The Children of Charles Milo Lee

Charles Milo Lee is the brother of my great grandfather Morris S. Lee.  Charles was born Jan. 30, 1847 in Chenango, New York. He is the 3rd child of Edwin and Harriet French Lee.  Edwin & Harriet had four children: Alamanson, Polly, Charles and Morris.

The Lee Family Bible lists Charles marrying Elizabeth (Libbie) VanNorwick April 24, 1870, in Broome County, New York.  Elizabeth is the daughter of Isaac and Sarah Kirby VanNorwick.  She was born Oct. 31, 1851 in Pennsylvania.

The children of Charles and Libbie have been a mystery.  In the US 1900 census Libbie has listed 7 children with 4 living. She and Charles are living in New Scandia, Washington County, Minnesota.  The children listed are Louisa, age 10 (born June, 1890), Sidney Keye, age 6 (born June, 1893), their married daughter Alice Lee Dahlquist, age 24 (born Jan. 1876), and Alice’s husband August, (born Oct. 1875).  Daughter Sadie Feiam Lee, age 18 (born March 1882), is living in St. Paul MN.  In the MN 1885 Census Alice and Sadie were born in New York.

Who are the missing children?  My husband and I traveled to Stillwater MN the county seat of Washington County. The Stillwater Library’s Genealogy Section has an index of the burials in the Oakland Cemetery, Marine on St. Croix, MN.  The index listed Laverne June Lee daughter of Charles Lee died 18 Sept. 1902, aged 12 years, 2 months and 24 days.  Also listed was Edwin Lee, Charles and Morris’ father.  What a find!!  He died April 14, 1892, age 76 years, 3 mos and 4 days. As a  side note, the family knew Edwin had moved to MN with Charles, but did not know his death date.

When we visited the Marine on St. Croix (formerly Marine Mills) City Hall, the City Clerk brought out a map of the Oakland Cemetery plots.  Charles’ plot had the names  Edwin Lee, Edwin Charles Lee and daughter of Charles Lee.

Louise is listed as Hady/Hedy Louise in the MN 1895 Census and in the US 1900 Census her birth date is June 1890. From the Cemetery Index Laverne June was born June 25, 1890.  So I’m going to assume they are twins.

So two children have been found – Charles Edwin, who was born in 1885 and Laverne June maybe twin sister of Hady Louise. Louise could be buried in the cemetery with Laverne – just not sure.  She is not mentioned in Charles will when he died in 1909 – only Alice, Sadie, and Sidney are listed heirs.

My cousin Terry Lee and his wife Alice had taken a whole group of us to the Glen Castle Cemetery to take pictures of the headstones of the Lee Family.  There is a small headstone Jennie A daughter of Chas M & Libbie Lee. Born 1873 and died age 2 years.  The seventh child finally found.

Jennie A Lee, Alice Lee, Sadie Feiam Lee, Edwin Charles Lee,  Hady Louise & June Laverne Lee, and Sidney K Lee are the seven children of Charles and Libbie Lee.

Ancestors not to be forgotten.

George Washington Harper

George was born Feb 10 1809.  He was the second son of Oliver and Phena Stone Harper.  He could be named after his grandfather, Judge George Harper,  who fought in the American Revolution or out of respect for the first President George Washington.

George was 15 years old when his father was murdered in 1824.  He and Alexander H (his brother) were listed as of age and stated their mother Phena Harper would be their guardian.

Alexander had moved to California and accidently shot himself while moving from one camp site to a higher camp site to avoid rains.  In Alexander Hamilton’s probate papers (1852-1854) George and John, another brother, were listed as living in Canada.

The reason he moved to London, Ontario, Canada is not known.  In the City of London Directory (1856-1857) he is listed as an “agent for the exchange buildings.”  His office was on Burwell and Bathurst Streets. In the Canadian 1861 Census his occupation is listed as Gentlemen.

He met Mary Misener. They married Oct 29, 1843 in Elgin, Ontario, Canada. Mary was the daughter of Richard and Hannah Cozzard Misener. She was born Sept 18, 1825 in St. Thomas, Ontario. George and Mary were the parents of 4 children, Mary Tryphena, Hannah Cornelia, George Hamilton, and Nicholas Misener.

George and Mary’s children, spouses and children, are as follows:

Mary (born 1846) married Phineas H Clark and they had 5 children – Louisa, Emily, Cecil, Harold and William.

Hannah (1849-1929) married twice – her first marriage was to Charles Whitehead and they had 2 children George & Hattie. Her second marriage was to William Walker and they had one daughter Alice.

George Hamilton (1852-1946) was also married twice – his first marriage was to Alice Tidey and they had 4 children Mary, Norma, John and George Hamilton. His second wife was Emily Mackenzie and they had no children.

Nicholas (1855-1936) was married twice also – his first wife was Minnie Fleming and they had five children Alice, Hattie, Laura, Ethel and Thomas. His second wife was Mary Page and they had no children.

Sadly George W Harper passed away Aug 30 1863 and is buried in Mount Cemetery, Ontario. Mary had lived with her children off and on throughout the years until she passed in 1905.

An Ancestor not to be Forgotten.