Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

of the People's Trust Company, of South
Norwalk, and affiliated with Old Well
Lodge, No. io8, Ancient Free and Accepted
Masons, of the same place. While
a resident of Elmira he took the Royal
Arch and Commandery degrees in that
city.
Always a staunch Republican, Mr. Lee
has for many years played a prominent
part in the political life of South Nor-
walk. In 1892-93-94, he was mayor of the
city, retaining the office until 1895, and in
1901-02 was again summoned by his fel-
low-citizens to serve them in the highest
municipal position of trust and responsi-
bility. During both his administrations
he introduced several innovations which
were accepted by the city not merely as
changes, but as real and valuable improvements
and have been retained ever
since. They included a book of police
rules which all officers are required to
carry in their pockets, and he also introduced
the taxing of property at its full
value. This met with much opposition,
but his wisdom has since been shown in
the result. His action was afterward followed
in other cities all over the State of
Connecticut. In 1905 Mr. Lee repre-
sented his fellow-citizens in the Legislature,
serving on various important
committees and accomplishing results of
practical use and genuine value to his
community and his constituents.
Mr. Lee married, June 24, 1885, Julia
Clarissa Adams (see Adams IX) and they
are the parents of two sons and a daughter:
Guy E., of Norwalk; Marion Montgomery,
wife of Le Roy Montgomery, of
South Norwalk, a biography of whom
appears elsewhere in this work; and Robert
M., of South Norwalk.
Truly, a well-rounded career has been
that of Mortimer Montgomery Lee. As
business man, political leader, mayor and
legislator, he has done work that will
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
294
endure and has writ his name large in
the history of Connecticut.
(The Adams Line).
The home of the Adams family, three
centuries ago, was Devonshire, England,
but it is thought that they went thither
from Wales, and that the patronymic,
which signifies "Adam's son," was originally
Ap Adam.
(I) Henry Adams, called Henry Adams
of Braintree, came in 1632 or 1633
from Devonshire, England, to Boston,
Massachusetts. He was granted land in
Mount WoUaston, an area which now includes
Braintree, Quincy and Randolph,
his own land being the present site of
Braintree.
(II) Lieutenant Thomas Adams, son of
Henry Adams, was born in 1612, in England,
and was a young man when he came
with his father to Massachusetts. He removed
from Braintree to Concord, where
he was active in military affairs and held
civil offices. He married Mary Black-
more. His death occurred in 1688, in
Chelmsford, Massachusetts.
(HI) Jonathan Adams, son of Lieutenant
Thomas and Mary (Blackmore) Adams,
was born in 1646, in Concord, and
became a farmer in or near Littleton,
Massachusetts. He married, in 1681,
Leah Gould (Goole?). He died in 1712,
in Chelmsford, Massachusetts.
(IV) David Adams, son of Jonathan
and Leah (Gould) Adams, was born in
1699, in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. He
married, in 1723, in Canterbury, Connecti-
cut, Dorcas Paine. David Adams died in
Canterbury, in 1759.
(V) Levi Adams, son of David and
Dorcas (Paine) Adams, was born in 1728,
in Canterbury, Connecticut. He followed
the trade of a carpenter. He served, with
three of his sons, in the Revolutionary
army, afterward removing to Vermont,
and thence to Hartwick, Otsego county,