My Genealogy Hound

ARTHUR M. LEE is a leading physician and surgeon of Carbondale. His father, Charles B. Lee, was born in Kentucky July 9, 1811, and his father, Charles Lee, was one of the earliest settlers of this state. He was a native of Virginia, who emigrated to Tennessee, thence to Kentucky, and afterwards became a resident of White County, Ill. Subsequently he came to Jackson County, locating near Grand Tower about 1835. From the old Lee family of Virginia he was descended. He served as a soldier of the Black Hawk War, and was a physician and minister. He died of pneumonia, in December, 1858. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Hunter and was born on the Cumberland River, near Chattanooga, Tenn., in 1817. Her father, Emanuel Hunter, was a native of West Virginia, and followed farming. He served as a soldier in the War of 1812, under Andrew Jackson, and lived to the advanced age of ninety-four. He was one of the first residents of West Virginia who emigrated to East Tennessee, where he married Judy Lee. Later he emigrated with his family to Williamson County, Ill., which was then an almost unbroken wilderness, and became one of its prominent citizens. His death occurred on the old homestead, at the age of eighty, and his wife passed away about 1852.

The parents of the Doctor were married in the fall of 1838, and located near Grand Tower. In 1844 they removed to Williamson County, and about 1850 became residents of Jackson County, where Mrs. Lee died in 1858. In the fall of 1866 Mr. Lee went to Jefferson County, Kan., where in 1869 he married Mrs. Elizabeth Atwood. Her death occurred in 1884. In 1891 he left Kansas and went to live in Arizona with his son, James W., who in 1892 removed to New Mexico, where the father yet makes his home. By his first marriage he had five sons and three daughters: Arthur M., Dr. Thomas B., Charles B., James W., William R., Mrs. Juda A. Beasley, and Mrs. Mary A. Dunlap and Mrs. Nancy I. Taylor, who are now deceased. In 1860 Charles went to California, and after spending some time in the west, took a trip to South America, since which time no word has been received from him.

Dr. Lee was born in Jackson County, May 12, 1840, was educated in the common schools and at Shiloh. He still holds an old first-grade certificate issued in September, 1867. He taught school in the winter of 1860-61, and on the 15th of August. 1862, enlisted in Company C, Eighteenth Illinois Infantry. He was elected Orderly-Sergeant and was afterwards made Quartermaster-Sergeant of the regiment. He received a commission as First Lieutenant of Company I, and subsequently was promoted to the rank of Captain. On the 16th of December, 1865, he was mustered out, but was retained on the staff of Gen. Joseph J. Reynolds, Commander of the Department of Arkansas. He had previously been detailed to act as Ordnance Officer of Arkansas, under Maj.-Gen. Thomas J. Wood, and then became a member of the staff, as before stated. He received his final discharge in March, 1866, after a service of three years and seven months, during which time he took part in the battles of Parker’s Cross Roads, Clifton, the siege of Vicksburg, Little Rock, etc. His duties as Ordnance Officer were to receive all arms, accoutrements, etc., from the troops and turn them over to the regular army that relieved the volunteers. He was wounded at Little Rock by an accidental discharge, and the ball, which entered his right arm and side, is still under his right shoulder blade. During the siege of Vicksburg he was prostrated with typhoid fever and was sick for two months.

Before entering the service, Dr. Lee had begun the study of medicine, and after his return to the north he located in De Soto, Ill., where he embarked in business. In 1868 he sold out, and the following year attended Rush Medical College of Chicago. On the 31st of March, 1869, he located in Ridge Township, Jackson County, where he continued practice for some years. In 1878 he was graduated from the Nashville Medical College under Paul F. Eve, late Surgeon-General of the Confederate army. Dr. Lee remained in Ridge Township until July, 1889, when he came to Carbondale. In May of that year he was appointed Pension Examiner, and served until July, 1893.

In 1861 Dr. Lee wedded Lucitta J. Ward, a native of Illinois. Unto them was born a daughter, Lovinie Josephine, now the wife of James Etherton, of Pomona. After the death of his first wife the Doctor married, January 1, 1869, Sarah A. Heiple, a native of Jackson County, born Septem ber 15, 1847, and a daughter of Samuel Heiple, of De Soto, Ill. They have five children—three sons and two daughters: M. Gertrude, wife of Dr. W. B. Cauble, of Vermilion County, Ill.; Homer Dalton, a member of the senior class of the Normal University; Dora Emogene; Ardell Agnew and Chester Arthur.

The parents have long been members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and the Doctor was ordained to the ministry in 1874. He served as pastor of the Ridge Baptist Church for four years. He has taken an active interest in politics and is a stalwart supporter of the Republican party. He became a member of the Odd Fellows’ society of De Soto in September, 1867, and of Chester Encampment of Du Quoin on the 20th of November following. He has filled nearly all of the offices in both. He has been Junior Warden of Makanda Lodge No. 434, A. F. & A. M., and is now a member of Carbondale Lodge No. 241, and in 1891 joined Reynolds Chapter No. 75, R. A. M. He is also a member of the Fraternal Mystic Circle and serves as its examining surgeon. Since its organization he has been connected with the Grand Army post, and served for some time as post surgeon of John W. Lawrence Post No. 297, being the present incumbent of that office. He attended the national encampment in Indianapolis. In 1893 he was elected County Physician, which position he still fills. Skill and ability have won him a prominent place in his profession, and his sterling worth has made him a leader in social circles. He is numbered among the best citizens of Carbondale and well deserves representation in this volume.