SECOND GENERATION

5. William Washington LEE was born on 17 Oct 1851 in Mason County KY. Gail mother had that William Washington Lee was born October 17, 1850. He was a Farmer in Mar 1873 in Henderson County, KY. On his Marriage Bond. He appeared on the census in 1880 in Henderson County, KY. He was nine years old
He died on 20 Dec 1915 in Danville, Vermilion Co., IL. State of Illinois
Coroner's Certificate of Death

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William W. Lee is buried in Lot 63, Block 19 A, Grave #4. Their is not marker. He was 64 years, 2 months, and 3 days of age at the time of death. Others buried in this section are Amanda Barkhurst (died 1904), Lawrence Lee (died 1905), John J. Bord, and Virginia Ione Bord. John and J. and Minnie Lee Bord are the only ones with a marker. Since the grave of Virginia Ione Bord is a small one, I would guess she was their daughter. There is a notation on their records that Mrs. William Lee is buried at Greenwood Cemetery. To my knowledge, this cemetery is not in the library, so I would have to go there or call to find out about her, however I didn't want to do anymore research until you give me the go ahead. So please advise if you want more research done at this time. The charge is $2.50 per hour. Good luck with you research. Sincerely, E. L. Duprey

P. S. The library does contain material on Mason Co., KY. If you would like me to pick up information on the Lee surname for that area. He was buried in Springfield Cem. Danville, IL.. William Washington Lee is buried in Lot 63. 2221 Murray Clark Rd.
Danville, Illinois 61832
November 24, 1972


Mrs. Guilford Wm... Quade
951 East 5th Ave.
Escondido, California 92052


RE: William Washington Lee

Danville, ILL. Commercial News - Tuesday December 21, 1915

Will a hat worn by the murderer of William W. Lee Monday night eventually prove his undoing? Officers belive so, and are following up the clue closely. Lee, who ran a grocery store and shoe repair shop at 515 Collett St., was shot to death about 6:45 P.M. by two men who entered the store, probably with the intention of holding up the aged grocer. Following the shooting the men fled. Onew, wearing a dark hat and dark clothing, ran south down Collett St. The other fled west on Seminary St. It is the hat worn by the man who fled west the police have in their possession. It was learned he ran to the corner of Anderson St., two blocks from the scene of the murder, and then turned. He ran through the yard of William Pussehl, 713 Seminary St. In running through the grape arbor in the back yard, the hat was knocked from his head.

Beulah Kegley, a clerk, had just left the store and gone to her boarding house across the street. It is believed that the men waited until the clerk left before entering. The facts that Mr. Lee was lying face down on his own gun, and that the candy case was open, lead officers to believe that the men asked for some candy and while Lee was getting it, they commanded him to hold up his hands and deliver his money to them.

The Kegley girl and Mrs. Rayta Jaggers, with whom she rooms, heard six shots, she belives. They ran to the store and saw the two me fleeing. Entering the store they found Lee, evidently dead, back of the counter. Coroner Ralph Cole and the police were notified.

Four empty shells were in the revolver of the deceased, which was found under the body and confirms the belief that Lee fired on the men when they demanded his money. Three of the shots went through the front windows of the store. The fourth bullet has not been found. A shot was fired through the showcase by one of the highwaymen. Another bullet entered the left breast of Lee, passing through both lungs and lodging in the back. Death was almost instantaneous, according to Dr. Fisher, who held the post more examination order by the coroner.

Lee was well known in Danville. For years he ran a store on East Williams St., near Stony Creek, and the store room was used as a polling place at election time. For the past three years, he has been in business at 315 Collett St. He was sixty years of age a cripple, and in the habit of carrying considerable money on his person. He lived in the rear of the store. While he never feared a robbery, he always had the pistol handy and frequently stated that in the event of a holdup, he would shoot, even if his life was forfeited. Officers believe his boast was not a idle one, and that when he was asked to give up his money, he immediately started shooting. In their haste to leave, the robbers overlooked $100.00 in the cash register. Lee also had on his person a large sum of money and his watch, which the murderers did not have time to take before they fled.

Miss Kegley states that when she left the store, Lee was in good spirits, evidently not feeling in danger, he had more than the usual amount of money on hand. He remarked that he would see her Tuesday A.M. at seven.

"There is no need for hurry," the coroner said Tuesday. "Nothing can be gained by haste and much may be done by going into the case slowly and carefully. Already some good clues have been found. These are being followed by some of the best men at the disposal of the police department. While nothing definite is known, I feel confident the murder mystery will be solved, though the case is a puzzle at the present time."

Chief Walker said, "We have some new evidence, not much, but something to work on, and there is not telling what the day may bring forth. I do not belive the policy at this time is to say just what is being done, but we are investigating and going into the case from every angle."

