My Genealogy Hound

Hon. W. J. Lee. Although this gentleman was born in Franklin County, Tenn., in 1837, he moved to Arkansas and settled at Mineral Springs, in 1870, and has been a resident of Arkansas from that time. As a citizen he has not his superior. His parents, W. B. and Sarah (Matthews) Lee, were born in Virginia and South Carolina, respectively, but were early emigrants to Tennessee, where they followed farming until 1857, then came to Arkansas, making a settlement on a farm which they purchased near the Mineral Springs, where they made their home for many years. Here the mother passed from life, but the father died at Nashville in 1888, having been an active member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In his youth W. J. Lee received fair educational opportunities, and on his father's farm learned lessons of industry, perseverance and economy, which stood him in good stead during his subsequent career. He was married in Tennessee, in 1858, to Miss Sarah M. Jones, a native of Tennessee, and a daughter of John W. Jones, a representative farmer of that section. In 1859, after serving an apprenticeship, he started a blacksmith and wagon shop, making the manufacture of wagons a specialty, and continued this business until 1870, when he removed to Arkansas, and opened a shop at Mineral Springs, which he continued to successfully conduct until 1886. He was engaged as superintendent of the railroad shops at Nashville, and after a short time became deputy postmaster, and still later was appointed postmaster of Nashville, serving in this capacity until September, 1889. He has always been a prominent figure in the politics of Howard County, and in 1875 was elected to the position of justice of the peace of Mineral Springs Township, and in 1879 was chosen by the Democrats to the Lower House of the General Assembly of the State, and was re-elected in 1883, serving four years in all. Mr. Lee and his wife became the parents of ten children, three of whom are living: William D. (who is married and resides at Centre Point, a successful attorney), Mary Alice and John Whitten. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and Mr. Lee is a Mason and was master of Mine Creek Lodge No. 179, at Mineral Springs, for twelve years.