SAMUEL LEE, dealer in wines and liquors at Bunker Hill, has carried on business since 1877. He is a native of England, his birth having occurred in Northamptonshire, in the month of November, 1850. Tracing his ancestry back until history was lost in tradition we see that the family is of pure English stock. The father of our subject, George Lee, was also a native of Northamptonshire, and in that county was county was united in marriage. His wife died in her native land in the prime of life, leaving a family of four children, of whom Samuel is the third in order of birth. After the death of his first wife George Lee was a second time married, his union being with Mrs. Anna Wall nee King, who was also born and reared in Northamptonshire, and was there married the first time. By her first union she had one child.

The eldest brother of our subject, Josiah Lee was the first of the family to come to the United States, the date of his emigration being between 1850 and 1860. When the late war broke out he manifested his loyalty to his adopted country by enlisting as a member of Company F, Seventh Illinois Infantry, in which he served until the South was conquered. He then returned to his home in Macoupin County. For nine long months during his service he had been confined in Andersonville prison. He was married and was engaged in business in Bunker Hill at the time of his death, which occurred in 1876. William Lee, the second of the family, wedded Mary Mahoney and is now living in St. Louis. John H. is successfully engaged in the livery business in Bunker Hill, where he keeps a well equipped stable and is also owner of the fine thoroughbred horse, "Brilliance".

We now take up the personal history of our subject who spent the days of his boyhood and youth in his native land and was there educated. He was only three years old when his mother died. In 1870, in company with his elder brother John, he bade goodby to Merry England, and taking passage on a Westward bound steamer, sailed from Liverpool to New York, whence he came across the country to Bunker Hill, where he has resided continuously since, covering a period of twenty-one consecutive years. Three years later he was joined by his father and step-mother who are yet residing at this place. George Lee is now seventy years of age and his wife has attained the age of sixty six years. Both are members of the Episcopal Church.

In 1877 our subject established his business in Bunker Hill and continued in it at his first location until 1881, when he removed to the building which is his present place of business. From the early age of eight years he has made his own way in the world, depending entirely upon his own efforts, and the success he has achieved in life is due to his own industry and push. He was married in Bunker Hill, to Miss Louisa Brandenburger, who was born in St. Louis, Mo., January 9, 1859, but grew to womanhood in this locality where her parents located during her childhood. They are of German birth and still reside in Bunker Hill. Five children grace the union of Mr. and Mrs. Lee, and the family circle yet remains unbroken. In order of birth they are as follows: Samuel G., Laura J., Joseph W., Christina E. and Walter S. Mr. and Mrs. Lee attend the Episcopal Church and in politics he is a supporter of the Republican party.