My Genealogy Hound

SAMUEL W. LEE, Jr., whose portrait accompanies the present sketch, is a member of the Nonotuck Silk Company of Leeds, Mass., and a valued citizen of Northampton. He was born in Northampton, August 10, 1857, and is a son of Samuel W. Lee, Sr., who was born in Northampton Centre, April 14, 1835. His grandfather, Samuel William Lee, was born in Connecticut, and lived for some time in Middletown, but subsequently removed to Northampton. He married Electa Bacon, who bore him five children, of whom Samuel W. Lee, Sr., of Northampton, Electa Lee, of Newfield, N.J., and Cornelia, the widow of the Rev. William Bates, are now living.

Samuel W., son of Samuel William and Electa (Bacon) Lee, married Hepzibah Severance, a native of Heath, Mass., who passed to the life eternal in November, 1891, leaving four children, namely: Samuel W., Jr.; Grace, who married John Robinson, and died in the prime of womanhood, leaving one son; Arthur, who is married, and is in business with his father; and Philip, who died when young.

Samuel W. Lee, Jr., was educated in the district and high school of his native city, being well fitted for the responsibilities of life, and at the age of seventeen years began to be self-supporting. He first entered the insurance office of Peck & Pierce, remaining with them until 1878. Coming then to Leeds, Mr. Lee was employed as book-keeper for the Mill River Button Company three years; and in the spring of 1881 he accepted a similar position in the office of the Nonotuck Silk Company, with which he has since been connected, this being the largest silk thread company in the world.

On the 20th of April, 1881, Mr. Lee was united in marriage with Miss Emma L. Dimock, a daughter of Lucius and Electa (Jones) Dimock. Mrs. Dimock died in 1884, leaving her husband and two daughters: Emma L., Mrs. Lee; and Kittie, the wife of George Wright Clarke. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Lee has been brightened by the birth of one child, Harold Dimock Lee, a promising boy of thirteen years. Mr. Lee resides with his father-in-law, who is the Managing Director of the Nonotuck Silk Company.

In politics Mr. Lee is a strong Republican, and for two years served his fellow-townsmen as a member of the Common Council. He also represents this ward on the Northampton Board of Education, and has been Secretary of the Forbes Library since its organization, being a most responsible and trustworthy official. Socially, he is a Knight Templar, and for three years was Commander of the Northampton Commandery. Mr. Lee is greatly interested in music, having a decided talent for the art, which he has cultivated, and for several years was organist in the First Church, and afterward sang in the choirs of that and of the Unitarian church.