Sever H. Lee, 1844-1929

LEE, NELSON

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 2/21/2011 at 16:13:39

S. H. Lee, who owns and cultivates an excellent farm comprising the northeast quarter of section 35, Emmet township, in Emmet county, was born in Norway on the 16th of June, 1844, and is a son of Hans and Mary (Nelson) Lee, who were both of Norwegian birth and spent their entire lives in the land of the midnight sun. In their family were four children, three of whom are yet living.

S. H. Lee was reared and educated in Norway, enjoying the privileges afforded by the public schools. He had attained his majority when in 1865 he bade adieu to friends and native land and sailed for the United States, hoping to find better business opportunities in the new world. He at once made his way to Iowa and was employed as a laborer until 1878, but during that period he carefully saved his earnings, for he was ambitious to engage in business on his own account and secure farm property. In 1878, therefore, he came to Emmet county and purchased the northeast quarter of section 35, Emmet township. He at once took up his abode upon that place, which he has now occupied for about thirty-nine years, and he has wrought a marked transformation in its appearance by the many improvements which he has added to his farm. It is now a valuable property, made so by the efforts and progressiveness of Mr. Lee, whose life has been one of untiring industry and perseverance.

In 1878 Mr. Lee was united in marriage to Miss Christina Nelson, a native of Norway and a daughter of Nels and Anna (Olson) Nelson. The year 1874 witnessed their arrival in Emmet county, Iowa, and the father here purchased a farm on which both he and his wife spent their remaining days. Mr. and Mrs. Lee have five children, as follows: Hans N., a railway engineer, and Anna M., Carl O., Arnt T. and Louisa, all at home.

The parents are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church, and Mr. Lee gives his political support to the Republican party, with which he has voted since becoming a naturalized American citizen. He is conversant with the leading questions and issues of the day and he has become thoroughly American in spirit and interests—one of the substantial adopted sons that Norway has furnished to the United States.

Source: History of Emmet County and Dickinson County Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, The Pioneer Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1917.

Interment in Norwegian cemetery
 

Emmet Biographies maintained by Lynn Diemer-Mathews.
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