On last Friday evening [July 11, 1879] Nicholas Lee, a gentleman known to every old-time resident of Polk County, departed this life at his home near Dallas. Mr. Lee was born in Pike County, Ohio, February 11, 1818, and in 1847 crossed the plains to Oregon. In 1848 he came to Polk County and in the year following settled on the place near Dallas, at which place he died.
In 1862 he removed with his family to Dallas, where he engaged in merchandising until 1876, when he was succeeded in business by his son J. D. and returned to his farm. For some years he has been affected with a bronchial disease and for the past two years has failed rapidly. Mr. Lee was for almost 40 years a consistent member of the M. E. Church and for 25 years during his residence in this county was a local preacher. He was a man of unwavering principle and one who was respected and esteemed by all with whom he came in contact. A wife [Sarah Hopper] and several sons and daughters, the most of whom reside in this county, are left to mourn the loss of a kind husband and father.
On Sunday his remains were laid away in the Odd Fellows’ Cemetery, and a large concourse of people assembled there to witness the last sad rites. The funeral discourse will be preached at some future time by Rev. William Roberts, an old friend and co-worker of Mr. Lee’s, who at present resides on Puget Sound.
Contributed by: Shelli Steedman