Lee Lendon Lightfoot ^{2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14}

   Another name for Lee was Leoniuas Lightfoot.^{8 15}

  General Notes:

The 1880 US Census is the only record which shows his given name as "Leoniuas" and he apparently used "Lee" for the remainder of his life. It is thought that this entry on the census record might be a misspelling of Leonidas.
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Lee Lendon Lightfoot was born on a Cedar County farm near West Branch, Iowa on 16 Jan 1876. By the age of 14 years, he had learned all about boilers and steam driven farm equipment. At the age of 19, he worked in a blacksmith shop repairing farm equipment and shoeing horses in Rochester and Wilton Iowa which were less than 20 miles from his family home.

A family story says that he moved to Muscatine, Iowa and got a job in 1895 aboard a Mississippi River tug-boat named "Fleetwing". Supposedly he later went to Dubuque and passed the exam for assistant engineer for any river in the US and later received the coveted Chief Engineer license. However, I have searched the records of all governmental offices that issued pilot's licenses and Chief Engineer's certificates and I could not find his name listed.

Quitting the river in 1904, he went to work as an "engineer" of an electric street car line in Muscatine. I'm not sure exactly what was meant by "engineer" in 1904 but he was probably involved in the operations and maintenance of all the motors, generators, and machinery for the street car line.

In late 1905 he moved to Eau Claire, Wisconsin and worked in nearby saw mills. In 1927 he joined the Cornell Paper Company in Cornell, Wisconsin as a Stationary Engineer and worked there for another 21 years there as the steam engineer that powered all the saws and other equipment. In those early years in Eau Claire and Cornell, much of the saw mill machinery was run off equipment powered by a steam boiler rather than the modern electric motors commonly found today. Lee's experience around the steam boilers both from farming operations and from tug boat operations proved helpful in this application.

Retiring at 72 he returned to Davenport, Iowa and worked 10 more years in his apple orchards. He also grew tomatoes and strawberries all for commercial packaging in Davenport.
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  Birth Notes:

Birth records were not kept in Iowa until starting around 1890. His birth date was recorded in the Family Bible and he consistently used the same date throughout his life. Some confusion has arisen over his birth location because he liked to used "near West Branch" because of the significance of President Hoover's home located there. The truth is that he was born at home on a farm just outside the village of Springdale, Iowa which is about 10 miles away from West Branch.
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  Death Notes:

At the time of his death, he had returned from Florida where his wife had died about 5 years earlier and was residing with his married daughter, Ferne Moldenhauer who lived in Davenport. At that time, he had purchased a lot at Davenport Memorial Park with 3 graves, one for his daughter, Grace, one for his wife, and one for himself. The total interment costs of $130 was to be paid by his daughter, Ferne. The interment order was signed by his other daughter, Jean Brinkmann.
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Name: Lee Lightfoot
Given Name: Lee
Surname: Lightfoot
Event Type: Death
Event Date: Mar 1972
Event Place: Davenport, Scott, Iowa
Event Place (Original): Davenport, Scott, Iowa
Age: 96
Birth Date: 16 Jan 1876

Citing this Record
"United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V9ZM-R4S : 4 December 2020), Lee Lightfoot, Mar 1972; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
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  Noted events in his life were:

• He has alternate birth date of Sep 1875 and a birth location of Iowa.

This birth date was given on his 1900 US Census.
¹⁰

• He appeared on the 1880 US Census in Muscatine, IA on 1 Jun 1880. ⁸

1880 US Census
Page 128A, Family 8, Roll 0358
Muscatine, Muscatine, Iowa
Leoniuas Lightfoot..Son..4..IA..At Home

(Living with parents.)

• He appeared on the 1885 Iowa State Census in Iowa Township, Cedar County, IA on 1885. ¹⁵

1885 Iowa State Census
Page 384, Line 9, Family 94
Iowa Township, Cedar, Iowa
Township 79, Range 3, Section 26, NW Quarter of the SW Quarter
Leonidas Lightfoot..9..IA

(Living with parents.)

• He appeared on the 1895 Iowa State Census in Iowa Township, Cedar County, IA on 1895. ⁹

1895 Iowa State Census
Page 473, Line 7, Family 80
Iowa Township, Cedar, Iowa
Lee L. Lightfoot..19..Cedar County, Iowa..Farmer

(Living with parents.)

• He worked as a River Boat Pilot on Mississippi River about 1900. ¹⁹
I have been unable to confirm that he actually worked as a river boat pilot. Instead, it appears that he worked on a river boat probably as the "fireman" responsible for the operation of the steam boiler. There are the family stories that he received the coveted Chief Engineer's license but that has never been substantiated and a check with the US Coast Guard's list of those who ever received such a license does not include his name. There is also a newspaper article published by the local paper in Davenport in which Lee Lightfoot described his duties as a river boat pilot. [Brian Lightfoot]
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• He appeared on the 1900 US Census in Muscatine, IA on 5 Jun 1900. ¹⁰

1900 US Census
Sheet 8B, District 106, Family 173
Muscatine, Muscatine, Iowa
Lee Lightfoot..Son..Jan 1875..23..IA..Steam Engineer

(Living with parents.)

