Atle J. Lee

LEE, SWENSON, BOLSTAD

Posted By: Sharyl Ferrall (email)
Date: 5/30/2006 at 06:57:26

Lee, Atle J., clergyman -- Lake Mills -- born 23 July, 1853, in Koshkonong, Dane county, Wis. His father came to American from Sogn, Bergen stift, Norway, about 1845; settled in Dane county, where he has ever since resided, being one of the earliest Norwegian settlers in this country; and has held various public positions of trust, having represented his diestrict in the state legislature in the latter part of the sixties.

Young Lee worked on his father's farm until nineteen years of age, when he entered Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, from which institution he graduated in 1878; studied theology at Luther Seminary, Madison, Wis., completing his course in 1881; heas since served Norwegian Synod congregations at Sioux Falls, S.D., for four years, and at Parsons for five years, having since been in Lake Mills. In the latter place, Lee has worked very hard against secret organizations, having delivered several lectures in opposition to them, and has collected a large amount of authorities on that subject.

In 1881 he was married to Louisa Swenson, of Winneshiek county, Iowa, but she died in 1887; and three years later he was married to Guro Bolstad, of Koshkonong, Wis. He had four children by his first wife, only one of whom is now living; he has had one child by his second wife.
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History of the Scandinavians in the U.S.; Compiled & Edited by O.N. Nelson; Vol II; 1897; Biographies of Scandinavians in Iowa; pg 247