Jerome Lee
Still one other of the younger men of our bar I ought not to forget for any consideration, a native of Ohio, the son of a man of great worth, the grand-son of a distinguished divine in the early history of Ohio, and himself a man of exceeding great ability, though very modest and not at all disposed to push himself to the front. His early education was in our public school, then prepared by that marvelous old man Rev. Doctor James Rowland, for college, and by him fitted for matriculation in Jefferson College, of Western Pennsylvania, and graduated after a four-years course. With him in the same class were Robert Henry Rowland and my youngest brother, Andrew Newman Hedges, whose untimely death occurred after such collegiate training and subsequent study of the law in the first year of majority. With them was a classmate who for many years since has represented a district of Philadelphia in the Congress of the United States, General H.H. Bingham. But it is not General Bingham or my loved brother, on whose grave for thirty spring times the grass has freshened, that I desire to write, but of their friend and mine, Jerome Lee. He was my student and my friend also. He was a quiet man, but I doubt if he had many equals at any time in the history of our bar and few superiors in intellect or fine intellectual power. He was a man of extensive reading and knowledge of men and things. Keen in analysis, logical in statement, and intensely able in unraveling that which was irrelevant and immaterial so as to reach the very kernel of truth. On his admission to the bar the war for the maintenance of the Union was still in progress and his services were enlisted in a clerical and accounting capacity by Major Carpenter of the pay department. At the close of the war he was transferred to Washington, and while there he more fully equipped himself for his profession in attending law lectures. Returning to Ohio, he was chosen solicitor of our city, and the duties of that office were never more ably performed than by Jerome Lee. His general practice was not extended, afflicted with asthma, he was advised to make his home beyond the Blue Ridge and he removed to Washington, and soon his special abitility was recognized, and for twelve long years he was chief in a division in the treasury department. His special work was in the line of his profession; the examination of questions and preparation of legal opinions in given statement of facts and the construction of statutes, rules and customs. His ability was marked and marvelous; his integrity whole, and the treasury of the United States was saved from raids by his able and conscientious discharge of duty. He died in office. Few sons of Richland were more able than Jerome Lee. His worth was not known to the multitude, and so knowing him well I would wreathe his memory with a garland of the flowers of friendship. My brother's classmate and companion, my own student and trusted and beloved friend.
From The Richland Shield & Banner: December 15, 1894, Vol. LXXVII, No. 31