920 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

HOMER TOWNSHIP.

ROBERT LEE, farmer ; P. O. Albion, Wayne Co. ; was born in the latter county Jan. 23, 1833, and was married, Oct. 9, 1856, to Miss Maranda R. Tanner, who was born July 19, 1839. Their children were named Sarah J., born Oct. 4, 1857 ; Rosa M., April 19, 1859, died Feb. 26, 1862 ; Cora B., Jan. 15, 1865 ; Lillie G., Jan. 26, 1877 ; Sarah J., now Mrs. Aaron Swartz, married Dec. 6, 1877 ; they have one child—Lucius L. Swartz, born Jan. 31, 1879. Mr. Lee went to California in 1852, during the gold fever excitement, taking the overland route and traveling in the saddle or with the wagon train. It took them three months to make the trip, halting a week at Salt Lake City to recruit their teams. They were threatened on the way by Indians, who were probably more in search of plunder than a fight. At this time, they were joined by another train, and, by coralling their teams and protecting themselves as best they could, they passed a very disagreeable night, waiting for the expected attack. Morning came, and they were left to pursue their way unmolested, with the exception of losing some of their stock. They entered the Golden State at Hangtown, now called Placerville. He worked in the mines in various parts of the State, remaining there three years, coming home via the Nicaragua route, landing safely in New York, and arriving home by way of Cleveland. Mr. Lee has been living in Homer Township for twenty-four years, on what used to be called the Albro farm of 80 acres, but has made additions from time to time, until now he owns 181 acres of good land, making a farm of which he may well be proud, as he is pleasantly situated and surrounded with home comforts of no ordinary degree. His father, Josiah Lee, living in Albion, Wayne Co., was born in the State of Connecticut, Thompson Township, Oct. 14, 1796, and moved to the State of New York with his father in 1798. He married Miss Agnes Lager Nov. 3, 1816, and came to this State in 1819, settling in Jackson Township. There were no improvements on the land he entered, and no roads but as they cleared them between here and Cleveland, coming by way of Medina, which then could boast of one solitary log house and another in process of construction.

HOMER TOWNSHIP. -921

Before they reached the future county seat, it grew quite dark and threatened rain. Turning the oxen loose to browse in the slashing, they sought the log house for shelter, but were lost in the darkness of the stormy night. Their loud halloos were finally heard, and they were kindly taken in and cared for by the pioneer's family. They reached Wayne Co. in due time, and entered 320 acres of land, at $2 per acre. Mr. John Mason, three-fourths of a mile east, was their only neighbor, and Wooster the nearest post office. Their children were John H., born March 14, 1818, died Aug. 17, 1822 ; Phoebe, Nov. 24, 1819, died Aug. 11, 1822 ; James, April 30, 1822 ; Josiah, July 2, 1824, died Aug. 20, 1851 ; Elizabeth, March 23, 1826 ; Jacob, July 12, 1828, died Oct. 23, 1853 ; David B., Oct. 21, 1830 ; Robert, Jan. 23, 1833; Oliver, Jan. 9, 1836 ; Lucene, Feb. 7, 1839 (now Mrs. G. M. Reed) ; Elizabeth married Mr. P. C. Bunt ; George, July 14, 1841, died Dec. 15, 1854. Mrs. Agnes Lee died April 8, 1860, and on Jan. 26, 1868, Mr. Lee married Phoebe Smith. They had one child—Jessie, born Dec. 6, 1869 ; she died March 2, 1878. Three of the brothers were in the army during the war of the rebellion. David enlisted in Co. B, 4th 0. V. C., and served in the Army of the Potomac until the battle of Gettysburg, where he was wounded in the right hand. Soon after, he was honorably discharged from the service, but, upon the wound healing, he again enlisted in the 178th 0. V. I., and served to the end of the war, participating in the great battle of Murfreesboro and many skirmishes between Nashville and the front. James enlisted in Co. K, 102d 0. V. L, and served for three years. Oliver enlisted in the same regiment and company (Capt. J. M. Sloan's), and was in the battles of Decatur, Ala., Stevenson, Perryville, Frankfort, etc.