Charles B. Lee
Charles B. Lee, a well known resident of Ashley, Ohio, who is now living in retirement from business activities, comes of a family long prominent in this vicinity. He was born at Columbus, Ohio, February 6, 1828, and is a son of Asa and Sarah (Meacham) Lee. His family runs back in this country to the colonial days, when two brothers crossed from London, England, one locating in New York and the other in Virginia.
Asa Lee and his brother Timothy came west to Columbus, Ohio, and there followed the trade of cloth-dressing. In 1828, Asa Lee moved with his wife and four children to what is now Peru Township, Morrow County, at that time, Delaware County. There he acquired 84 acres of land in the woods and erected a log cabin, in which he lived and followed his trade until April, 1833. He then returned to Franklin County, dying there in August of the same year.
Charles B. Lee was but three months old when his parents first moved to Peru Township, and was but ten years old when his widowed mother returned with five children to that farm in the woods which they still owned. There he grew to manhood, helping to clear and cultivate the farm. He later purchased a 50-acre timber tract for himself, but as there was no house upon it continued to reside on the home place. Selling this piece of land, he purchased an old sheep farm of 91 acres, with a cabin on it, and on this he and his young wife lived and labored in pioneer fashion. He subsequently disposed of this place and went to Iowa, where he bought an 80-acre farm and erected a dwelling. He soon returned to Peru Township and purchased 208 acres of his brother, and to this added 50 acres. Here he successfully carried on operations until 1882, when he exchanged the property for the old Solomon Rosevelt farm of 150 acres in Oxford Township, Delaware County, just beyond the eastern limits of the village of Ashley. Upon this place is an old house, which in its day was of unexcelled magnificence, finished throughout in hard wood, and costing in its erection $6,000. In 1892, Mr. Lee erected a comfortable home in Ashley, in which he has since resided.
Charles B. Lee was married April 4, 1852, to Letta Grant, who was born in Brown Township, Delaware County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Aaron and Dianna (Whipple) Grant. Three children were born to them—Otto, Charles Wellington, and Grant. Otto, who was born March 29, 1853, lived on the home farm in Oxford Township until his death in August, 1901. He married Louisa Rudolph and had two childrenc Claude and Maude. Claude Lee married Bessa Dennis and they have two children, Dorris and Miriam; Charles Wellington Lee, second child of the subject of this sketch, was born September 15, 1857, and died at eight years as the result of an accident; Grant Lee, born July 19, 1866 married Mabel Oliver and they had one child, Hugh, who is a teacher in the public schools. Mr. Grant Lee died in November, 1890.
Politically, Charles B. Lee has been a Republican since the organization of the party, but has frequently cast his ballot for men on the opposing ticket. He served as land appraiser one year, and was once elected justice of the peace by an overwhelming majority, but as it was without his consent or desire, he refused to serve.
From 20th Century History of Delaware County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Edited and compiled by James R. Lytle, Delaware, Ohio, Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908