Lee, William M. 1887 – 1930

LEE, TOBIASON

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 4/6/2015 at 11:46:13

WILLIAM M. LEE.

A native of Decorah, William M. Lee, county engineer of Winneshiek county, is widely and favorably known by all, and most appreciated by those who have known him from his boyhood and who take an interest in his career. Born on September 6, 1887, he is a son of David and Mary (Tobiason) Lee, the former a native of Norway and the latter of this county. The father had learned the tailor's trade in his native land and after coming to America followed the same here. He first located in Wisconsin, remaining a short time there, but in 1871 came to Decorah and subsequently established, in partnership with a brother, a merchant tailoring establishment which he conducted until his demise, which occurred in December, 1910, at the age of sixty years. The mother survives at the age of fifty-seven years.

William M. Lee was reared under the parental roof and, acquiring his education in the local schools, was graduated from the Decorah high school with the class of 1906. To better prepare himself for a business career he then attended Valder Business College and subsequently entered the Iowa State University of Iowa City, where he took up an engineering course. Returning to Decorah he then accepted a position as deputy county surveyor under F. E. Cratsenberg, working in that capacity for two months, when, Mr. Cratsenberg resigning, Mr. Lee was appointed by the board of supervisors county surveyor on August 24, 1910. At the regular election of November 8, 1910, he was elected to that position and has served as such ever since although in July, 1911, by a new law, the name of the office was changed from that of surveyor to that of engineer. On the 1st of May, 1913, Mr. Lee was also appointed county highway engineer.

Mr. Lee makes his home with his mother at 603 East Main street, Decorah. He is a member of the local fire department and politically is a republican, while his religion is that of the Lutheran church. While yet a young man he has made a notable record in an important county office and has demonstrated abilities which foretell a bright and prosperous future.

Source: History of Winneshiek County, Iowa Vol. II Chicago the S. J. Clark Publishing Company 1913

Decorah Lutheran Cemetery gravestone
 

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