Derastus Lee was about nine years old when he came to this county, but there was plenty of work upon his father's farm, and even at that age he could "pick brush " in the clearing. With no modern machinery and but few tools, and those of the rudest sort, the work of the farm and household required the help of all, and schools were but little thought of, so that his educational opportunities were very limited. After he attained his majority he for one term attended the select school taught by Alfred Kelley, the pioneer teacher of West Millgrove. His own experience has given Mr. Lee a great desire to see facilities for education brought within the reach of everyone, and he is the ardent supporter of any improvement in the schools of today. On September 25, 1858, he married Miss Mary E. Vallance, a native of Ashland, born June 22, 1837. Her parents, James and Elizabeth (Brubaker) Vallance, came to Wood in September 1849, settling in Perry township. She had fared no better than her husband in educational advantages, attending the schools of her day for about three months. At the time of his marriage Mr. Lee had by work and "dickering" secured a team of horses, a wagon, a plow, and a harrow. The first horse, which he bought of his uncle, Lemuel Lee, being paid for by $30 in money and the chopping of ten acres of timber. With this outfit he started in business on his own account, taking the old homestead on shares. His residence for the first eleven years was in an old log school house which he had fitted up. There were many days of toil and but few of recreation in those years; but he and his wife were young, strong and ambitious, and their mutual affection made their old cabin a happy home. During this period Mr. Lee bought 160 acres of timber land in Section 12, Bloom township, which he still owns, although he has never lived there. In the spring of 1871, he purchased eighty acres in Section 10, to which he moved. For twenty years he was engaged in threshing, in addition to farming, sometimes with a partner, sometimes without. His work was always faithfully done, and while thus employed he gained a wide circle of friends in different parts of the county. He did not spare himself over his tasks, and frequently when he had been busy up to a late hour of the night, he has crawled up to the side of a straw stack to sleep till morning. He has added to his land at various times until he now has nearly 8oo acres, making him one of the largest landowners in Wood County. Most of his property is good farming land, which can not be said of some other extensive holders. Probably there is not another instance in Wood County of a poor boy becoming, through his own efforts, the owner of so large an estate. Industry, wise and economical management, and shrewd bargaining have made this progress possible, his estimable wife deserving, also, a large share of credit.

Their ten children, the names of all, with dates of birth, are as follows: James W., February 17, 1860, is a prosperous young farmer; Laura E., March 3, 1861, married Abraham Loe; John F., September 25, 1862, is a well-to-do farmer; Jacob E., July 31, 1864, is at home; Charles W., October 11, 1867, died February 2, 1868; Hattie E., February 6, 1869, married Samuel Dennis, of Bloom Center; Perry M., March 12, 1871, is a progressive young farmer; Florence, June 4, 1873, married Elza Wright, of Bloom township; Mary Ettie, October 1, 1875, died March 21, 1876; and Rhoda V., December 25, 1878, is at home. Among the foundation stones of Mr. Lee's tasteful and commodious residence is a relic of pioneer times-the top stone of an old hand mill once belonging to his father's neighbor, Peter Painter, and many a time during his boyhood did Mr. Lee walk through the woods which lay between the two farms, carrying corn which he converted into meal with the aid of that stone.

In October 1894, he met with a serious injury. While nailing a board on a fence the nail broke and a flying piece struck him in the left eye, entirely destroying the sight. He is a good neighbor, kind-hearted, out-spoken, and a man of strict integrity.