My Genealogy Hound

JOHN FOSKETT LEE, Esq., one of the prominent and representative business men of New Cumberland, Cumberland county, was born Nov. 30, 1822, at Charlton, Worcester Co., Mass. At the age of four years he was taken by his parents to the adjoining town of Southbridge, where he was reared.

Mr. Lee was educated in the common schools up to the age when he was considered old enough to earn tuition money to carry him through more advanced schools. He attended Wilbraham Academy with money thus earned. At the age of sixteen he commenced to learn the carpenter’s trade, serving three years with Capt. Lemuel Hooker, and followed same for two years. In the spring of 1844 he came to New Cumberland, joining his brother Frank, who was established here in the pump-making business. Util he bought the Strawn sawmill he continued to work for his brother in the shop, and then became general manager. The firm name was Church, Lee & Freeman at first, later Lee & Ringlant, and then Frank Lee assumed the stock, later admitting our subject to partnership, but he later dropped out of the firm and Frank admitted John Church.

When the Civil war broke out Frank Lee entered the service with his brother-in-law, Gen. John W. Geary, being made quartermaster of the 28th P. V. I., and remained in the army until the defeat of Gen. Pope, in front of Washington, when he resigned, having been taken sick.
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In 1860 John F. Lee bought his brother’s stock and took in Christian Eberly as partner, the firm style becoming Lee & Eberly. In 1870 he bought out Mr. Eberly’s interest and continued to operate the lumber business alone for some years, and then took in Owen Baylor, the firm becoming Lee & Baylor. During the war the firm did a large business, but in 1877 it was dissolved, and Mr. Lee gave his entire attention to his agency for the Northern Central railroad, with which he had been connected for some time, and which he continued for a period of thirty-two years. Since his election as justice of the peace, in 1876, he has continuously filled the office, and his decisions have met with almost universal approval.

Until 1860 Mr. Lee had been a Democrat, and for fifteen years previously had been a member of Democratic conventions, but he admired Mr. Lincoln and assisted to elect him, and became an advocate of the abolition of slavery. He has always been a leading factor in local politics, and has been frequently selected to confer with party managers of other localities, attending as a delegate many Republican conventions, and in 1884 was unanimously elected chairman of the county convention; he has several times since filled the chair. He has served frequently as school director and for many years was president of the board.

In 1860 Mr. Lee was married, in New Cumberland, to Hannah James, daughter of Thomas James, and a sister of Owen James. Three children were born to this union: Sylvia, Mrs. James Sutherland, of Denver, Colo.; Thomas James, a coal operator at Phillipsburg, who married Caroline, daughter of Judge Munson, of that place; and John F., who died when seven years of age.

Chapman Lee, the father of Mr. Lee, was a cabinet-maker at Charlton and at Southbridge, Mass., where he died at the age of eighty-six years. He married Persis Foskett, a native of Charlton, Mass., who died at Southbridge, aged seventy-six years. Their family consisted of five daughters and four sons, all of whom have passed away except John F.

The Lee family is of English extraction, the Fosketts of Welsh origin. The name of Grandfather Jonathan Foskett appears on the rolls of the patriot army of 1776.