Charles J. Harbaugh

FATHER

David Harbaugh

MOTHER

Phebe Cade

WIFE

Lula R Grube

Charles J Harbaugh
by Susan Brooke
Nov 2022

Charles would have been about 8 when his father died and it is likely his mother died a few years later. He was aged 10 and living with his mother in the 1870 census in Lafayette, Ind.  It is not known with whom or where he and his sister, Martha, lived after their mother's death.  However, when his niece, Cora Zimmerly, received her inheritance in 1897, Charles J. Harbaugh and Lula R. Harbaugh witnessed the guardian's final receipt. (1)
Charles E. Lee married Luella R Grube on 02 Sep 1889 in Marion County, IN. (2)  His parents were listed as Charles E Lee and Ellan Cade.  They may have adopted him after the death of his mother.  There is no proof.   However, there is considerable evidence that Charles E Lee was the Charles Harbaugh, uncle to Cora and J Earl Zimmerly.
He apparently worked as a gardener for the Brush family in Indianapolis and according to family lore J Earl Zimmerly at the age of 16  had gone to live with "Uncle Charley" the year before his sister, Cora Zimmerley, received her inheritance.  (1896)  In the 1900 census for Indianapolis, John E. Zimmerly, 19, tilesetter, and Cora Zimmerly, milliner,  21,were living with Lulla R Lee, age 38 (born in IN in Aug, 1861). (3) Their relationship is listed as nephew and niece.  And Lulla R. Lee had no pregnancies, no children.  Also in household were the parents of Lulla R. Lee, Samuel R. Grube, 68 father (born in PA) and Ellen B. Grube, 66 mother (born in IN).  It seems most likely that this Lulla is the widow of Charles J. Harbaugh. 
Charles E Lee had died 27 Jun 1899 in Marion Co.  His death certificate gave his age as 40 and occupation as florist. He had died of Tuberculosis of the hip.   After his death, his niece Cora Zimmerly, came down with consumption and went with Luella Lee, the widow of Charles Harbaugh Lee, to Alva Oklahoma to live with a brother of Luella. (4)  Cora Zimmerly, however, died a month later.   

Sources

(2) Marriage of Charles Lee to Luella Grubbe

(3) 1900 Census, Centertownship, Indianapolis, IN

(4) Death Certificate of Charles Lee

(4) Alva Weekly Pioneer  25 Nov 1904 page 8

"Died, at the home of C. J. Grube, last night, Miss Cora Zimmerly, aged 22 years, of consumption.  She came here a month ago with her niece Mrs. Lee, a sister of Mr. Grube, but was in such feeble health that the change did her no good.  The body was embalmed by undertaker Louis Miller, and shipped by the morning train to Olney, Ill., for burial, accompanied by Mrs. Lee.  The heartfelt sympathies of many friends are extended to the relatives in this their hour of affliction."

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