My Genealogy Hound

Dr. William Lee is a physician of acknowledged merit in Prairie County, and the restoration of hundreds to health and happiness is due to his skill and talent. He was born in Graves County, Ky., February 20, 1832, and is the son of Gen. Joshua and Nancy (Markham) Lee, both of whom are Virginians by birth. The father moved to the Blue Grass State in his early manhood, and was a successful tiller of the soil in Graves County for a number of years, or until 1845, when he moved to Arkansas, and for some time followed the plow in Independence County, near Batesville, on the old Independence road. Later he engaged in steam-boating on the White River, but after following this occupation for a few years he decided that farming was more congenial to his tastes, as well as more remunerative, and he resumed agriculture. About this time reverses overtook him, and he disposed of his property here and moved to Louisiana, where he set energetically to work to retrieve his fortunes, and succeeded in doing so to some extent, and at the time of his death was the possessor of a comfortable competency. He died in 1855, his wife’s death occurring in 1853. Dr. William Lee removed with his parents to Louisiana, and after reaching mature years determined to see a little of the world, and traveled over the greater portion of Louisiana, Texas and Georgia. Having always been possessed with a desire to study medicine, he began a systematic course of reading at Des Arc, under Dr. E. P. Nicholson and Dr. Burney, and in 1866 located six miles west of Des Arc, and has been an able practitioner of the county ever since. In connection with his practice he has been engaged in managing his small farm, situated about five miles west of the town, but recently rented his property and moved to this place. He joined the Confederate service in 1861, becoming a member of Gen. P. R. Cleburne’s regiment, and from a sergeant was promoted to the rank of captain in the Trans-Mississippi Departments, Company F, of Ganse’s regiment. He was a member of Cleburne’s regiment until after the battle of Missionary Ridge, and during his term of service was in the fights at Scottsville (Ky.), Shiloh and Prairie Grove; in this engagement he received a wound in the lower part of the left leg, and after recovering somewhat, was transferred to the cavalry, and was with Price on his raid through Missouri. At the close of the war he returned to Des Arc, and here has since made his home. A year after his removal to Prairie County, Ark., or in June, 1859, he was married to Miss Mary Lee, a daughter of John Lee. She was born and reared in Prairie County, and here died on February 20, 1876, having become the mother of four children by the Doctor: Martha Ann (wife of Henry Boggs, of Utah), John M. (married and residing on the farm), Elizabeth and Thomas B. In December, 1885, the Doctor was married to Mrs. M. E. (Jones) Whitlock, a native of Arkansas, being here reared and educated, and a daughter of Abner P. Jones. The Doctor belongs to the Prairie County Medical Society.