Notes for JAMES ALMA LEE, SR:

Son of Alfred Gilham and Rebecca (Orme) Lee.
Born: February 5, 1867 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah.
Died: September 27, 1950 in Mar Vista, Los Angeles County, California.
Buried: Inglewood Park Cemetery, Inglewood, Los Angeles County, California.
Married: Chloe Baird October 25, 1899 in Salt Lake LDS Temple, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah.

Number of children: 9 daughters, 3 sons.

James Alma Orme Lee, son of Alfred Gilham Lee and Rebecca Orme, married Chloe Baird 25 Oct 1899 in the Salt Lake City Temple (LDS) who bore him 11 children - Clyde Baird, Clarence Baird, Lucille, Bessie, Millie, Twylah, Venice Marjorie, Amy Fanny, Romola, James Alma and Myrtle Angeline.

After finishing a three year Mormon mission in the Southern States, James returned home to Utah and married Chloe just 6 weeks after first meeting her. They had been living in Bountiful only a couple months when a mission call came to them. They were called by President Woodruff to go to Northern Wyoming for at least five years as part of the Big Horn Basin Colonization Company to assist the legendary 'Buffalo Bill' build the 37-mile-long Sidon Canal. Work at this time was challenged by outlaws including another legend - Butch Cassidy, who operated in this region robbing banks and trains.

They left April 24, 1900 in covered wagons, blazing their own trail, and James was placed in charge of a company of 10 wagons. It rained constantly for the first few days and it took them 9 days to go just 40 miles. Chloe was pregnant with her first child - Clyde Lee, and was sick the entire journey with morning sickness.

They endured their first harsh winter in a home-made tent-house - a tent top with wooden sides that didn't give much protection from the cold. For a while James made money driving a stage coach out to Yellowstone Park.

Life in Wyoming was very tough, yet they endured their full five years faithfully, with Chloe giving birth in Wyoming to their first four children - Clyde, Clarence, Lucille and Bessie - four children in five years.

Near to the end the railroad gave them a little money from putting track through their property, and that was enough to help them pay to go back home to Syracuse Utah where they were much happier living once again near family.

The family eventually left the farming trade in Utah and moved with hope to California.
(Source: findagrave.com)