pursued his studies further and was graduated in 1894 with a degree of B. S. He next entered the Iaw department of Drake University at Des Moines, and in 1895, having completed the regular law course, received the degree of LL. B. While acquiring his education he taught at various times in the country schools, showing an ability that gave bright promise as to his future. On February 2, 1895, he located at Ames and at once entered upon his life vocation, attracting almost from the very start a lucrative clientage. He served for eight years as city attorney at Ames and proved a strong advocate before a jury and a speaker who readily gained the ear of the court, winning many cases in which he was pitted against some of the ablest lawyers in this part of the state. Since the 1st of January, 1907, he has occupied the bench of the district court, displaying a fairness and impartiality which invites even the most humble to look with confidence for unbiased justice.
On the 23d of September, 1896, Mr. Lee was united in marriage to Miss Emma McCarthy, a daughter of Daniel and Mary McCarthy, of Ames. One daughter, Norma, has blessed this union. Judge Lee gives his adherence to the republican party, with which he has been identified ever since reaching manhood. Socially he and his estimable wife are prominent in the community. He is regarded as a man of the strictest integrity and of unflinching devotion to what he believes to be his duty. A deep student, he is seldom at a loss in determining as regards any difficult point of law. Throughout his entire career he has demonstrated that he possesses a well balanced mind, and he is eminently worthy of the respect and confidence in which he is held by all who know him. Just entering upon the most important period of life, being now forty-two years of age and possessing every requisite for a long and useful career, there is every reason to predict for him still greater successes in years to come than any he has yet known.
OLIVER HILL.
To the industrious farmer who adds intelligence to his chosen vocation success is assured. Oliver Hill was born in Norway, September 29, 1848, a son of Toris and Martha (Berhaw) Hill, who emigrated to the United States in 1849, landing at New York on July 2d of that year. They came west, locating in Kendall county, Illinois, where they resided until 1876, at which time they came to Story county and took up their residence with their son, the subject of this sketch. Here they both died, the father on December 7, 1887, and the mother March 18, 1902.
Oliver Hill spent his childhood at home, acquiring his education in the public schools in his district. School facilities were at that time very limited, however, and he secured his book knowledge at intervals between working on the farm. Notwithstanding this fact, being a very industrious