John T. Lee, born February 11, 1855, in Christiania, Norway, is the treasurer of Minnehaha County, South Dakota. Emigrating to America in 1867, he settled with his family in Iowa before moving to Dakota Territory in 1869. Lee successfully farmed and managed stock in Minnehaha County before transitioning to manage the Farmers’ Association grain business in Brandon in 1891. In 1902, he was elected county treasurer, known for his effective administration. A dedicated Republican, Lee has held various local offices. He was married twice, first to Christina Nelson in 1876, and later to Mary Holm in 1903.
John T. Lee, who is incumbent of the important office of treasurer of Minnehaha County, was born in the city of Christiania, Norway, on the 11th of February, 1855, being a son of Thorsten and Anne (Okre) Lee, who emigrated from the far Norseland to America in 1867, at which time the subject of this review was a lad of twelve years. His preliminary educational training had been secured in his native land, while after his parents’ location in Iowa, on their arrival in the new world, he attended the public schools somewhat less than a year, his future education being that supplied in the great school of practical experience and personal application. In the autumn of 1869, he came to the territory of Dakota and located a year later on a farm in Minnehaha County, where his father had taken up a claim of government land, the same being entirely unreclaimed. There the subject continued to be successfully engaged in farming and stock growing until the year 1891, having in the meanwhile become the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land. In the year mentioned, he located in the village of Brandon, where he assumed the management of the grain business of the Farmers’ Association. In 1898, Mr. Lee disposed of his interest in this concern and since that time has been agent for the American Grain Company, at Brandon, having the general supervision of its extensive business and having shown marked executive ability in the connection. From the time of attaining his legal majority, he has been deeply interested in the success of the Republican party and has taken an active part in the promotion of its cause in the state, while he has been called upon to serve in various offices of local trust and responsibility. In 1891, he was elected a member of the board of county commissioners of Minnehaha County, and it may be consistently said that he has acted in some official capacity for his party ever since attaining years of sufficient maturity. In the autumn of 1902, Mr. Lee was chosen to the responsible office of county treasurer, and his administration of the fiscal affairs of this populous and important county has been distinguished by marked discrimination, fidelity, and administrative ability, so that his retention in the office cannot but prove a wise provision on the part of the electors. He has been a delegate to several state conventions of his party and to county conventions, and his influence has been potent in public affairs of a local order. He holds thirty-second-degree membership in the Masonic fraternity and its social adjunct, the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and is also identified with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, while his religious faith is that of the Lutheran church.
In the summer of 1876 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Lee to Miss Christina Nelson, of Brandon, this state, and she died on the 3d of January, 1894, having been a devoted wife and mother and having held the affectionate regard of all who knew her. Of the children of this union, we give the following brief record: Edward is manager of the Lee-Egge Lumber Company, at Brandon; Anthon T. is a partner in the Edward Lee Hardware Company, of Brandon, as is also his brother Albert; and Hannah, the only daughter, remains in the pleasant home in Sioux Falls, where the family is held in the highest esteem. On December 31, 1903, Mr. Lee married Mary Holm, of Sioux Falls.
Source: Robinson, Doane, History of South Dakota: together with mention of Citizens of South Dakota, [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen, 1904.