2. Hiram Bentoni³ Lee (Richard², Richard¹) was born 20 Dec 1844 in Jackson, Jackson Illinois, and died Aug 1925 in Milton, Umatilla, Or. He married Sarah Emily Moore 12 Nov 1877 in Walla Walla, Walla Walla, WA, daughter of James Moore and Barbara Walker. She was born 1851 in Surry County, NC, and died 1931.

Notes for Hiram Bentoni Lee:

Historic Sketches of Walla Walla, Whitman, Columbia and Garfield Counties, W.T., also Umatilla County, Oregon. FRANK T. GIBLERT, Portland Oregon, 1882

BIOGRAPHICAL BREVITIES Living in Walla Walla City Appendix Page 62

Hiram B. Lee; lives two miles south west of Milton. He was born in Jackson County, Illinois, in 1844, and came to this County in 1867.

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History of Umatilla County by Colonel Wm. Parsons and Morrow County by W.S. Shiach - in Oregon. Published by W.H. Lever in 1902.

H.B. LEE Page 411- 412

Among the hardy pioneers that blazed the way in this frontier region, and braved the fierce savage, enduring the hardships incident to their rugged enterprise, there is none that stands higher than the man whose name appears at the head of this article. Devoted to his country, he proved his love by offering himself to fight for the honor of the flag in defense of the Union that had been established by the sacrifice of the blood of his ancestors.

His birth occurred in Jackson County, Illinois, on December 20, 1844, and there he received his education in the public schools. It was on July 25, 1862, that he responded to the call for volunteers and enlisted in Company A. Eightieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. In this company he served continuously until June 10, 1865, when the work for which it was called into the field, was completed. During this long period he participated in many battles, a list and description of which would be beyond our limited space, however, we append the following: Perrysville, Kentucky; Vaughtshill, Tennessee; Missionary Ridge; and all the fighting around Resaca, Georgia, Franklin and Nashville Tennessee. Being mustered out of service he took up the occupation of agriculture in his native state until 1867, when he turned toward the west, crossing the plains with ox teams and settling on the land where he now lives, two and one-half miles southwest from Milton. Here he has given his talents and energies to the development and operation of his estate, which is now nearly four hundred acres. Mr. Lee has not striven to gain quantity, but to give quality in his agricultural pursuits, hence we find his domain a model in every respect, cultivation carefully and thoroughly done, wise rotation of crops, good selections of stock, substantial and roomy buildings, with an elegant residence and tastefully arranged grounds, thus making his rural abode one of comfort and delight. He owns forty acres of timberland in the mountains in addition to his cultivated land.

The marriage of H.B. Lee and Sarah E. Moore occurred on November 12, 1877, and to them have been born the following children: Richard E., Daisy A., attending Whitman College in Walla Walla; James C.; Minnie M., Robert H., Rosa A. He affiliates with the G.A.R., Stone River Post, No.60, at Milton. He is highly esteemed by all and because of his prolonged residence in the county, his integrity and intrinsic worth, is one of the leading and prominent citizens.

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1880 Census OR Umatilla Milton Pg 10D

Hiram B. LEE Self M Male W 35 IL Farmer IL MO

Sarah E. LEE Wife M Female W 27 NC Keeping House NC NC

Richard E. LEE Son S Male W 2 OR IL NC

Daisy A. LEE Dau S Female W 3M OR IL NC

Elizabeth A. BOON Mother W Female W 75 MO Boarder NY PA

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Mr. Lee is also listed in "OTHER PIONEERS"

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Hiram B. Lee was born in Jackson in Jackson County, IL, Dec. 20, 1844. He spent his boyhood in that state. When Mr. Lee was eight, his father died, leaving the son to care for himself to a great extent. He secured a good common school education. At eighteen years of age he enlisted in the Union Army, Joining Company A, Eighteenth Illinois Infantry. He participated in battles of Perrysville, Vaught Hill, Missionary Ridge, Resaca, and other engagements. He received an honorable discharge at Springfield, IL, and returned home and worked for his uncle, A.R. Burns. He came across the plains with ox teams, arriving at Milton in 1867. He took a soldier's homestead of 100 acres on Dry Creek to which he has added - until it is now 365 acres. In operation of his land he has had gratifying success, and in 1915 retired from active business life, and built a fine home in Milton, where he is now residing. He was readily conceded to be one of the representative citizens of Milton and served his fellow citizens as county commissioner from June 1906 to Jan 1, 1911.

One the 12th of November, 1877, Mr. Lee was married to Miss Sarah E. Moore, a daughter of James and Barbara (Walker) Moore, and a native of Surry County NC. Her father died a prisoner during the civil war and her mother later came west with her little family. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Lee six children were born: Richard E.; Daisy; James; Minnie; Robert and Rosa.

Mr. Lee has been a staunch supporter of the republican party, and an active member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He assisted in the erection of the first house in Milton and since then his interest in the development and improvement of the community has never ceased.

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Valley Herald - Thursday August 31, 1978 - Page 6

Lees gather to celebrate farm's 100th Anniversary

78 of the descendants and relatives of Umatilla County homesteader and pioneer Hiram Benoni Lee gathered on Saturday, August 26, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the housewarming on the ranch he homesteaded in 1871.

Hiram was married on the 12th of November, 1877 in Walla Walla to Sarah Emily Moore and they lived with his mother on her 160-acre claim while he built the home on Dry Creek into which they moved in 1878. The original house was of wood frame, and in 1883, one half was rebuilt with brick from the Weston, Oregon, brickyards. In 1892, the remaining part was also rebuilt of brick. This home is now the residence of his great-grandson, John Dale Lee and his wife, Deborah.