NOTE - If his birth date was 16 Jan 1876, then his age should have been 24 instead of 23.

• He resided in Muscatine, IA in 1904.
¹⁹

• He appeared on the 1905 Iowa State Census in , Muscatine County, IA on 1905. ¹¹

1905 Iowa State Census
, Muscatine, Iowa
Lee Lightfoot..29..IA..Married..Card B180

(Living with wife at home of mother.)

• He appeared on the 1910 US Census in Eau Claire, WI on 19 Apr 1910. ²

1910 US Census
Sheet 10A, District 55, Family 221
Eau Claire, Eau Claire, Wisconsin
725 Niagara Street; house rented
Married 6 years
Lee Lightfoot..Head..34..IA..Engineer, Saw Mill

(Living with wife and 2 children.)

• His occupation on 12 Sep 1918 was a Stationary Steam Engineer in Cornell, WI. ⁷
Worked for the J. H. Kaiser Lumber Company in 1918.

• He resided at 739 Chippewa on 12 Sep 1918 in Eau Claire, WI.
⁷

• On 12 Sep 1918, he registered for the World War I Draft at Eau Claire, WI.

Name: Lee Lendon Lightfoot
Birth Date: 16 Jan 1876
⁷

• He appeared on the 1920 US Census in Eau Claire, WI on 10 Jan 1920. ³

1920 US Census
Sheet 3A, District 127, Family 48
Eau Claire, Eau Clair, Wisconsin
717 7th Avenue; owned no mortgage
Lee L. Lightfoot..Self..43..IA..Engineer at Mill

(Living with wife and 3 children.)

• He resided in Cornell, WI in 1927.
¹⁹

• He appeared on the 1930 US Census in Cornell, WI on 10 Apr 1930. ⁴

1930 US Census
Sheet 8B, District 9-22, Family 165, Roll 2564
Cornell, Chippewa, Wisconsin
204 South Third Street; house rented $24
Lee L. Lightfoot..Head..54..IA..Chief Engineer, Wood Products Mill

(Living with wife and 2 children.)

• He appeared on the 1940 US Census in Cornell, WI on 14 May 1940. ⁵

1940 US Census
Sheet 22A, Family 413, District 9-22
Cornell, Chippewa, Wisconsin
House owned, $3,500
Last Place of Residence: Same House
Lee Lightfoot..Head..63..IA..5th grade..Chief Operating Engineer, Paper Mill..earned $1900 in 1939

(Living with wife and 2 daughters.)

• He resided in Davenport, IA in 1948.
¹⁹

• His occupation 1950 To 1959 was a Farmer in Davenport, IA. ¹⁹

• He resided in Ocala, FL 1965 To 1966.

• He resided at 2220 North Michigan Avenue 1970 To 1972 in Davenport, IA.
¹⁹ At the time of his death, he resided with his daughter, Mrs. Ervin (Ferne) Moldenhauer, 2220 North Michigan Avenue, Davenport, Scott County, Iowa.

• He was buried on 3 Mar 1982 in the Davenport Memorial Park in Davenport, IA.

The grave marker is one long flat bronze casting for the daughter, wife, and husband. Below the large letters of the name LIGHTFOOT are the names "Dr. Grace K., 1916-1950", "Mary E., 1885-1967", and "Lee L., 1876-1972".

Find A Grave Memorial #90359871
¹⁷

Lee married Mary Elizabeth McLaughlin, daughter of John McLaughlin and Jane Davis, on 20 Jul 1904 in Muscatine, IA.^{1 2 3 4 5} (Mary Elizabeth McLaughlin was born on 9 Jan 1885 in Emory, TX,^{2 3 4 5 11 19 20 21} died on 7 Jan 1967 in Ocala, FL ^{21 22} and was buried on 10 Jan 1967 in Davenport Memorial Park, Davenport, IA ²¹.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• They resided in Muscatine, IA in 1904.
¹⁹

• Marriage Image: Image, on 20 Jul 1904, in Muscatine, IA.

• Photo: Wedding Date, 20 Jul 1904, Muscatine, IA.

• They appeared on the 1905 Iowa State Census in , Muscatine County, IA on 1905. ¹¹

1905 Iowa State Census
, Muscatine, Iowa
Lee Lightfoot..29..IA..Married..Card B180
Mary Lightfoot..20..TX..Married..Card B181

(Lee and Mary were living with his mother, Loretta. His father, William, was living elsewhere.)

