Buena Vista County, IA
USGenWeb Project

Marshall A. Lee, an extensive farmer and stock-raiser of Buena Vista county, was born in Columbia county, Wisconsin, August 25, 1857, his parents being William S. and Maria (Moore) Lee, both of whom were natives of Steuben county, New York.  In 1856 they removed westward, settling in Columbia county, Wisconsin, where they remained for about two years and then came to Buena Vista county, Iowa.  William S. Lee first secured a squatter's claim on section 18, Lee township, and set himself to the task of establishing a home on the windswept prairie.  The family passed through all of the experiences and hardships of pioneer life, meeting and overcoming obstacles which are scarcely dreamed of at the present day.  The nearest market was Fort Dodge and there was only one house on the road across the prairies.  William S. Lee was a prominent factor in the early development and upbuilding of the county and as his financial resources increased he added to his holdings until he became a large landowner.  With the exception of three years, from 1866 until 1869, when he lived in the state of New York, he was a permanent resident of Buena Vista county from 1858 until he passed away on the 16th of February, 1908, at the age of eighty-one years.  His wife had been called to her final rest in February, 1895.  Unto this worthy couple were born the following children:  Sarah M., the wife of Dr. Stephen Olney; William B., who wedded Miss Ellen Richards and resides on a farm in South Dakota; Phillip T., who is also married and makes his home at Braddock, North Dakota; Oliver M., who married Miss Libbie Thompson and lives near Sioux Rapids; Marshall A., of this review; and O. S., who wedded Edith Stanton and resides at Ruthven, Iowa.

Marshall A. Lee, in association with Dr. Olney, owns three hundred and twenty acres of fine farming land near Sioux Rapids, Iowa, and is extensively and successfully engaged in the tilling of the soil and also in stock-raising, both branches of his business returning to him a gratifying annual income.  His fraternal relations are with the Masons and in politics he is a stalwart republican.  During the half century of his residence here Mr. Lee has become widely known and no higher testimonial of his personal worth and character could be given than the fact that many of his stanchest [sic] friends are those with whom he has been acquainted from his boyhood days.