Hurley Family Tree

David served as a Sergeant in the 71st OVI during the Civil War. The 71st was stationed at Paducah, KY. A powerful man, standing 6'4", he operated a successful saw mill in Meigs County. He was an excellent horseman. He became a Methodist when the Congregational Church to which he belonged, would not sanction his membership in Masonry. He gave the lumber for the building of the Sutton UM church (for many years known as 'Lee Chapel'). The key to the church door remained in the custody of the Lee family for more than 100 years. David died at age 49 as a result of an accident at the saw mill, when a log rolled on him, crushing him to death.

Research log, 2 Oct 2026: Google search "David Laird Lee" 1836 1885 sawmill 71st OVI Meigs County Ohio Mizpah Cemetery. Result: the Genealogy.com page "Descendants of Abraham Dains" repeats the same death (14 Oct 1885, Athens County), burial and the sawmill story as the note above, so it appears to be the same compiled source, not an independent record. Dates and places remain uncited; no original record seen.