Bio: Lee, Fred A. (History - 1828)

Contact: Janet Schwarze.

Surnames: LEE KOTCHSON

----Source: 1891 History of Clark and Jackson Co., Wisconsin, pg. 363

FRED A. LEE, Neillsville, Wisconsin, was born in Yorkshire, England, in September, 1828, and came to America with his father. There were eight children in the family, four of whom located in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. The father bought a tract of land there, which he cleared up and developed into a fine farm. At the early age of fifteen Fred began to support himself, working out by the month and receiving small wages. His education was obtained in the common schools of Waukesha County. He learned the cigar trade in Milwaukee and was engaged in the manufacture of cigars eight years.

Mr. Lee married a Wisconsin lady, Lizzie Kotchson. Eight children have been born to them, seven of whom are living, all having received a good education. The subject of our sketch located in Clark County in 1868, having little or no means when he came here. For twelve years he clerked for J. J. C. Thompson Co. Since July 1881, he has been agent for the American Express Company. Mr. Lee has served the public as Justice of the Peace two years, Town Clerk six years and City Treasurer two terms. He affiliates with the Democratic Party, and is regarded as one of the honorable and upright citizens of Neillsville. His wife is a member of the Episcopal Church.

Family Note

I have her marriage record to Fred Lee and she was Elizabeth Mary Chatterson, not Kotchson. They called her Lizzy, short for Elizabeth. Our family records note that they lived in Neillsville. The 8 children mentioned in Waukesha were Fred's siblings, not his kids with Lizzy. Frederick A.Lee was married to Elizabeth Chatterson on Aug.7, 1853 in Dane Co. Elizabeth lived here with her father Joseph. They moved to Neillsville in 1873. I do not know where they lived before that unless it was still in Springfield, Dane Co. Their 1st child on the 1880 census was born 1855, Allie. They must have had one before, and it died, or moved away. Their kids are Allie, Kate, Frederick, Charley, Jessie, Herbert, Mattie. Jessie married Edgar McConnell, and Charley married Carrie Schuster, and Kate married David Payne. Jaimee Hedlund