William William Lee was born in Kentucky 63 years ago, and came to Illinois in 1871. He soon entered the mines that then surrounded the city and was employed there until he became crippled. He afterwards became a cobbler and ran a small grocery store in connection. Soon after his removal to Danville, Lee was married to Miss Margaret Anderson. Six children were born to this union of whom four survive. The children are Thomas Lee, formerly of the Chicago and Eastern Illinois rail rail, now residing at Gary, Indiana; Mrs. Minnie bord, wife of Joseph J. Bord, a Big Four yard conductor at Lyons, residing in Richland; Mrs. Mary Hollis, wife of Charles Hollis, a former Chicago and Eastern Illinois blacksmith, now residing at Universal, and Seeley Lee of this city. The dead are Lawrence Lee of this city and Mrs. Amanda Barkhurst, the first wife of Charles F. Barkhurst, a former Danville letter carrier, now residing at Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Lee and his wife had separated several years ago. The body, which is at the Callahan and Callahan under taking establishment, will probably be buried Thursday, but at a late hour Tuesday, the plans for the funeral had not been completed.

Wednesday, December 22, 1915

The body of William W. Lee who was murdered Monday evening, was removed from Callahan and Callahan Wed. afternoon, to the home of a daughter Mrs. Joseph J. Bord at Central Park. (Central Park is just at the south edge of town, not a town itself) Funeral services will be held there Thursday at 2:00 P. M. and the body will be taken to Springhill Cemetery for interment.

Friday, December 24, 1915

William W. Lee was buried Thursday afternoon. Four days have passed seance the murder, and while the officers are exerting every effort to secure some tangible evidence, not an arrest has been made. They seem to have run up against a dead wall in their investigation Officers are still hopeful and confident that something will level within the next few days which will be of use to them in the solution of the mystery surrounding Lee's murder.

Monday, December 27, 1915

Coroner starts inquest on the death of William W. Lee, storekeeper. Four empty chambers in Lee's own revolver indicated that he had sold his life as dearly as he could, and there were hopes in the minds of the police and the coroner that someone would be reported wounded by one of the bullets. There were rumors to the effect that a wounded man had sought treatment from a local surgeon, but these appeared to be unfounded.

I checked the newspapers through December 31st, but found nothing more about the results of the investigation. Now I had already put in a little over two hours for you, finding the microfilm, and copying, ect., but by this time I was a little interested myself. So when I got home I called Springhill cemetery, since I could find no entry in the cemetery records in the library for Mr. Lee. I knew he had to be out there. The lady was very nice and gave me the following information: There is a section belonging to this family, with 7 spaces. One space is still empty. William W. Lee is buried Lot 63, Block 19A, grave #4. There is no marker. He was 64 years, 2 months, and 3 days of age at the time of death. Other buried in this section are Amanda Barkhurst (died 1904) , Lawrence Lee (died 1905), John J. Bord, Minnie Lee bord, and Virginia Ione bord. John J. and Minnie Lee bord and the only ones with a marker. Since the grave of Vorginia Ione bord is a small on, I would guess she was their daughter. There is a notation on their records that Mrs. William Lee is buried at Greenwood cemetery. To my knowledge, this cemetery is not in the library, so I would have to go there or call to find out about her, however I didn't want to do anymore research until you give me the go ahead. So please advise if you want more research done at this time. The charge is $2.50 per hour. Good luck with your research.

Sincerely, E. L. Duprey

P.S. The library does contain material on Mason County, KY. If you would like me to pick up information on the Lee surname from that area.

He was married to Lucy Ann Denton Meals LEE (daughter of Dany DENTON and Jamie AGNEW) on 3 Mar 1873 in Cairo, Henderson County KY. Wm. W. Lee & Lucy A. Denton Book 12, page 168
Marriage Record (Official Certificate)

Marriage Register
Page 186

This is to certify that on the 12th day of March, 1873 the Rites of Matrimony were legally Sodom signed by be between William W. Lee and Lucy A. Denton at Mrs Jane Denton in the County of Henderson in the presence of Mark Y. Nunn, S.P. Denton , David Agnes, George Sights

Signed W.W. Cook Lucy Ann Denton Meals LEE was born in 1854 in Cairo, Henderson County KY. She died on 1 Jul 1933 in Cairo, Henderson County KY. Copy of Death Certificate.
Registration District No. 690 Primary Registration District No. 5672
File No. 16309 William Washington LEE and Lucy Ann Denton Meals LEE had the following children:

child+27 i. Alvin Floyd LEE.

He was married to Margaret (Molly) Anderson Zimbley LEE (daughter of William ANDERSON and Nancy ROSE) on 6 Jun 1877. Margaret (Molly) Anderson Zimbley LEE was born on 16 Dec 1860. She died on 8 Aug 1924 in Danville, Vermilion Co., Illinois. William Washington LEE and Margaret (Molly) Anderson Zimbley LEE had the following children:

child+28 i. Thomas Henry LEE.
child+29 ii. Minnie Lee BORD.
child+30 iii. Isza Amanda Lee BARKHUST.
child+31 iv. Mary Nancy Lee HOLLIS.
child32 v. Lawrence Dorsey LEE was born on 8 Jun 1892. He died on 3 Aug 1905 in Danville, Vermilion Co., IL.
child+33 vi. Selby Iown LEE.

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