The Lees of Broadalbin, New York, are of English ancestry, and but two generations removed from their native land. Thomas Lee, born 1818, in Barby, Northamptonshire, England, came to the United States in 1831, alone, and only a lad, settling at Greenbush (opposite Albany), now the city of Rensselaer. He here learned the trade of locksmith with a Captain Gaines. After completing his years of apprenticeship he formed a partnership with Lawrence Van Buskirk, and located in Troy, New York, as Lee & Van Buskirk. They carried on a prosperous business in Troy for several years when the firm dissolved, Mr. Lee going to Broadalbin, Fulton county, where he purchased a small farm of fifty-six acres and devoted the remainder of his years to its cultivation. During the civil war he enlisted in the Tenth Regiment, New York Cavalry, and served three years. He enlisted from Broadalbin, September 4, 1862, being then forty-four years of age, mustered in October 30, 1862, sick in hospital from April, 1864, to July, 1864. He was also sick in the First Division, United States General Hospital, Alexandria, Virginia, November and December, 1864; mustered out June 2, 1865. He saw much hard service with the "Tenth," a famous fighting regiment. He was a member of Colonel McKean Post, Grand Army of the Republic, a Republican in politics, and a member of the Baptist church. He married, March, 1844, Adeline Guinad, born February 28, 1827. Children:
- Caroline E., born January 1, 1846, married William W. Finch, November 4, 1871 (see Finch IV), and had children: Nelson L., Ada, W. Wallace, Lewis, Bessie M., and T. Rogers;
- Rebecca, married James B. Spence;
- Charlotte, married William Vail;
- Henrietta, married Thomas Cleveland, and had Lee and Percy;
- Lewis M., married Elva Stone, and had Miriam, Ernest, Elwood and Carrie;
- Richard H., of whom further;
- Jennie, died in infancy.
(II) Richard Henry, second son and fifth child of Thomas and Adeline (Guinad) Lee, was born in Broadalbin, Fulton county, New York, June 16, 1860. He was well educated in the public schools, and, after completing his studies, taught in the public schools for four years. He began his commercial life in 1884, with Dr. Henry C. Finch as partner in the drug firm, Finch & Lee, continuing until the incorporation of the Broadalbin Drug Company, of which he is treasurer. He is an able business man and a citizen of high standing. He is a member of Kennyetto Lodge, No. 599, Free and Accepted Masons, and of Niskayuna Tribe, Improved Order of Red Men. He is a member of the Methodist Church and a trustee, in politics a Republican. He married, December 11, 1884, Ida R. Tymerson, born May 3, 1861, daughter of Martin H. and Mary (Sawyer) Tymerson, who had children:
- Frances, married George A. Brummer;
- Ida R., married Richard Henry Lee;
- Mary, married William J. Sheldon;
- Cora, married Walter A. Smith;
- James; Walter, married Nellie Skiff;
- Charles, married Rose Brennan, and had children, Herbert, Elise, Ruth, and Irene.
Richard H. and Ida R. T. Lee have two children:
- Martha, born January 8, 1886, and
- Lessie, born December 4, 1889.