John Lahee

As printed in 1915

JOHN LAHEE.

Those qualities which in every land and every clime awaken confidence and respect found expression in the life of John Lahee, a man of many sterling traits of character. He held to high ideals and guided his actions by honorable purpose and thus when death called him he left behind him a memory that should serve as an inspiration to his family and all who knew him.

A native of New York, he was born at Martinsburg, Lewis county, May 7, 1820. and was of Scotch-Irish descent. His father, Timothy Lahee, was born in the northern part of Ireland in 1795 and came to the new world as a British soldier during the War of 18 12. He became interested in America and her people, however, and continued on this side of the Atlantic, remaining in the Empire state until his death. He there married Catherine Buck, who was born in 1796 and passed away in 1846. She was the eldest daughter of Elijah Buck, a farmer of Lewis county. New York, and descended from Dutch ancestors who settled in Washington county, New York, prior to the Revolutionary war. His father, Elijah Buck, Sr., was once the owner of the township of Harrisburg, Lewis county, which he named in honor of his friend, Governor Harris, of New York.

John Lahee pursued his education in the schools of Martinsburg and in Yale Academy and later became a law student in the office of D. M. Bennett, of Martinsburg, thus qualifying for the practice of law, upon which he entered at Rome, New York, in 1849. He built up a good practice during several years of his connection with the profession there, but on the 19th of December, 1852, he arrived in Burlington, having come to the west through the influence of a relative who was superintendent of the Wells Fargo stage lines and post routes between Burlington and the Missouri river. Mr. Lahee began dealing in real estate and in 1854 entered into partnership with W. R. Brown. Their business prospered because of the rapid growth of the town, owing to the construction of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railway. In 1858, however, owing to the great financial

JOHN LAHEE panic of the previous year, land began to depreciate in value and at that time Mr. Lahee accepted the agency for the Continental Insurance Company of New York, the first company from that state to operate in Burlington. Although he still continued to give some attention to the real estate and loan business, he concentrated his efforts and energies more and more largely upon insurance and in 1868 he was one of the organizers of The Republic Insurance Company of Chicago, of which he was a prominent stockholder, and was one of its most earnest promoters. The business was successfully conducted until the great Chicago fire in 1871. He was in partnership with the late Judge Phelps from 1871 to 1875 and during that period promoted, organized and was the first stockholder of the German-American Savings Bank of Burlington, of which he was made assistant cashier and one of the directors. He contributed much toward the establishment of the bank upon a safe and substantial basis and remained in the office for two years. He was an expert on real-estate values and a good judge of human nature, and the bank never had to call in a single loan that he passed upon favorably. In matters of citizenship he stood at all times for progress and advancement and during the period of the Civil war proved his loyalty to the country by assisting W. D. Gilbert in equipping an artillery company known as the Fletcher or First Iowa Battery, which did notable service on southern battlefields, especially at Pea Ridge.

Mr. Lahee was always greatly interested in the political questions and issues of the day and in early life gave his allegiance to the democratic party. In 1840 the writings of Horace Greelev, editor of the New York Tribune, converted him to the political creed of the whig party and upon its dissolution and the formation of the new republican party he joined its ranks and was a delegate from Des Moines county to the first republican convention held in Iowa, the meeting taking place at Iowa City in 1854. Upon the organization of the party in the state in 1856 he was chosen a member of the congressional committee from the first district, at once assuming a position of leadership in partisan councils. He gave the most earnest effort and thought to the cause and contributed much to its growth. In 1860 he was elected clerk of the district court of Des Moines county, being the first republican in this county elected to any office. In this connection a contemporary writer has said: "His interest in the workings of practical politics continued for a long period, and he lived to serve the party over whose infancy he had watched in many a convention hall and post of honor. He was a man of strong and determined character, frank, open and above board as far as is consistent with the care of complicated and delicate interests, and commanded universal admiration, while the cordiality and amiability of his disposition won him the friendship of the majority of those with whom he was personally acquainted."

On the 6th of December, 1856, IVIr. Lahee wedded Miss Ellen F. House, of Rome, New York, whose grandfather was one of the Life Guards of General Washington. Mrs. Lahee was educated at Miss Willard's Academy at Utica, New York, and the Troy Female Seminary of Troy, New York. Four children were born to this marriage, John Stillman and Effie Frances, a graduate of Vassar College, being the surviving members of the family. The death of the mother occurred July 7, 1908, while Mr. Lahee passed away October 2, 1900. As one of the pioneer residents of the city, he had contributed largely to its upbuilding and development, wisely utilizing his time, talents and opportunities, and thus he won a substantial measure of success. Never did he sacrifice honor and good name to the attainment of a competence, and his record is indeed one well worthy of emulation.

As printed in History of Des Moines County, Iowa (1915). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.