Lee Franklin Best was born March 4, 1893 in Joplin, Missouri. to Elmer I. and Margaret Hewitt Best. His mother died when he was 10 months old and he was raised by Mr. and Mrs Fred Felten of route one Columbus, Kansas. He attended the Ingram rural school.

He served in World War I and was a charter member of the Joe Carter Post 1372, Veterans of Foreign Wars and of the Keith Reeves Post No. 3, American Legion.

He was a well known Columbus real estate and insurance agent and became Justice of the Peace for Cherokee County in May of 1939 when C.B. Aitchison died.

Lee died on April 4, 1966 and is buried in Greenlawn cemetery near Columbus.

• Ancestors of Lee Franklin Best (1 KB)
  Born: March 4, 1893 - Died: April 4, 1966

• Felten Family Farm 1918 (49 KB)
  Lee and Effie Best, Dottie Gleason, Effie's older sister, "Grandpa" Felten holding little Leona, Malinda Felten, Lee's sister Mae Menge, her husband Henry and their two daughters on the family farm near Columbus.
• Lee and his brother Burt 1894 (93 KB)
  Lee was ten months old when this photograph was taken at Colvin Studios in Columbus, Kansas. Shortly after the photograph was taken, Lee's mother, Margaret Hewitt Best, died in December of 1894. Elmer, Lee's father, unable to care for an infant, left Lee in the care of Fred and Malinda Felten and took his two older children, Burt and Maye with him to California.
• Best Gleason Wedding 1917 (32 KB)
  Lee Franklin Best married Effie Eudora Gleason August 4, 1917 in Oswego, Kansas. The groom was 24 and the bride was 18. Lee and Effie lived on the Felten farm near Columbus until 1935 when the family moved to town.
• Lee F. Best World War I 1917 (63 KB)
  This is a photograph of Lee in his World War I uniform. He served as a cook in company G of the 353rd Infantry Batallion in France. He later suffered the effects of mustard gas and had to move from the farm to town on the recommendation of his doctor in 1935.
• Certificate of Marriage 1917 (125 KB)
  This copy of their marriage certificate is courtesy of the Best's youngest daughter, Juanita Best Wyrick. The wedding book which contains the original holds a place of honor in a glass case with Lee's violin in the Wyrick family home.
• Justice of the Peace Certificate 1939 (191 KB)
  In May of 1939, when C. B. Aitchison died, Lee became Justice of the Peace for Cherokee county. He served in that capacity until his death in 1966. The original certificate is also in the care of the Best's youngest daughter, Juanita Best Wyrick.
• Lee Best photo 1939 (29 KB)
  This photograph is one of the family favorites. It was taken in 1939 after the family moved from the farm to town. At this time, Lee was in the real estate and insurance business with Ned Aitchison and was serving as Justice of the Peace as well. The family resided at 410 South Walnut in Columbus.
• Lee early 1900's horse and buggy (45 KB)
  Lee is seen here driving a horse and buggy, a common mode of transportation in early 1900's Cherokee County Kansas.
• Lee early 1900's dog and cat (21 KB)
  Lee posing with the family cat and dog on the Felten farm near Columbus.
• Lee early 1900's horse (14 KB)
  Lee riding a horse on the Felten farm near Columbus.
• Mr. and Mrs. Fred Felten (38 KB)
  Fred Felten and his wife Malinda raised Lee from an infant. The couple had no children of their own. Malinda Felton died on October 11, 1925. She was 74. Fred Felton died September 15, 1932. He was 76. They are both buried at Greenlawn cemetery near Columbus. When Fred Felton died, he left the farm to their "son" Lee and his family.

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