LEES, Robert

History of Northern Wisconsin. Chicago: Western Historical, 1881, p 163

Robert LEES, attorney at law, Alma [Buffalo County, Wisconsin], was born 03 
July 1842 in Scotland. When he was four years of age [assuming his given 
birthdate is correct, then between 03 July 1846 and 03 July 1847], his 
parents emigrated to America, and settled in Waukesha County [then still part 
Wisconsin Territory; Waukesha County having been recently created, on 31 
January 1846, from part of Milwaukee County; the State of Wisconsin not 
created until 29 May 1848]. Seven years later [about 1853?] they removed to 
this county [Buffalo], and located in the Town of Cross. In 1861 he Robert 
LEES enlisted in Company H, Sixth Wisconsin Infantry, and was discharged on 
16 July 1864.

He [Robert LEES] married [Miss?] Mary BAERTSCH, a native of Illinois. 
[Submitter did not find their marriage listed in the Illinois marriage 
index.] They have five children: Edward, Mary, Isabella, Andrew, and Alice. 
[Robert LEES and his wife and five children are enumerated in the 1880 
census of Alma, Buffalo County, Wisconsin (years of birth calculated from 
census ages): Robert LEES, age thirty-seven, lawyer, born in Scotland about 
1843 to parents also born there; Mary LEES, his wife, age thirty-five, born 
in Illinois about 1845 to parents both born in Switzerland; and Robert's 
children, all born in Wisconsin, their father born in Scotland and their 
mother in Illinois, all of these children attending school except the 
youngest: (1) Edward, age fourteen, born about 1866; (2) Mary, age twelve, 
born about 1868; (3) Isabella, age nine, born about 1871; (4) Andrew, age 
seven, born about 1873; and (5) Alice, the youngest, age four, born about 
1876. The surname BAERTSCH is also found in another Wisconsin County which 
had many Swiss settlers, namely Green County. Alternate spellings found in 
records include BAERTSCHY and BARTSCH.]

[Another LEES family in the 1880 census of Buffalo County, possibly related 
to Robert LEES, is the family of Edward LEES, his wife, and his two children, 
enumerated in Cross Township: Edward LEES, age sixty-one, farmer, born in 
Scotland (about 1819 by his census age) to parents also born there; Cathrine 
LEES, his wife, age sixty, keeping house, born in Scotland (about 1820) to 
parents both born in Scotland; and his two children: (1) Isabella LEES, age 
thirty, also keeping house, born in New York (about 1850) to parents both 
born in Scotland; and (2) John LEES, age twenty-seven, farm worker, born in 
Wisconsin (about 1843) to parents born in Scotland. Are Edward and Cathrine 
LEES the parents of Robert LEES? Submitter did not check earlier Waukesha 
County censuses, which may help determine this. Bracketed material added by 
submitter (who is not researching these surnames) to support and clarify 
information given in the biography and to raise questions.]

Submitted by Cathy Kubly