James L. Lee, LL. D. The professions are well represented in Wells County, and a prominent place among this number is held by the gentleman above named. He is a practicing attorney of Fessenden, and has attained his high position as an attorney and citizen by faithful service and earnest study, and is a gentleman of excellent education and refinement.
Our subject was born in Toledo, Ohio, in August, 1856. His foster father, Hiram Lee, was a farmer by occupation in Ohio, and was a native of Pennsylvania, and died in Kansas in 1897. The great-grandfather of our subject was born in New England, and the mother of our subject. whose maiden name was Elizabeth Porter, was born in France and emigrated to America. Our subject was reared by foster parents, of the name of Lee, who were New York people. He was reared in Illinois on a farm and assisted with the work of the place and did not attend school regularly until nineteen years of age, when he attended the country school winters and later attended all academy. Between 1873-1876 he attended the law school at Ann Arbor, Michigan, and graduated in 1887 with the degree of LL. D. He established himself in the practice of his profession in Clear Lake, Iowa, in the spring of 1878 and continued there twelve years, during which time he built up an extensive general practice, and in 1889 went to Topeka, Kansas, where he practiced two years, and then spent some months traveling, through the western states to the Pacific coast. He assumed charge of the collection department of the machine firm of D. M. Osborne & Company, of Chicago, and was thus engaged five years. He located in Fessenden, North Dakota, August 13, 1896, where lie established his office and has since followed his practice.
Our subject was married in Fessenden, North Dakota, March 21, 1897, to Miss Hattie Jones. Mrs. Lee was born in Vexio, Sweden, and came to America in 1886, at the age of fourteen years. Her father, who was of English descent, died when she was five years of age. Mr. Lee is the father of the following children by a former marriage: Fred L., owner and operator of a silver mine in Idaho, residing at Wallace; Stella; and James N., attending Central Highs School at Minneapolis. Mr. Lee is active in public affairs and is a Republican in politics.
Source: Compendium and History of North Dakota 1900 Page 197