Union County, Ohio Biographies Project - Cyprian Lee
CYPERIAN LEE
Cyprian Lee, is universally accredited with being the first settler of
Claibourne Township. He was heir to one-third of the Buller
Claibourne Survey of 4,267, acres, and for his share took the southern
third. The exact date of his settlement here is unknown, though it was
some time between 1820 and 1825, and probably not far from the
first-mentioned date. Mr. Lee was from Delaware. He first
came out about 1820, a young unmarried man, and to find and see the
land he owned. He then returned to Delaware, married Elizabeth
Cooper and returned to his backwoods home with his young wife. By
trade he was a shoe-maker, and he followed the business to some extent
in this township. In physique, he was short and muscular and
quick in action. His was the first cabin built west of the Scioto
River in this region, and the date of its erection was a gala day for
the settlers on the river. It stood several miles south of
Richwood on the south bank of Fulton Creek, a few rods west of the
bridge on the Marysville pike. The men who helped raise the cabin
were mostly from the Scioto River. Among them were John L. Swartz
and his two sons, Henry and Abram, John B. and Zachariah Dilsaver,
James Cochran, Sr., John Hurd, Russell Fields and William
Gallant. The occasion was one of great hilarity, and the popular
beverage flowed freely. It was proposed, when the cabin was
completed, that the place of the settlement of Mr. Lee should be
named. John L. Swartz, an old but jovial German, said, Boys,
ketch Lee." Lee eluded their grasp for some time, but finally
submitted with good grace to the ordinance of christening. The
ceremony was performed by Mr. Swartz, who took a flask of whisky, and
pouring the contents on the uncovered head of Lee, exclaimed with all
the solemnity he could assume, " Veil. ve calls it Leesburg'' The
name survived the occasion and was afterward given to the new township
formed from this and other territory. Mr. Lee did not remain on
his farm here longer than a few years. He was elected County
Treasurer, and removed to Marysville, where he engaged in business and
became a prominent citizen. <>