Yolo County Biographies


This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm





W. M. Lee

W.M. Lee, proprietor of a furniture store in Woodland, was born in 
Massachusetts, the son of John and Mary (Buckman) Lee, a native of Maine: father 
was a dentist in New Hampshire, and his mother died in 1878, in Sacramento, this 
State. Mr. Lee received his education in Boston, and in 1853 came by way of the 
Isthmus to California, and, like nearly all others, tried his hand first at 
mining. He followed this for two years in El Dorado County; then for a time he 
was employed at painting buggies and carriages in Sacramento; next he went to 
Chico, Butte County; then until 1858 he was in San Francisco, where he ran the 
largest photograph gallery in the city; next until 1862 he was a boatman on the 
Sacramento River, making Sacramento his headquarters; next he purchased a 
blacksmith shop in Placer County, and while there he was appointed Postmaster 
under the administration of President Lincoln, and after filling this office 
four years he went upon a ranch on Dry Creek in Sacramento County, where he 
remained three years. Returning to San Francisco he worked at odd jobs for 
several years. He then built a large wagon for the purpose of traveling through 
California in the photograph business, but he quit that in Woodland, and 
resorted at carpentering for Goble Bros. and was employed on their house 130 
days. He then opened his present place of business, on a cash capital of $7.50, 
and he now carries about $2,000 worth of goods. He has several lots in Woodland 
and a nice dwelling, all of which he has earned by the hard knocks of a life 
business vicissitudes. He is a member of the order of Good Templars.
      November 3, 1884 he married Emma Graft, in San Francisco. She is a native 
of Sacramento County, this State.
   
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing 
Co., 1891
Page 811
Transcribed by: Bonnie Phelan