Los Angeles County, CA, Biographies

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ADDISON W. LEE.
 
        Among the prominent capitalists and health-seekers who have chosen the 
beautiful Monrovia for a residence is the above-named gentleman, whose elegant 
residence, located at the corner of Prospect and Grand avenues, is one of the 
landmarks among the beautiful homes that nestle at the base of the Sierra Madre 
Mountains. In February, 1888, Mr. Lee purchased one acre of land at the 
above-named location and immediately commenced its improvement and the erection 
of a home. In this he spared no expense.  The location of his residence gives 
one of the most pleasing, varied and magnificent views that it is possible to 
obtain of the San Gabriel Valley, while the immediate grounds are beautified 
with lawns, floral productions and ornamental trees; nor has he failed to 
combine the useful with the ornamental, for he has planted on his grounds nearly 
150 of the choicest citrus and deciduous fruit-trees to be obtained. Mr. Lee is 
largely identified with Los Angeles County and is one-third owner (with Messrs. 
Spence and Bicknell) of the well-known Cluirch tract, comprising 716 acres, 
about three miles and a half southeast of Monrovia. With the exception of thirty 
acres of deciduous fruits this land is now (1889) devoted to hay and grain. The 
brief facts given in regard to the life of Mr. Lee, and his success in business 
pursuits, are of interest. He is a native of Huron County, Ohio, dating his 
birth in 1829, the son of Benjamin and Mary (Smith) Lee, both of whom were of 
old families of New England, his father being a native of New Hampshire, and his 
mother of Rhode Island. His parents were among the early settlers of Huron 
County, having taken up his residence there in 1820. Mr. Lee was early in life 
put to work, and given but limited time to devote to schooling. From the age of 
ten to twenty years he was almost constantly engaged in the hotel and on the 
farm of his father. In the fall of 1849 he concluded to seek his fortunes in the 
El Dorado of the West, and started via New Orleans for California, arriving in 
San Francisco in January, 1850. He proceeded to Sacramento and there joined his 
brother, Barton Lee, and was with him engaged in mercantile pursuits, and later 
in the livery business. In 1851 he returned to Ohio, and engaged in farming in 
Huron County. From 1866 to 1869 he spent in railroading. In the latter year he 
went to Toledo, Ohio, and established himself in the manufacture of barrel 
staves, heading, hoops, etc. He was successful in his enterprise, and in 1873 
moved to Henry County, Ohio, where he increased his business, establishing three 
large factories and employing a large corps of men. The success he achieved and 
the accumulation of large property interests in various counties in Ohio, is the 
result of his business habits, his strong will, and his untiring energy in 
carrying to an end whatever he undertook. Years of this life has broken his 
health, and recently he has sought the genial climate of Southern California, 
for a much needed rest. Despite his business cares, he takes an intelligent 
interest in politics, and is an uncompromising Republican. In 1851 Mr. Lee 
married Miss Mercy Hoyt. She died in 1867, leaving one  son, Dwight L., who is 
now (1889) a resident of Lucas County, Ohio. In 1868 Mr. Lee married Mrs. Eliza 
C. (Wiers) Yates.
 
An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California �  Chicago, The Lewis 
Publishing Company, 1889   Page 542
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler