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Below is a family biography included in The History of Wright County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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J. A. Lee, of the drug firm of Ellis & Lee, at Mountain Grove, Wright Co., Mo., was born in Perry County, Mo., March 9, 1847, being the son of John B. and Elizabeth (Simmons) Lee, and the grandson on his mother’s side of John Simmons, who was a native of Louisiana, but who settled in Tennessee, and afterward came to Missouri, where he died in Wright County. He was a captain in the War of 1812 under Jackson. John B. Lee was born in North Carolina, and immigrated to Middle Tennessee, where he was married. He afterward came to Missouri (about 1845 or 1846), lived in Perry County for a time, and then came to Wright County, where he died when forty-five years of age. His wife, Elizabeth (Simmons) Lee, was born in Tennessee in 1817, and grew to womanhood in that State. By her marriage to Mr. Lee she became the mother of ten children (four boys), two living, J. A. and J. C. Mrs. Lee is still living, and resides in Mountain Grove. The family is of Irish origin. J. A. Lee was reared in his native county, and during the war went, in 1860, to Arkansas. After peace was declared he returned to Missouri, and followed agricultural pursuits and traded in stock until 1881, when he and W. C. Ellis built a room and put in a stock of drugs. Their average sales equal $8,000 per year, and they keep one or two clerks. Mr. Lee has continued to deal in stock in connection with his drug business, and aside from this is the owner of 140 acres of land. He is a Cleveland Democrat; a member of the I. O. O. F., and is treasurer of the Widows and Orphans’ Fund in the I. O. O. F. Mr. Lee was married in 1870 to Miss N. M. Finley, of Moniteau County, Mo., born in 1844. Seven living children were the result of this union: James F., John R., Annie B., Emaline, Robert, Mary E. and Essie.

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This family biography is one of 90 biographies included in The History of Wright County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Wright County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Wright County, Missouri family biographies, click here

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