• They appeared on the 1910 US Census in Eau Claire, WI on 19 Apr 1910. ²

1910 US Census
Sheet 10A, District 55, Family 221
Eau Claire, Eau Claire, Wisconsin
725 Niagrara Street; house rented
Married 6 years
Lee Lightfoot..Head..34..IA..Engineer, Saw Mill
Mary Lightfoot..Wife..25..TX..2/2
Fern Lightfoot..Daughter..4..WI
Franklin Lightfoot..Son..3..WI

• They appeared on the 1920 US Census in Eau Claire, WI on 10 Jan 1920. ³

1920 US Census
Sheet 3A, District 127, Family 48
Eau Claire, Eau Claire, Wisconsin
717 7th Avenue; home owned, no mortgage
Lee L. Lightfoot..Self..43..IA..Engineer at Mill
Mary E. Lightfoot..Wife..34..TX
Ferne A. Lightfoot..Daughter..14..WI
Frank L. Lightfoot..Son..13..WI
Grace R. Lightfoot..Daughter..3..WI

• They resided in Cornell, WI in 1927.
¹⁹

• They appeared on the 1930 US Census in Cornell, WI on 10 Apr 1930. ⁴

1930 US Census
Sheet 8B, District 9-22, Family 165, Roll 2564
Cornell, Chippewa, Wisconsin
204 South Third Street; house rented $24
Lee L. Lightfoot..Head..54..IA..Chief Engineer, Wood Products Mill
Mary E. Lightfoot..Wife..45..TX
Grace K. Lightfoot..Daughter..13..WI
Jean M. Lightfoot..Daughter..5..WI

• They appeared on the 1940 US Census in Cornell, WI on 14 May 1940. ⁵

1940 US Census
Sheet 22A, District 9-22, Family 413
Cornell, Chippewa, Wisconsin
House owned, $3,500
Last Place of Residence: Same House
Lee Lightfoot..Head..63..IA..5th grade..Chief Operating Engineer, Paper Mill..earned $1900 in 1939
Mary Lightfoot..Wife..55..TX..8th grade
Jean Lightfoot..Daughter..15..WI..9th grade
Grace Lightfoot..Daughter..24..WI..2 years of college

• They resided in Davenport, IA in 1948.
¹⁹ Upon Lee's retirement from Cornell Wood Products in Cornell, Wisconsin, they moved to Davenport, Scott County, Iowa where he continued to farm apples, tomatoes, and strawberries.

• They resided in Ocala, FL in 1967.
¹⁹ They had retired and were living in Florida when Mary died there in 1967.

  Marriage Notes:

Groom's Name: Lee N. Lightfoot
Groom's Birth Date: 1875
Groom's Birthplace: Cedar Co., IA.
Groom's Age: 29
Bride's Name: Mary Mccampbell
Bride's Birth Date: 1884
Bride's Birthplace: Texas
Bride's Age: 20
Marriage Date: 20 Jul 1904
Marriage Place: Muscatine, Iowa
Groom's Father's Name: William
Groom's Mother's Name: Lina
Bride's Mother's Name: Jennie Davis
Groom's Race: White
Groom's Marital Status: Single
Bride's Race: White
Bride's Marital Status: Single
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M02546-0
System Origin: Iowa-EASy
Source Film Number: 1003492
Reference Number: 1003492 pg 243

Source Citation
"Iowa, Marriages, 1809-1992," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XJZY-74M : accessed 25 July 2012), Lee N. Lightfoot, 1904.

NOTE - There are several errors in this record, most notably is the name of the spouse. The record indicates Mary McCampbell instead of the expected Mary McLaughlin. There is no explanation as to why her surname was entered wrong.
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Lee and Mary first lived in Muscatine where they were married in 1904. They then moved to Eau Claire County, Wisconsin and later on to nearby Cornell, Wisconsin. In 1948, when Lee retired from Cornell Wood Products, they moved to Davenport, Scott County, Iowa where he continued to farm apples, tomatoes, and strawberries. Finally, they both completely retired and moved to Ocala, Florida where Mary eventually died in 1967. Upon her death, Lee moved back to Davenport with his daughter, Anna Ferne Moldenhauer, until his death in 1972.
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After Mary and Lee were married in Muscatine County, Iowa her father, John McLaughlin, died and they purchased the McLaughlin Farm which was located Emory, Rains County, Texas where they grew cotton. Lee and Mary continued to grow cotton for a few years before moving back to Eau Claire County, Wisconsin. I'm not sure of the exact years that this happened.
(Source: Jean Lightfoot-Stedman, January 2001)

There is also a certificate of Birth issued in Fluvanna, Scurry County, Texas on 1 Sep 1910 for an un-named female daughter born to Lee and Mary Lightfoot.. I'm not sure if this is the same parents nor am I sure about the timing when Lee and Mary left the Iowa-Wisconsin area to tend to the McLaughlin farm in Texas. There was never any mention within the Lightfoot family of such a daughter.

Name: Lightfoot
Event Type: Birth
Event Date: 01 Sep 1910
Event Place: Fluvanna, Scurry, Texas, United States
Gender: Female
Father's Name: Lee Lightfoot
Mother's Name: Mary Lightfoot

Citing this Record
"Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXM3-NYD : 9 March 2018), Mary Lightfoot in entry for Lightfoot, 01 Sep 1910; citing Fluvanna, Scurry, Texas, United States, certificate 34045, Texas Department of Health, Austin; FHL microfilm 4,112,524.
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¹⁹