Montfort, A. W. of the firm of Montfort &' Hill photographers, was born in Chautauqua Co., N. Y. May 13, 1846; his parents removed with the family to Canada when he was an infant, lived there about five years, then removed to Detroit where he lived twelve years; in 1865, he came to Burlington; has been engaged in present business ever since he came here." The 1880 federal census lists Aschylus, aged 34, a woman born in New York named Mary L. who was 54 and a daughter named Belle who was 14 and born in Michigan. He is listed in the 1881 Gazetteer as a Burlington photographer.

Sparta was first called Shannon's store. (See below) In 1826 John Armour from PA bought the land that is now Sparta and opened a mill there. Samuel Hill bought the first town lot for $4 in 1829. In 1829 James McClurken moved to town and Lawson Murphy opened a brick yard. 1830 the town added Alexander Campbell (carpenter), Cornhill Ballard (blacksmith), Dr Pyles (teacher) and Dr Joseph Farnan. William H McDill built a hotel in 1832. In 1834, John A Wilson, John Little, John Gray, Thomas Gaston and John W Slade made the new town their home.

Farnan, James was born 18 Jan 1830 in Navan, Co Meath, Ireland. James graduated from St Louis Medical College in 1853. On 27 Dec 1853 he married Harriett McDill the d/o David. During the CW James was in the 5th IL Cav. His wife died 22 Feb 1872. And he married a second time to Henriette Gass. James' father was John who was born in Co Westmeath in Ireland. He married Annie Bearagh (she died in RC). Their children were: James, Joseph (Doctor), Nellie, Margaret, Bridget, Annie (d bef 1875 in RC), Patrick (d young) and John (moved to NO). All their children except John were born in Ireland. (1875)

The father of our subject, E. A. Lee, M. D., was born and reared in Ohio, graduated from Rush Medical College at Chicago, and during the Civil war served four years as surgeon in an Illinois regiment, with the rank of major. After the close of the war he located at Du Quoin, Ill., and followed his profession for several years. On account of asthma, necessitating change of climate, California and other places were visited and settlement finally made in Colorado Springs, Colo., in 1875. After several years' residence, another change became necessary and he removed to Fort Collins, Colo., and is still practicing his profession at that place. He married Margaret M. Farnan, who was born at Sparta, Ill., the daughter of Joseph Farnan, a southern Illinois pioneer and a medical graduate of an Irish college. Both Dr. and Mrs. Lee are still living, as are two of four daughters and one of two sons.

The family lived next door to the Sacramento Boulevard Methodist Church in Chicago which is located at Sacramento and Adams Street. Here, Bessie went to the nearby John Marshall School from first grade until graduation from high school. And for many years she played the organ for the church services and listened to the "hell end brimstone" sermons of Dr. Liberton and, after him, the Reverend Mr. Leach.

In 1905 Mr. Ayres was admitted to the home for Incurables at 56th Street and Ellis Avenue. He had suffered two strokes and had become partially paralyzed. This home is located close to the University of Chicago and after her last class Elizabeth would take her father for a walk in his wheel chair and then take the long walk across Washington Park to the elevated line and return home to her mother. However, after two years of this long trip back and forth, the two apartment was sold and an apartment at 816 East 56th Street rented. At this point Elizabeth gave up her organist position with the Sacramento Boulevard Church.