History of Michigan, / by Charles Moore. [Vol. 3]

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN

1673

which are fashioned by Mr. Mathews' mother, who is very skilled in this
kind of work.
In 1894 Mr. Mathews was married to Miss Azella Cook, daughter of
Charles and Elvira (Pier) Cook, residents of Pellston. Mr. Cook served
during the Civil War as a member of the Seventh Michigan Cavalry, and
among others participated in the battle of Gettysburg.
RUSSELL ABNER LEE. The career of Russell Abner Lee reflects practical and useful ideals, and its range of activities has included various
business enterprises and honorable and conscientious public service. A
high-minded and public-spirited gentleman, an excellent business man and
a faithful friend, his various experiences have left him a wiser and more
useful citizen, and as one of the most popular postmasters Harbor Springs
has known he is the center of a wide circle of appreciative acquaintances.
Mr. Lee was born at Owatonna, Minnesota, March 30, 1867, and is a
son of William Henry and Mary A. (Wilburn) Lee, who are now living
retired at Harbor Springs.
William Henry Lee was born in Cuyahoga county, New York, August
3, I840, and early in life took up educational work, being for some years
at the Collegiate Institute at Elbridge, New York. In I860 he went to
Arkansas from New York, and then Minnesota, and took up farming.
While a resident of Arkansas, he enlisted in the Union army, becoming
a' member of the Eighth Missouri Cavalry and subsequently of the Third
Arkansas Cavalry, and his entire service covered three years, in the
capacity of first lieutenant. After securing his honorable discharge, he
returned to Arkansas and married Miss Mary A. Wilburn, of Morrellton,
that state, where they remained until I866. In that year they removed to
Minnesota, locating at Owatonna, but ten years later came to Emmet
county, where Mr. Lee located as a "mossback" on a farm. Subsequently
he moved into the city of Harbor Springs, and for ten years was engaged in the abstract business in partnership with his son, after which
he settled down to a retired life. Mr. Lee is a thirty-second degree Mason,
and for eight years was master of Harbor Springs Lodge. He is known
as a progressive and public-spirited citizen, and has gained the confidence
and respect of all with whom he has come into contact. Four children
were born to William Henry and Mary A. Lee, namely: Russell Abner,
of this review; Sarah C., who married Charles H. Judd, of Harbor
Springs, a carpenter, and has one son; Mabel V., who married William
Woodruff, a retired resident of San Francisco; California; and one child
who is deceased.
Russell Abner Lee attended the public schools of Owatonna, Minnesota, and Emmet county, Michigan, and while securing his education
worked in a sawmill and learned the trade of carpenter. Following his
schooldays he secured employment with a company manufacturing lime
barrels, continuing to be identified with that concern for four years, and
in I891 was appointed register of deeds for Emmet county. In 1895
he began engaging in the abstract business and subsequently was in partnership with his father until 1899, and in later years engaged in the
jewelry business for three years at Harbor Springs, also farming three
acres of land, although the latter venture was only as a hobby. A Democrat in his political views, Mr. Lee had long been an active worker in the
ranks of his party, and in 1913 his loyalty and capable services were recognized by his appointment to the office of postmaster, in which he has continued to the present time. He is a third degree Mason, belonging to
Harbor Springs Lodge, No. 378.
In 1889,,Mr. Lee was married to Miss Edith Caskey, the daughter of
James and Sarah (Ferry) Caskey, who are now engaged in farming in