Life History

Notes

• [Good Robinson Ritchie Lee et al.FTW]
  
  We know little of the early life of James Russell Lee, but we do know that he worked for the Canadian Pacific Railway for many years, retiring in September of 1935. We also know that he was trained as a carpenter, and carried on this occupation for most of his life.
  
  Both born and raised in Cobden, Ontario, James and his wife Laura also lived in Ottawa for a time and the Renfrew Mercury of October 21, 1927 reports in their Cobden News that "Mr. & Mrs. J.R. Lee, residents of this village for a long time, are to move to Ottawa soon. Mr. Lee is overseer of a gang of carpenters for the C.P.R. and thinks he will be closer to his work. He and his family will be missed in the village and surrounding country." There are also a couple of references in 1928 in the same newspapers personal columns of their sons Keith & Murray "of Ottawa" visiting friends in Cobden.
  
  As well, we have reviewed the Ottawa City Directories between 1927 and 1937 (except for 1930, which could not be located) and we find James R. Lee and his family Living at  21 Empress Ave. in Ottawa, until 1929, following which they lived at 48 Spruce St., Ottawa until 1935, when James Russell retired from the CPR and moved to Lindsay, Ontario. James Russell Lee's occupation is given as yard superintendent and then Building foreman during this time.
  
  In the September 2, 1937 issue of the Renfrew Mercury (Cobden News) there is a reference to them being residents of  Lindsay, Ontario, so it seems that they moved in with their daughter Julia's family who lived in Lindsay - after James had retired from the C.P.R. in 1935.
  
  One of the few documents relating to the life of James R. Lee  in the possession of David James Lee is an undated newspaper clipping reporting the closing of a one-room schoolhouse in Cobden, Ontario (SS No. 1, Ross Township). Appended to the clipping is a note in the handwriting of James R. Lee's son Keith's wife which says "School built by Keith's father".
  
  We are also aware that James R. Lee was active in the "International Organization of Good Templars", a temperance group that was influential in community life especially in the late 1800's and early 1900's. A newspaper article in the Feb 5, 1895 issue of the Renfrew Mercury records his election as Chief Templar of the Cobden "Enterprise Lodge, No. 94 I.O.G.T." The same article also records that  his future wife Laura McDonald  was treasurer, and Laura's sister Julia was Asst. Secretary while Laura's brother Donald A. ("Dan") was Past Chief Templar.
  
  James was also an active Mason.
  
  Family stories have it that James had one bad habit which undoubtedly led to his death in 1949 after a battle with oral cancer. He was a heavy chewer of tobacco, since he worked in Oscar Stephen's lumber yard, a door/sash manufacturing facility, and was unable to smoke tobacco  due to the risk of fire.
  
  After they retired, James R. & his wife Laura spent their summers at a cottage the owned on a small lake in the Muskokas which the writer recalls as being named "Shoefelt" or "Shewfelt" lake. I recall visiting there when I was a small boy in the 1940's. They seem to have spent the cold winter months with their children, Laura in Baysville, Ontario, Murray in Rouyn, P.Q. Keith in Noranda P.Q. and Julia in Lindsay, Ontario. Prior to his death, James R. and his wife Laura had moved to Baysville, Ontario.
  
  James R. Lee's obituary appears in the Ottawa Citizen on May 25, 1949:
  "LEE - Entered into rest at Toronto General Hospital on May 24, 1949, James Russell Lee of Baysville, Ont. Remains will arrive at Cobden at 11:40 am Friday May 27 and will rest at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church where service will be held at 3 PM after which interment will be made in the Cobden Cemetery. Masonic Brethren will attend."