Lovett Lee (USA)

After the Civil War, in 1872, when Sarber County was formed from portions of Johnson, Scott and Franklin Counties, this township was incorporated into the new county. It became part of Logan County when the name was changed from Sarber in 1876. Franklin County marriage records indicate that Lovett Lee served as Justice of the Peace for this township was still in that county for a number of years, and was serving in that capacity during 1860. He performed several marriage ceremonies while holding that office. Lovett Lee was on leave from his Company in Jan of 1864, that he might proceed to Little Rock and attend the State Convention for which he had been elected from Franklin County. The first session of the Union General Assembly began on Apr 11, 1864. The counties of Franklin, Johnson and Scott were not represented. The old story passed down through the Lee family is "Lovett Lee had taken sick while home on leave from the army, and was at his home near the old Titsworth Springs School House, which lay between Paris and Magazine." The story goes: "About the tenth of May in 1864, a band of armed bushwhackers (southern sympathizers) arrived at his home and took him away. Amanda begged and pleaded for them to leave him alone, but to no avail. Lovett Lee's body was found a few days later not too far from his home. He had been shot and hanged at the Short Mountain Creek crossing, south of the present town of Paris, near the location of the American Legion Hut" Lovett Lee's body was buried there for a time, but was later exumed and brough to Ft. Smith, AR by wagon, to be placed in the National Cemetary there. His remains now rest in Section 6, Grave # 3309. The Civil War, never really had a large scale battle to occur in this portion of the State of Arkansas: the ever present danger came not from Regular Army Units on either side, but from bushwhackers who roamed through the countryside. None who lived in rural areas were safe from the lawless bands. Many of the bushwhackers were known to those upon whom they preyed, and it seems they made no attempt to conceal their identity. Zelmer Lee of Ratcliff, AR (a grandson of Britton Lee) recalls a visit by his uncle "Will" Lee during the early 1900's. One morning the old uncle said "Zelmer, do you reckon your dad would let you take the team and drive me to Paris?" Zelmer, being eager to prove that he was old enough for this responsibility, hurried and asked his dad. Permission was granted and soon Zelmer and the old uncle were on their way to town. As this was a first for Zelmer the memory was vivid in his mind. After his uncle Will had made a few purchases, they were walkling along the sidewalk when the old man suddenly stopped and aksed, "Zelmer is that ------ -------?" Zelmer replied that the old man they had just met truly was the man whom is Uncle Will had just named. His uncle said, "I wish I had brought my six shooter, I would have shot him right there". The old man whom will Lee had named was one of the gang who had shot Lovett Lee, at the Crossing of Short Mountain Creek, south of Paris. John Corley and another Union sympathizer were killed alongside Lovett Lee.

Source: http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/20538195/person/969069539/comments?p...

U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles about Lovett Lee

Name: Lovett Lee

Age at enlistment: 39

Enlistment Date: 3 Oct 1863

Rank at enlistment: Private

Enlistment Place: Franklin County, AR

State Served: Arkansas

Service Record: Enlisted in Company H, Arkansas 1st Infantry Regiment on 10 Mar 1863.

Birth Date: abt 1824

Sources: Index to Compiled Military Service Records

1st Arkansas Union Infantry - Arkansas Research

U.S. National Cemetery Interment Control Forms, 1928-1962 about Lovett Lee

Name: Lovett Lee

Death Date: 14 May 1864

Cemetery: Fort Smith National Cemetery

Burial Location: Fort Smith, Arkansas