Hiram and Sarah had met quite by accident earlier in the summer of 1877. She was working for the William Steen family, one mile south of the homestead, and one evening when she was milking, one of the cows kicked over her bucket and went running down the road with Sarah in hot pursuit. Hiram happened to see them and went out to the road to head the cow off and the romantic flame was thereon lighted.

Hiram was born the 20th of December, 1844, in Jackson County, Illinois, the son of Richard Lee whose father, Richard, Sr. was a Methodist minister who came into Illinois from Logan County, Kentucky in 1807 and by 1823 had settled on the Mississippi River in Jackson County. Hiram's father, Richard was born in 1815 and had married Elizabeth Ann Burns in 1834 in Perry County, Missouri. They established their residence on the Mississippi in Jackson County. Richard was a farmer and a part time "local" Methodist Minister; he had acquired 475 acres of land, owned half interest in a sawmill, and operated a ferry across the river up to the time of his death in 1853, leaving Elizabeth Ann with six young children. Elizabeth Ann remarried in 1857 to Benningsen Boone, a widower, with three sons.

In July, 1862, Hiram, under-age at the time, secured a consent slip from his mother to join the company of volunteers being raised in Jackson County to serve in the Union Army. At the time a bounty of $100 was being paid to volunteers. Hiram enlisted on July 28, 1862 in Company A, 80th Illinois Infantry and served with Colonel Hall in campaigns through Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia. His company was mustered out at Springfield, Illinois, the 10th of June, 1865.

In April 1867, Elizabeth and Benningsen Boone sold about half of their land in Illinois and started west with their families. They traveled up the Missouri River on the steamship Yellowstone to Leavenworth, Kansas where they purchased wagons and livestock for the long journey overland. They started in a train of nine wagons. By the time they reached Julesburg, Colorado Territory on July 25, 1867, they had a train of 17 wagons and 150 head of loose cattle.

They arrived in the Walla Walla Valley late in November, 1867 and took up residence in Walla Walla for the winter. The following spring of 1868, Hiram, his brother John, and two step-brothers, Cyrus and Daniel Boone, struck out for the Idaho gold fields to make their fortunes, where they remained until 1871, sans the fortune. Hiram then laid claim to his 160-acre homestead which was immediately south of the homestead of his sister, Rachael, and her husband, William G. Bade. Rachael had married Bade in December of 1868 in Walla Walla and they settled on Dry Creek in 1869.

Hiram paid his first taxes on his homestead on the 24th of December, 1872. The tax receipt, now in the possession of John Dale and Deborah Lee, was for the sum of $6.07, and was signed by deputy, R. Wells, for A.W. Nye, sheriff of Umatilla County.

Six children were born to Hiram and Sarah Emily Lee: Richard, Daisy Ann (Mrs. Robert Still), James , Minnie (Mrs. Scott Bannister), Robert and Rosa (Mrs. Otimer Cannon).

Since the nearest school was in Milton, some three to five miles distant, Hiram and his neighbors gathered on March 22, 1884, to establish the first school district on Dry Creek. Robert Still donated land, located a mile north of the Lee homestead, on which a one-room building, 16 feet by 22 feet was erected. Hiram was appointed the clerk of the district No. 110, and kept the records until the district was enlarged and renumbered as District No. 74 in March 1888.

In 1886, the Oregon Railway and Navigation Co. ran their rail line up Dry Creek from Milton, through Weston and Athena to Pendleton. Thereafter the Lees received the Walla Walla paper by afternoon train

In 1973, Howard B. Lee, grandson of Hiram B. Lee, was present at the Oregon State Fair to accept a certificate designating the ranch as a Century Farm, having been in the family for a period of over 100 years.

Howard, who is the family genealogist, gave a history of the Lee family at the potluck dinner held at the Rebekah Hall in Milton-Freewater. The guest of honor was Rosa Lee Cannon, 90-year old daughter of Hiram, from Portland. Other relatives and friends attended, (too numerous to name). Later, over 100 friends and neighbors joined them at an open house at the homestead on Dry Creek.

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More About Hiram Bentoni Lee:

Burial: IOOF Cem. Milton, Umatilla, OR

Census 1: 1860, IL Jackson Twp 8 Rg 5 W Pg 403 (see stepfather Bennington Boone)

Census 2: 1880, OR Umatilla Milton Pg 10D

Census 3: 1900, S. Milton Pct, Umatilla, OR [135a]

Emigration: 1867, Came to Oregon

Notes for Sarah Emily Moore:

1900 census shows father and mother born in NC. Shows she had 6 children, 6 living.

More About Sarah Emily Moore:

Name 2: Sarah Moore

Date born 2: Aug 1857, 1900 census

Burial: IOOF Cem. Milton, Umatilla, OR

Census 1: 1880, OR Umatilla Milton Pg 10D (see husband)

Census 2: 1900, S. Milton Pct, Umatilla, OR [135a]

Marriage Notes for Hiram Lee and Sarah Moore:

Hiram B Lee and Sarah E Moore - Walla Walla County (Historic) Historic Marriage Record

Reference Number: eawwmcu563

Groom's Last Name: Lee

Groom's First Name: Hiram

Groom's Middle Name: B

Bride's Last Name: Moore

Bride's First Name: Sarah

Bride's Middle Name: E

Marriage Date: 11-12-1877

Filing Date: 11-12-1877

County: Walla Walla

VolunteerNotes:

More About Hiram Lee and Sarah Moore:

Marriage: 12 Nov 1877, Walla Walla, Walla Walla, WA

Children of Hiram Lee and Sarah Moore are: