Henry Peter Lee

  Generelle notater:

Henry Peter Lee was born April 24, 1872 at Huntsville, Utah. His father, Niels Peter Nielson, was born Oct. 18, 1842 in Sterup, Jerslev Parish, Denmark. Niel's father owned two flour mills and Niels was educated in the best schools at that time. He was an active missionary for the Church in Denmark. In April 1864 he left Denmark to go to Zion. He was married aboard the ship to his sweetheart, Helena Pederson. In 1866, they moved to Huntsville, Utah. It was there that a young Danish girl, Mary Larsen, joined the family at Helena's suggestion, as the second wife. They were married at the Salt Lake Endowment House on May 6, 1868.
Her family in Denmark had disowned Mary when she joined the Church. Missionaries helped her reach Zion. She was a sweet loving mother and her association with the first wife, Helena, was always amicable. They were both thoroughly converted Latter-Day Saints.
Henry was Mary's third child. She and Niels had 8 children. In addition to raising her family, she milked cows and did other farm chores. She contracted tuberculosis. This with complications of pneumonia caused her death in Far West, Oct. 20, 1884. Mary's children moved in Helena’s family.
Henry testified many times of the sadness at the death of his mother and the rebellion that he, a 12 year old boy felt, that nothing could be done to save her. Yet he never indicated that he felt like second family, stepfamily or any such impression that could come to a young boy in such circumstances. He always respected and loved mother Helena. One night when she was dying, Henry sat alone at her bedside and she told him she loved him the same as if he were her own flesh and blood. She believed she would soon meet Mary and would report to her about her family.
Henry, usually very uncommunicative, a few times when he was alone with his son Lawrence riding thru the hills, told about his life with his father, mother and family. He always had profound respect for all of them. He relived those years he had spent with them in memory. He loved both of his mothers and considered himself lucky that he had them both.
The death and burial of his mother, Maria, weighed heavily on his memory throughout his life. His daughter-in-law wept when he told of his bitterness and anguish as they lowered the body of his mother into a grave partially filled with water. Checking the story later with his older brother, Pete didn't remember the water in the grave. The sobbing 12 year old boy probably saw his mother's grave through his own tears. Few people knew how tender Henry Lee's heart was.
His dear sister, Emma Brown, knew and appreciated Henry. She realized his shyness kept the undiscerning from understanding the true nature of her dear brother. She and her husband Jess told Lawrence Henry was the one they would go to if they ever had real need. Henry's children loved Aunt Emma and Uncle Jess and their Brown cousins. Lawrence and Elmer were especially drawn to the Browns.
Henry didn't spout eulogies about his father or directly speak loving words but he told a few nostalgic stories with a wry uncritical humor that showed his approval. Father Niels would work his plow horses from dawn till dark then take the plow on his own weary shoulders and carry it to spare his tired team. Henry told how the father would get exceedingly angry when the boys disobeyed. If he could grab them quickly he beat them soundly. If the boys could get free they would run for the closest fence and roll under the lowest wire. Before Neils could catch them he'd forget his anger and laugh.
Henry began school in Huntsville in Sept. 1878 at age 6. In 1882 the family moved to Far West where he continued grade school. He attended school most of the time when it was available. He finally spent a short term in Weber College studying bookkeeping.
While he was still a boy in Huntsville, he played with a neighbor boy named David McKay. They both liked to play ball and spent pleasant times together. Years later Lawrence talked to Pres. McKay several times regarding this period. The President spoke highly of his friend, Henry. He spoke highly, too, of Dorthea, Henry's sister who often worked for the McKays as a baby sitter and household helper, and of all the Lee family.
Henry was one of the older boys of the family and had to go out to work very early. He worked as farm hand on many of the farms in Ogden Valley. While living in Far West he worked on farms and in the brickyard in Harrisville. Making bricks was a thriving industry during this time because of the construction of many large homes and businesses.
At the age of 16 in 1888 he worked for the railroad driving a mule team grading the roadway. He went to Idaho to work on a ranch belonging to some Taylors from Ogden. He became very much attached to the people and to the ranching business. All his life he wanted to have such a spread.
In 1890 he was working in Camas Meadows for the Woods Livestock. Co. He gained much knowledge and good experience from these ranching years.
In 1896 he worked in Melrose, Montana. Because this is in the area where the great Anaconda copper mines are we can assume that he worked at something to mining. He was there just part of one year so we assume he didn't like it much.
In 1898, with his older brother Pete as partner, he bought a farm in Coltman, Idaho. While working in Idaho when he was 26 he met Mariam Vilate (Minnie) Ellsworth in Lewisville. Previously, Henry had seen the most attractive and desirable young girl in his community marry a middle-aged stake president in polygamy. He spoke of this several times as if this was an excuse for his lack of church activity. He never admitted any personal interest in the girl, but because he still felt bitter years later, his son assumed his father had been emotionally involved. However, he courted 19-year old Minnie Ellsworth and won her consent and that of her parents, Brigham Henry and Helen Adelia Ellsworth. On Feb. 22, 1899, they were married for time and eternity in the Salt Lake temple according to the pattern and example set by their parents. Minnie was the granddaughter of Elizabeth Young Ellsworth, Brigham Young's oldest child.
Henry took his bride back to Idaho where he got out logs, built a house and homesteaded on the quarter section in Coltman. The first 3 years of their marriage was spent at Grant, Idaho. It was there that their firstborn son, blessed Norman Henry, came. He must have been a very rewarding child. Two years later, after they moved to Bybee, another boy was born and named Fayette Hyrum. Fayette lived just 5 days. Thirty-one days later, only 3 days after his second birthday, little Norman died of scarlet fever.
The effect of this tragedy on Henry Lee was profound. He kept to himself, stopped any church or community work he might have done. When they moved to Bybee he had been set apart in the Sunday School as counselor to the Superintendent. Upon the death of both of his boys he became inactive. He worked long hours at his farming.
A little more than one year later Lawrence was born. Two years more in 1905 the fourth son, Milton, came. By this time Henry had accumulated machinery, horses, livestock and furniture to set up a better home and farming enterprise. He sold out in Bybee and bought the Call place in Lorenzo. Howard was born there. After 2 years on the Call place, Henry bought the "Ranch," a place west of Lorenzo. Arnold Edgar was born there. After 2 years, Henry moved his family to a house in Lorenzo.
Lawrence remembered that place because it was besieged with mice. Henry paid his young son a penny apiece for trapping them. Lawrence became wealthy in 1st grade circles. This house was near the school and the ward Relief Society granary, which Henry helped build. The trains passing on the railroad could be seen from the front door. It was in Lorenzo that Henry's wife was for 2 years president of the Relief Society. He helped her distribute grain to the poor. From this old house Henry moved his family to a rock house in Lewisville. It was a beautiful large house with spacious rooms. The family almost froze and Henry knew they couldn't survive another winter in those huge rooms.
On Feb. 12, 1911 Henry bought 86 acres of good farming land, called the Jack Sayers place, near Rigby, Idaho. The house was built of concrete blocks, a strong sturdy home—cool in summer and easy to warm in winter. His last four children were born here, LaVern in May 1911, Vivian Leon in Nov. 1914 (who lived just 10 days), Leola Vilate in 1915 and Elmer Arlow in 1918.
Henry continued to buy and sell land and houses. His land in the hills above Ririe, called the Lone Pine Ranch, was the love of his life. He clung to this property until the late years of his life.
Because he was honest himself he demanded that those people he dealt with would be honest with him. He insisted that the rent and the interest and payments be paid when they were due. He had often to resort to lawyers and the courts to get his payments. Sometimes he felt that justice was not done. He loaned money to a number of his relatives. He seldom talked to his wife and children about it. When a relative didn't think a family member needed to be repaid, Henry insisted that the debt be settled according to the contract made. It was the family member that made the fuss, not Henry that made public their differences. Neither did Henry reply to his wife's complaints and recriminations. Sadly enough he also had trouble expressing his approval or love.
Though Henry's occupation was listed as farmer his primary interest was Real Estate. He was a pioneer in Jefferson County buying land, improving it, and selling it to the people who became the first permanent citizens.
As soon as Lawrence showed his ability to work. Henry left more and more farm work for the boys. He had a salesman position with the farm machine company which took him around the county and found him opportunities to increase his own property. By the time Milton was 10 the two boys would be left to do the cleaning up and fencing new property. Henry left the boys on the Lone Pine Ranch 30 miles from home all during the summer. On the week ends Henry or Minnie would take provisions etc. up to the ranch and bring home the cream cans to the Rigby creamery. The boys were told what to do and Henry expected it to be done. Milton ran away from home when he was 14. Lawrence worked on, for other farmers and his father until he left at 19 for a mission in Mexico. Henry taught those two the value of hard work and gave them the impetus to enjoy it.
