John Paul Lee
John Paul Lee was born in the Sunshine State of Florida on November 19th, 1910 to his Father, James L. Lee and Mother, Eunice Cornelia Newton.
••• Interestingly events that occurred around the World during John Paul's birth year of 1910 included.
▪︎ On February 8th, 1910 the Boy Scouts of America is incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia by William D. Boyce.
▪︎ On April 21st, 1910 legendary American writer, humorist, entrepreneur, publisher, and lecturer Mark Twain (74) dies at the Stormfield mansion in Redding, Connecticut
▪︎ On May 6th 1910 George V becomes King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland upon the death of his Father, Edward VII.
▪︎ On July 4th, 1910 legendary African American boxer Jack Johnson defeats former champion James J. Jeffries in a historic heavyweight boxing match, sparking race riots across the United States.
▪︎ On November 7th. 1910 the first air flight for the purpose of delivering commercial freight takes place in the United States. The flight, made by Wright brothers pilot Philip Parmalee, is between Dayton and Columbus, Ohio.
• In 1910, Henry Ford sells 10,000 automobiles.
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John Paul had two younger siblings who lived to see adulthood, a Brother, William Henry and Sister, Cornelia Lee.
Lee Patriarch, James L. as a young man supported his family as a Lumber Mill night watchman when he and John Paul's Mother lived with her parents in 1910.
It is difficult to fully understand the dynamic of the Lee family as there is very little data to track their path. One document in particular does indeed offer a glimpse into their lives. The Columbia County, Florida Census from 1910 as mentioned above informs us that James L. Lee (28) and Eunice Cornelia Newton Lee (19) resided with her parents and that he worked as a night watchman. We also learn that the couple had been married for three years, were the parents of (3) children although at the time only tonight's honoree at 5 months old was still living. and that John Paul's Father was a Florida native and his Mother was born in South Carolina.
John Paul's Brother, William Henry was born on April 29th, 1912 ( Exactly two weeks after the sinking of the Titantic ) and his Sister Cornelia Lee came into the World on Christmas Day in the year 1914.
This evenings honorees Mother, Eunice Cornelia filed for divorce from John Pauls Father, often referred to as "J L" Lee in newspaper recollections, on June 10th, 1921. More than a century later we cannot fully understand what specifically led to the Lee's marital downfall but events to come may have foreshadowed behind the scenes cracks.
••• John Paul's Mother, Eunice married for a second time when on February 19th, 1924 she wed native Floridian, Wiley Thomas Robertson a building contractor carpenter.
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▪︎▪︎ On Sunday night August 29th 1926 John Paul's Father, James L. Lee was involved in and deemed responsible for a serious hit and run drunk driving accident before being captured by motorcycle patrolman Davis later that evening after initially fleeing the scene.on foot.
He would be released on a modest bail bond shortly thereafter.
••• At the time of the accident the World was in a state of shock and mourning the sudden death of superstar actor and heartthrob, Rudolph Valentino at the age of 31.Newspaper headlines across the globe were dominated by this event.
Sorrowfully one of the victims struck by Mr. Lee, 23 year old Thelma Hansen the Mother of a 7 year old Daughter would lose her life on Tuesday morning August 31st 1926 as a result of injuries sustained in the accident. "J L" Lee was caught trying to flee the area at a local service station with packed bags on September the first and charged with manslaughter. Once again he was released on a more substantial $5,000 bond on September 4th, 1926. Seven months later James L Lee's criminal case ended in a mistrial on Thursday March 31st, 1927 with a new court case scheduled for later that Summer. On Monday July the 25th Mr. Lee's bail was revoked when he failed to appear for his new trial. From this point on he seems to have forever disappeared from public view. The trial was never resolved and J L's whereabouts remain a mystery.
We can only imagine how the chaos surrounding his Father affected tonight's subject, John Paul.
☆☆ We were unable to find typically common documentation for this evenings honoree including census records from 1920, 1930, or 1935 all times in which he was living.
Conundrums follow us all the way through the conclusion of tonight's tale when a short obituary dated April 2nd, 1935 informs us that John Paul Lee died @ the town of Lockport, in Niagra County, New York on Friday, March 29th, 1935. He was only 24 years old. (It should be noted that I researched Lockport, New York and its history from the turn of the 20th century through the 1950's and it was known for having extensive sanitariums for tuberculosis patients.)
▪︎▪︎ John Paul's Father is not mentioned as a survivor of his Son or that he predeceased him in his obituary.
John Paul Lee... Beloved Son and Brother
Before & After