Tag: California

Edgar Clyde Roper, Jr.

December 28th, 2023

Edgar (June 13, 1925- January 6, 2014) was the son of Clyde and Mabel Roper (Mamie and Pappy), and the big brother of Joan (Gram). He was born in Trinidad, Colorado.

Mabel, Edgar and Clyde Roper about 1927

Edgar about 1929

Edgar, Sambo, Mr. Watson, Joan

He graduated from Albuquerque High School in 1943 – he had previously attended South High School in Denver when they lived there. After high school he joined the army.

Edgar graduated from the University of New Mexico in 1949 with a degree in civil engineering. He worked for the Department of the Interior on dams and canals in California and New Mexico, and also worked in Washington D.C.

He married Helen Montgomery (Dec. 29, 1920-Aug. 31, 2011) in 1963. (He was previously married to PeWee). Helen was a hairdresser and had owned a beauty salon, and in Washington worked at the U.S. Senate beauty salon. Most of their married life was in Tracy and Oceanside, California.

Helen, Rosalynn Carter, Mrs. Spellman, Edgar

Edgar was an avid sports fan, especially UNM basketball. He says in one letter to Mamie and Pappy that he had two tv sets on for basketball and golf and the radio tuned to the Cardinal’s baseball game – he was a big Cardinals fan. He didn’t listen or watch quietly! He was also quite a golfer, and would report on his handicap and scores in his letters home.

He wrote detailed letters and postcards to his parents (Pappy called him Egg or Eg), telling of his and Helen’s many excursions in the California area and other trips as well. He always had a nice car, often a convertible. He and Helen would drive up the coast and have dinner at a restaurant and sometimes go dancing. Helen was artistic – she painted and made pottery, and they both enjoyed gardening and volunteering for the garden club. They also liked going to the Wild Animal Park and observing the animals.

Edgar was a very detail oriented person – he kept a journal of all his activities such as gardening, golfing, games he watched, trips, and money spent to the penny. He had strong opinions – on politics, sports, and other things and didn’t mind sharing them. In his journal he would sometimes note that he had called the tv station with his opinion on a current issue.

uncle

great uncle

great great uncle
Charles Angle Lee (1866-1922) and Fredric Walter Lee (1869-1923)

November 16th, 2023

Charles and Fred were Henry’s younger brothers. The railroad business played a big part in all their lives, as well as their sister Allie. It was the reason they moved from their home in Indiana to head west. Charles, Fred and some of the other siblings went to California, while Henry ended up in Colorado.

The following article is from a Tehachapi, California newspaper about Charles. It’s rare to get a glimpse like this into what people were really like.

CHARLES A. LEE – Postmaster at Tehachapi (Greenwich postoffice), has, during his brief residence here, thoroughly identified himself with the business and social interests of the town. He came to California from his native State, Indiana, in 1887.

Mr. Lee was born in Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, Indiana, February 1, 1866, and at the age of fifteen began railroading. He pursued that calling in various portions of the Middle States until he came to California. Here, after a few months of travel in the southern and central part of the State, he again engaged in railroading entering the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company. He continued in their employ until he met with a serious almost fatal, accident, which resulted in the amputation of his right leg, and other in juries seriously crippling his left hand. Upon his recovery from this great physical shock, he engaged in the fruit and confectionery business in Teliachapi.

He was soon afterward deputized postmaster by Hon. P. D. Green, and assumed the duties of his office on the first of January, 1890. In this capacity he has proven himself one of the most efficient, accommodating and popular postmasters the town has ever had. In one respect he is worthy of special commendation. The universal rules governing the conduct of the United States post offices do not require the distribution of mail before the hour of eight o’clock in the morning or after seven in the evening; but as the mails arrive at his office at unseasonable hours, he is seldom at his post of duty later than 6:30 A. M., and is invariably there as late as 9 P. m. The public should appreciate this effort on his part to give them a liberal service.

{Page 291}

Mr. Lee is active in the social circle of Tehachapi, and as popular is he is jovial and uniformally courteous. Although a single man he is domestic in his taste, owns a new residence and has it presided over by his sister, Miss Allies a young lady of culture, winning manners and womanly graces. He also has a sister Minnie and a brother Fred, residing with him.

Charles and his daughter, Winifred. He had married Dr. Ellen Isabella (Belle) McFarland in 1897.

Charles, Winifred and Belle about 1902

Fredric Walter Lee 1869-1923

Fred was also involved in the railroad business in California. He married Lucy Edwards and had two daughters, Freda and Eva.

Fred and Freda Lee about 1919

Freda and Eva Lee about 1921 (Fred and Lucy Lee’s daughters)

Charles and Fred Lee

Great grand uncles

Great great grand uncles

3rd great grand uncles
Henry Lansing Lee

November 9th, 2023

Henry Lee (1863-1935) was born in Crawfordsville, Indiana to Henry Bruce Mulroy Lee and Phoebe Long Lee. He had three sisters, Minnie, Carrie, and Mary Alice; and two brothers, Fred and Charles. We’ve got lots of photographs of Henry.

Henry married Minnie Lucas in 1888.

Henry and his wedding party. Henry is seated at the left and his brother Fred is seated on the bottom right, and brother Charles I think is standing with his arm on Henry’s shoulder

Henry was a telegraph operator for the railroad. When he and Minnie were first married, they moved to Bakersfield, California, where his brother Charles lived.

Henry’s telegraphy book

Later they lived in Watrous and Maxwell, New Mexico, near La Junta, Colorado, and Dodge City and Richfield, Kansas. They ended up in Trinidad, Colorado.

Stagecoach stop in Richfield, Kansas, managed by Henry Lee. He is on top of the stagecoach – here is another picture apparently taken at the same time.

Henry Lee on left

Grace, Henry, Barbara Lucas, Blanche, Ethel Cupp?, Minnie seated, Mabel and Harlan Lee. This might have been a photograph taken when they made a visit to Timewell.

Henry Lee

great grandfather

great great grandfather

3rd great grandfather