lived with his parents, acquiring a common school education, spending four months in the fall of 1853 at a Quaker school in Delaware County.  He supplemented this by teaching a three months' term in Indiana. 

In the fall of 1855, he drove a team to Story County, Iowa, for Amon Hipsher.  He continued in that State two and a half years.  April 10, 1858, there being no railroads west of the Mississippi, he and William Osborn walked from Iowa to Allen County, Kan, a distance of 450 miles; there he took up a Government claim, pre-empted the same, and assisted to lay out the town of Iola, the present county seat of Allen County.  In the autumn of 1860, he returned to Ohio.

[Lee was likely one of about sixty members of a company organized in January, 1859, to create a new town, located about 75 miles south of Topeka.  The little town - Iola - began to grow, and was doing well until the effects of the 1860 drought depressed business and discouraged many citizens.  It is interesting to note that, during this time, much of Kansas was embroiled in the turmoil between pro- and anti-slavery settlers.  It appears, however, that this conflict did not greatly affect Allen County residents.]

March 28, 1864, he set out for Montana Territory, and obtaining the company of W H. Lee [his brother] and Jerome Sult at Valparaiso, Ind, they went to Cedar County, Iowa, where they purchased four yoke of oxen (one yoke were cows), provisions, etc., etc.  June 1 they started, reaching Virginia City [Montana Territory] after two and one-half months of tedious riding; mined here, washing gold, until late in the fall.

[Noah Lee was part of the gold rush to Virginia City, a town which did not exist until after gold was discovered there on May 26, 1863.  Don't confuse this Virginia City (Montana Territory), with the more famous Virginia City, Nevada.  The Montana town - now a ghost town and historical site - is located about forty five miles northwest of Yellowstone National Park.]

Then with eleven comrades he built a flatboat and embarked upon the Yellowstone, homeward bound. 

[The 1883 Marion County History states that Noah's brother, William, remained in Montana, and was living on a ranch near Yellowstone National park in 1883.]

The river was very low, making their journey very slow and wearisome.  They were frequently obliged to step out into the floating slush and lift their craft from some hidden rock.

After thus running several days, the ice completely dammed the river, compelling them to abandon the boat.  Taking such articles as they could carry, they walked to the mouth of that river in a few days, completely exhausted from the want of food.  Seven of the company wintered at Fort Union [in what is now North Dakota], up the Missouri, but the remaining four, of which our subject was one, were determined to reach the States.  Accordingly, an old skiff was secured, in which they traveled two days and nights, the ice finally compelling them to take to land again.

Reaching Fort Berhold [North Dakota], under the guidance of an Indian, they set out once more for the settlements.  After wading many days through the snow, they went into camp near the Painted Woods country [North Dakota].  Just as they were well settled for the night, twenty-one Sioux Indian warriors surrounded them.  All their loose clothing, provisions and the like were seized, and they were permitted to take their departure, but that same evening they came upon another band of Indians, who were friendly and sheltered them for the night.  Three Indians being furnished by the latter to guide and protect them, they finally reached Fort Rice [South Dakota], half frozen.  They then passed down the river to Sioux City , where the party separated.

Lee returned to Marion County.  In 1867, he married Lizzie Reed.  They were the parents of two children.  He operated a mill in Caledonia and was a leading citizen of the town, serving on the school board and town council, and as Sunday School superintendent at the Universalist Church.