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BRAXTON COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA
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Submitted to the West Virginia Biographies Project by:
Valerie & Tommy Crook
vfcrook@trellis.net
November 8, 1999
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The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume III,
pg. 291
Braxton
WILLIAM H. LEE. All honorable success is based upon a
definite aim in life and persistency of purpose in a given
course. It is the man who does the work nearest at hand
and whose industry leaves him no idle, wasteful moments
who deserves the honor and respect of his fellow men. That
men do not find the niche for which they consider them-
selves fitted is largely due to their inability to fit them-
selves for those places which they could occupy with profit
and honor. Tracing the lives of prominent men in the
business world, it is easy to see that progressive characters
have never lacked opportunities, and that opportunities have
not signified so much as the man. In the case of William
H. Lee, a prominent and prosperous hardware dealer of
Sutton, he has created his own opportunities and has worked
his way along a definite channel to prosperity and position.
Mr. Lee was born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania,
October 21, 1860, a son of Hugh and Phoebe G. (Averill)
Lee. His father was born in Washington County, Penn-
sylvania, in 1816, and was reared in his native state, where
he acquired a public school education. When still a youth
he began to clerk in a general store at Cross Creek, Penn-
sylvania, then entering the wool and oil business at Pitts-
burgh, and finally embarking in the coal business, with
which he continued to be identified until his death in 1885.
He was a successful business man of large affairs, and a
man who merited and possessed the full confidence of those
associated with him in any venture or enterprise. He was a
republican in his political sentiment and a man of influence
in his party in Pennsylvania, and during the Civil war
period served with the rank of colonel on the staff of
Governor Curtain. He was a devout member of the Presby-
terian Church, in which he served as an elder, and lived
his faith. At Paris, Pennsylvania, in February, 1840, he
he was united in marriage with Miss Phoebe G. Averill,
who was born in Jefferson County, Ohio; August 22, 1823,
and they were the parents of one son, William H.
William H. Lee was still a child when taken by his
parents to Carnegie, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, where
he received his early education in the graded and high
schools, this being subsequently supplemented by attendance
at the Western University of Pennsylvania. As a young
man he secured employment with the Keystone Coal Com-
pany as the traveling representative in Pennsylvania, with
which he remained until June, 1880. In 1892 he came to
Sutton, West Virginia, and embarked in business on his own
account by purchasing the old Sutton Hardware Company.
With the expansion of business under his capable manage-
ment Mr. Lee realized the need for more extensive quarters
to handle his trade, and he consequently bought a piece of
property and built his present modern and commodious
plant, in which he handles all kinds of hardware, wholesale
and retail. He has made a great success of his venture and
is rightly accounted one of the leading business citizens of
Sutton, where he has built up an excellent reputation for
sound ability and the highest integrity. Mr. Lee is also
a director in the Sutton Electric and Water Works at Sut-
ton, the officers of which are Patrick J. Berry, president and
general manager; and Alf Watker, secretary and treasurer.
This is likewise a going concern and one that has an im-
portant part in the business life of the city.
On January 13, 1887, Mr. Lee was united in marriage
with Miss Martha J. Davis, who was born at Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, and educated in the public schools of that
city. To this union there have been born three daughters:
Genevieve, a graduate of Mary Baldwin Seminary at
Staunton, Virginia, is the wife of A. C. Herold; Florence
M., who attended the Belmont Female School at Nashville,
Tennessee, is now the wife of H. P. Hersperger; and Mar-
garet G., who attended the Mary Baldwin Seminary, is now
the wife of Mayor James A. Gartlin, of Burkesville, Ken-
tucky. The family belongs to the Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Lee is a republican in his political allegiance, and as a
fraternalist is affiliated with Sutton Lodge No. 21, A. F.
and A. M.
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