Richard M. Lee was born in Jefferson County, Ind., on September 8, 1848, and is the son of H. J. and Lucy (Short) Lee, both natives of Jefferson County, Ind. The father was born in 1822, and the mother in 1826 or 1827, and died in 1856. The father is a farmer, and lives in Jefferson County, Ind. The father’s second marriage was to Miss Lizzie Mathews. Four children were born to the first marriage, three of whom are living. To his second marriage ten children were born, seven of whom are living. Our subject was reared on a farm, attended the schools in Jefferson County, and enlisted in 1863, in Company H, of the Tenth Indiana Cavalry. His brother, John M., was in the Third Indiana Cavalry, and died in Andersonville prison. Our subject was mustered out at Vicksburg, Miss., in 1865. He returned to Jefferson County and farmed until 1869, and then went to Nebraska, and remained three years farming. He returned to Indiana in 1873, and came to Franklin in 1881, and has resided here since, carrying on farming. He was elected councilman of Franklin, in 1885, to represent the Third Ward, served two years, and was appointed street commissioner in May, 1887, and resigned in March, 1888. He then went to farming again. He was married March 27, 1877, to Mrs. Nancy A. Cooper, born in Johnson County, Ind., on April 10, 1857, and daughter of Martin and Sallie Beard. She was a widow. One daughter has been born to them. She is a member of the Christian Church.