and References:

1) Family photos in possession of author.

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Friday’s Faces from the Past: Ruth N. Alexander and Wilhemina Schoor

Ruth Nadine (Alexander) Lee and her mother, Wilhemina (Schoor) Alexander at Lake Tanycomo, Missouri — *Ruth Nadine Alexander and her mother, Wilhemina (Schoor) Alexander at Lake Taneycomo, Missouri, about 1928.*

Since many folks will be heading off to lakes and beaches or just a picnic pavilion in a park this first big weekend of summer, here is a picture of two of our Lee ancestors relaxing at the lake. The place was Lake Taneycomo in southern Missouri, and the time was probably about 1928.

Ruth Nadine Alexander, on the left, was born 01 Feb 1906 in Missouri to George Harrington Alexander (1879-1951) and Wilhemina Schoor (1882-1942), on the right. Ruth was the second of six children, and lived in Missouri all her life.

On 27 Jul 1929, Ruth married Lloyd Eugene “Gene” Lee in Marshfield, Missouri. Their only child, Robert Eugene Lee, was born in 1932.

Sadly, Ruth died at the young age of 46 on 1 Dec 1953 in St. Louis, Missouri.
Notes, Sources, and References:

1) Family oral history, records, photos, and ephemera.

2) Find A Grave Memorial# 57013395 for Ruth Nadine Alexander: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=LEE&GSpartial=1&GSbyrel=all&GSst=26&GScntry=4&GSsr=4601&GRid=57013395&

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Wordless Wednesday: Postcard from Lena (Brandenburger) Gosch to her sister Lily F. (Brandenburger) Schillig

Postcard from Lena (Brandenburger) Gosch to her sister, Lily (Brandenburger) (Glass) Schillig. — *Postcard from Lena (Brandenburger) Gosch to her sister, Lily (Brandenburger) (Glass) Schillig*. *[Click to enlarge.]*

Wow, lots of words in the title for a Wordless Wednesday post.

And now I can’t be wordless, because as I was fact-checking the married names of the sisters for the caption, I learned a bit more about sweet “Eloies” who had apparently been ill.

The card was postmarked 23 Aug 1912.

Christina Eloise Glass died 17 Sep 1912.

Dear Eloise was just 12 years old, as she was born 08 Dec 1899 in Texas.

Eloise’s father, James Maynard “Jimmie” Glass had been a physician, but passed away 28 Feb 1903 at the young age of 36. Eloise’s mother, Lily F. Brandenburger, remarried and she and Eloise were living with Lily’s second husband Fredrick C. Schillig and children from his previous marriage.

The death certificate of Eloise states that she died of a malignant intracranial tumor that affected her cerebellum.

She was buried in Bunker Hill, Illinois, on 19 Sep 1912.

I really hate it when a “Wordless Wednesday” post becomes a “Wednesday’s Child” post.

Notes, Sources, and References:

1) Postcard part of family ephemera collection.

2) Missouri death certificate online for Christina E. Glass, Certificate Number 31229: http://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/resources/deathcertificates/Results.asp?type=basic&tLName=Glass&tFName=&sCounty=all&tYear=1912#null

3) One Ancestry tree has her name as “Christine” but I had not seen that name before in family information. It was a clue to watch for, though, as German folks often called their children by their middle name, in this case, Eloise. The death certificate documented her legal name as Christine E. Glass, and I knew it was our little Eloise because her step-father, F. C. Shillig, had provided the death certificate information including her father and mother’s names and birthplaces that matched known facts. Another good instance of using Ancestry trees as clues to be verified.

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Wedding Wednesday: David S. Russell and Rebecca Ann Lutz

*David S. Russell and Rebecca Ann Lutz Marriage Record*

Rebecca Ann Lutz (1841-1916), daughter of Jeremiah Lutz and Charity Ann McConkey, married David S. Russell (1833-1897) in Medina County, Ohio on 6 Nov 1860.

Notes, Sources, and References:

1) Family records.

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Category: Lee Family

Wordless Wednesday: Lee Family Clock

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Sentimental Sunday: Father’s Day 2014

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Friday’s Faces from the Past: Ruth N. Alexander and Wilhemina Schoor

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Wordless Wednesday: Postcard from Lena (Brandenburger) Gosch to her sister Lily F. (Brandenburger) Schillig

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Wedding Wednesday: David S. Russell and Rebecca Ann Lutz

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