A Tree Grew in Oakland

Lewellyn Lee 1862-1917

157 years ago, 16 June 1862, in Southfield, Oakland County, Michigan, Lewellyn Lee was born to Charles Norton and Esther Jenks Lee.  Uncle Willy was the brother of my great grandmother, Effie Clarissa Lee Weaver.

I got to know Uncle Willy from how he was constantly referenced in postcards in my grandfather’s collection — see previous blog entries.  But, a recap of his history was captured by our family historian for the Jenks Family Reunion the year following his death on 29 July 1917:

Llewellyn Lee, the only son of Charles N and Esther Jenks Lee was born June 16, 1862, and died July 29, 1917. He was a man highly respected by his neighbors and a host of friends, and dearly loved in his own home circle. The mainstay of his aged mother and the idol of his sisters. His early death was a shock to the whole community. In his death the Jenks reunion lost one of its most interested members and the Historian lost one of her most earnest helpers. He was the genial host at our 2nd and 3rd Jenks reunions of 1912 and 1913, held in the house where he was born and where he died. His childhood and youth was spent with his parents and sisters on the farm now owned by his brother-in-law, Stephen Wright. Then they bought and moved into the old Jenks home where the rest of his life was spent.

Uncle Willy, holding the horses’s reins in front of the Jenks’ place

At the time of his death he was Worthy Master of Redford Lodge, No 152, and left a record to be proud of in the history of Masonry. His great grandfather, a Mr Lee [ed note: William Lee], who was raised in the state of New York, died an honored member of the craft, June 1, 1840. His grandfather, Horatio Lee, a member of Redford Lodge, died February 15, 1869, and his father, Charles N Lee, also a member of Redford Lodge, died October 23, 1905, making four generations to belong to that body and three of them members of Redford Lodge at the time of death. His brother Masons took charge of the funeral services and he was laid to rest with highest Masonic honors in Southfield Cemetery, August 1, 1917.

Eva Seymore Jenks, The Reunion Papers of the Jenks Family, 1918.

It was 93 years ago today, 14 June 1926, that my grandfather’s cousin, Roy Thomas Churches married Evelyn Harriet Lockwood in downtown Farmington.   Roy would have been my first cousin, twice removed.

Roy Thomas Churches was born 15 October 1901 to Robert Richard Churches and Hannah Almira Lee.  On that same day, his twin brother, Raymond Charles Churches was also born.  Evelyn Harriet Lockwood was born on 7 July 1907 to Everett Lockwood and Grace Johnson. Both were born in Southfield, Oakland County, Michigan.  Children of this marriage included: Peggy Joyce (1929), Robert Lowell (1931), and Richard Lee (1934)

An account of the wedding was given at the 1926 Jenks Family reunion:

At Farmington, Michigan, June 14th, 1926, by the Rev Mr. Dunlavy of the M. E. [Methodist Episcopal] Church, Miss Evelyn Lockwood and Mr. Roy T. Churches were united in marriage. They were attended by Miss Evelyn Fell of Detroit and Mr. Lawton Huston of Southfield. The bride was attired all in dainty white, the bridal gown being of beaded white satin. The bridesmaid was dressed in a pink gown with hat to match. The bride and groom are both of Southfield where they have a large circle of friends.

The Reunion Papers of the Jenks Family – Eva Seymour Jenks (Notes on the 1926 reunion)