William Braxton Lee was born September 16, 1861 to John Anderson Lee (1828-1911) and Isabelle Hunter (1829-1914) likely in Township 7, Range 4 of Jackson County, Illinois which is where the family was living during the 1860 census. By the 1870 federal census, the family was living in Township 9, Range 3, which is today East Marion Township. The 41 year old father was listed as being a painter by occupation and the children listed were Mary 13, Charles 11, William B. 9 and John F. aged 6.
By the time the 1880 census was taken, the family had moved and were living inside Marion, John, was still employed as a painter and the same four children were still in the home including William who was then aged 18.
In 1897 and 1898, 36-year-old William served as Marion city alderman under Mayor Brice Holland.
On May 31, 1898, William married Margaret A. “Madge” Haldeman, daughter of William Haldeman and Mary Farrington. In November of the same year, the couple purchased property at 511 N. Market Street from Oliver Harker for $800. The 1900 census captures the couple as owning their home but with a mortgage. There were no children in the marriage yet, but a son would be born later in the year.
An article written in 1904 about Manheim Cantor, a local merchant, indicated that one of his clerks at his clothing store located at 1205 Public Square was William B. Lee. In the 1907 Marion directory, William was noted as working at 1200 Public Square for A.H. Joseph’s, a men’s clothing store, with a home at 511. N. Market St.
The 1910 federal census found the couple still living at 511 N. Market which is now free of mortgage. William, then 56 was listed as a clothing merchant. Living with the couple were their one child so far, Horace aged 9 and Margaret’s aunt, Lucetta Haldeman aged 81. Margaret confirms on the census that they had only had one child and it was still living.
Oddly enough, when the 1920 census was taken a 56 year old William was found in East Marion Township reporting himself as a farmer. The couple still only had one son, 19 year old Horace who was working as a mechanic. This must have been a brief venture because a 1922 street directory puts him back in town at 511 N. Market St.
A change of residence occurred between 1922 and 1923 with a move from N. Market Street not far away to 304 E. Calvert Street only a few blocks away and now William had started working in real estate.
When the 1930 census was taken, William 68 and Madge had moved again but not far to 405 N. Buchanan Street in a home they owned and valued at $1,500. William listed himself as a real estate operator.
William B. Lee died in Marion on July 27, 1933 and was buried at Rose Hill Cemetery. William’s wife Madge followed him in death one year later on July 13, 1934 at the I.O.O.F. Home in Mattoon, Illinois. Madge was born at Winchester, Illinois on June 16, 1871 and died at the age of 63. Her obit stated she was to be buried at the old home place in Bement, Illinois.
Notes on Children:
Horace Lee, the only child from the marriage was born in Marion on November 18, 1900. He married Opal Simmons in November 1920. Worked as a mechanic and served as Williamson County Sheriff deputy while here in the county, moved to Chicago, where he died in Elk Grove July 22, 1978. He had two sons, Horace D. Lee and William B. Lee. Horace was buried in Rose Hill Cemetery.
(Sources: Federal Census records, Marion City Street Directories, Marion City Cemetery records, the Egyptian Press, Marion Daily Republican, Marion Weekly Leader newspapers, W.C. Mortgage records, 1905 Historical Souvenir book, FindaGrave.com. Compiled by Sam Lattuca on 9/14/2023)