Maybe it was just a Danish custom but when the boys were old enough to want to make their own decisions Henry felt they had severed financial ties with the family. The oldest son, at least, never had a letter from his father in all his life. But it was a real blow to Henry when Milton left home. Edgar's accidental death in 1946 just about broke Henry's heart. He had sold the home ranch to Edgar in 1932 and in 1946 a farm accident involving a family horse had caused Edgar's death. It was a tragedy that both his parents had difficulty accepting.
When Edgar bought the home ranch Henry moved to a large brick home east of the railroad in Rigby. Later, in 1939, he moved Minnie into Dr. Paxton's old home. Henry and Minnie enjoyed this home very much. Elmer had been in the military then in medical school. Leola had returned home. Henry seemed to enjoy her small son, Gary, and took a lot of interest and care of the little fellow.
Howard suffered a back injury and spent some time at home, which was hard on Henry. The other boys would sometimes bring their children home to visit their grandparents. Grandpa Henry seemed to enjoy the small children.
In January 1938 Henry's oldest boy Lawrence was teaching music at Rigby High School. That month the coldest weather Rigby ever had was recorded. The deeply piled snow, blown endlessly by fierce winds, piled against buildings, telephone poles and anything that could hold it. Several times each day Henry would shovel all the snow away from his garage door and clear the driveway. He'd get in his car and run the engine to be sure it would start. His neighbors wondered why he never went anywhere. On the night of Jan. 17, Henry in answer to his son's call for help drove the car to Lawrence's home—or as near as he could get. Lawrence walked Donna who was about to have their 3rd child up to Grandpa's car on the cleared main street and drove to Mrs. Goody's maternity home. Grandpa stayed with the two older children until Lawrence came home, Patricia had arrived. Grandpa never spoke to a soul about what he had done. We knew Henry Lee was a kind thoughtful man.
Lawrence's three daughters were extremely loving. One evening when they were dressed in their little nightgowns they came to tell Grandpa Lee goodnight and to show him their long shiny blonde hair which their mother had brushed down over their shoulders. Smilingly, they pirouetted before their grandfather, their blue eyes questioning. Grandpa Henry gave the answer they wanted to hear. He broke down and said he'd never seen anything so beautiful in his life--their platinum blonde hair was truly lovely. The girls ended up on his lap each clutching a silver dollar in her warm little hand. From then on until they were grown seeing grandpa meant getting another silver dollar or maybe a quick look at the collection of rattlesnake rattles kept locked in his big desk.
More than most men Henry needed love and approval. His reserved stern manner with his children and his wife's criticism of him turned his children away. He lavished attention on the children when they were small. He delighted in taking the little boys to ride on the horses and farm machinery with him. As they grew older the boys weren't so obedient and it was quite easy for a worried mother to keep the boys home. Most left home at an early age and he expected them to be independent. He didn't write to them but was interested in the letters they wrote to their mother. He welcomed their visits but seldom visited them. As his boys married and had children of their own they began to understand and appreciate their father more.
Henry had a slight stroke Feb. 26, 1946. Edgar's death coming a few months later seemed to take away his interest in living. He became quite inactive. His wife kept urging him to sell his property. Some of his sons feared he would lose all incentive to live, especially if he sold his beloved Lone Pine Ranch. In the summer of 1949 his children came home to celebrate their parent’s Golden Wedding Anniversary. Henry seemed cheered and strengthened by their attention. On Dec. 16, 1950 he suffered a severe stroke. He lost his power of speech and the use of his right hand. His wife assumed the responsibility of his care. He lingered on until April 12, 1951.

Henry Peters livsoversigt
Da Henry Peter Lee blev født den 24. april 1872 i Huntsville, Weber, Utah Territory, USA, var hans far, Niels Peter Nielsen Lee, 29 og hans mor, Marie Larsdatter, 25. Han giftede sig med Mariam Vilate Ellsworth den 20. februar 1899, i Weber City, Morgan, Utah Territory, USA. De var forældre til mindst 9 sønner og 1 datter. Han boede i Fremont, Idaho, USA i 1910 og Rigby Election Precinct 3, Jefferson, Idaho, USA i 1940. Han døde den 12. april 1951 i Rigby, Jefferson, Idaho, USA, i en alder af 78, og blev begravet i Lewisville, Jefferson, Idaho, USA.

  Begivenheder i hans liv:

• Bopæl: Far West, Weber, Utah.

• Bopæl, 1900, Menan, Lewisville, Rigby Precincts, Fremont, Idaho, United States.

• Bopæl, 1910, Lorenzo, , Idaho.

• Bopæl, 1920, Rigby, Jefferson, Idaho, United States.

• Bopæl, 1935, Same Place.

• Bopæl, 1940, Rigby Election Precinct 3, Rigby, Jefferson, Idaho.

• Obituary, 1951, Idaho, United States.