LEE
The Village of Lee is rather unique in the
respect that when it was platted it was set on the County Line
between DeKalb County and Lee County. The Main street, Viking Vei, is
also the County Line.
The Village was founded in 1871, surveyed and
platted in '72, and became incorporated as a village on June 23,
1874.
John Kennedy and his brother-in-law, Hugh Boyle,
bought land in DeKalb County first. Boyle buying 96 acres on
government warrant, and Kennedy buying 99 acres by original deed from
the government. The land on the Lee County side was acquired by John
S. Miller in 1852 by government patent. Abstracts show Jonathon
Linton getting it in 1862, M. Welch in '67, Lyman Truman in '69, G.
Hewitt in 1872, and John Kennedy in 1873.
Impetus for village founding came with the news
that a proposed railroad was to be built through here. Construction
of the Chicago and Iowa Railroad was begun in this area in 1869 and
completed to this point in January, 1871.
The original village was laid out in the west 1/2
of Section #6, Shabbona Township, DeKalb County; and the East 1/2 of
Section #1 in Willow Creek Township, Lee County.
The Lee County portion of the Village was platted
by Francis Hinckley and John Kennedy in 1872, and the DeKalb County
side platted by Hinckley and Hugh Boyle. Mr. Hinckley, President of
the Chicago and Iowa R.R., set up a Real Estate business in the area
in 1871. People purchased sites near the proposed station, with the
village growing up right along the Railroad.
"Lee Station" was the first name for the
settlement, as it was the first point of entry into Lee County by the
Railroad. Two buildings had been erected by the fall of 1871. The
first by Christopher Christopher and Ole J. Prestegaard, dealers in
grain, lumber, coal, and livestock. They also opened the first
general store at the same time. This was before there was any plat of
the Village.
J. Cheasbro put up the second building which was
an office for trading in grain, coal, and lumber. Neither firm
transacted any business until after the new year. R. J. White put up
a store in 1872 and soon after became the first village postmaster.
J. Johnson was next to add a general store.
Lee began to boom after the Railroad switch was
finished in July of 1872, and freight began to move in and out. Abel
Downer opened the third general store and added drugs to his stock.
The same season Ostewig and Leyder started a Hardware Store, Frank
Bacon opened the first hotel, and two butcher shops were doing
business. Two elevators were put up the same year.
In 1873, Margaret Edsall opened a dress and
millinery shop, W. F. Forbes built the first tavern, Lars Helland
started a wagon shop, and Iverson and Espe opened a blacksmith shop
on the east side. The same year a harness shop was opened up by N. D.
Schoenholz. L. L. Risetter built a store and dwelling in 1873. T. T.
Eide ran a general merchandise business there for over 30
years.
The first notions store was opened by Lars
Midness this same year, and a photo shop with Knute Tyson (Tyler) as
proprietor was in business. The year of '74 saw A. B. Trask building
a store and dwelling. A saloon, hardware, and grist mill were added
businesses that sprung up.
Over the years Lee has had three church
buildings. The Methodist was built in 1877, St. James Catholic in
1878, and First Lutheran was moved in from the country in 1924. Just
north of the Village another Lutheran Church, Calvary, has a large
congregation.
Religion and education were a major interest to
the early settlers. Parochial classes were held in the homes. This
school was in addition to the public school classes. A converted
saloon was the first regular public school building. The Midness
building was the next location. The teacher, Margaret Edsall, taught
classes in the same building that housed her millinery shop. A new
public school was built in 1876. In 1890 a larger two-story frame
structure was put up to accommodate all elementary students. In later
years this was enlarged to make room for the grades and a two-year
High School.
Many of the country schools were still operating
in the 1940's, but State legislation forced them to close in 1945,
and the districts consolidated with the Lee School. The present brick
school building at the South edge of Lee was constructed in 1936. It
housed both grade and High School students until 1946 when the
three-year High School was closed and the pupils paid tuition to
finish at neighboring towns.
The pattern of life in Lee over the years
followed the pattern of most small towns. Citizens worked together
for the good of the community and the surrounding area. Lee hasn't
experienced any great growth except for the early years of its
existence. The 1880 Census showed a population of 218. Today, it is
close to 250. It has never gone beyond 325.
Serious fires in 1885, 1902, and 1908 destroyed
many of the business places. In 1885 the Ostewig Hardware, a drug
store, and a grocery were wiped out. In 1902 nine buildings and their
contents were destroyed. As a result the village decided they needed
better protection; consequently, they dug a deep well with a large
storage tank and laid water mains at strategic points. Secondly, the
wooden buildings were replaced with brick structures.
In June, 1974 the community held a four-day
Centennial celebration. In anticipation of the event, the town
council conducted a contest to name the streets--offering a $25 Bond
to the community resident with the best names for Lee's 10 streets.
The winner chose Norwegian names according to their features.
Viking Vei - (Broadway, or Main Street)
Skole Gate - (School St.--the town's first school was built on
this street)
Korn Gate - (Grain St. The grain elevators have always been on
this street)
Trolls Stigen - (Trolls Path. Norwegians are big on legendary
trolls)
Ost Gate - (East St. This street is the farthest east)
Sor Gate - (South St. The farthest south)
Nord Gate - (North St. The farthest north)
Smed Gate - (Blacksmith St. The Blacksmith shop is located on
this street)
Kirke Gate - (Church St. Two churches are on this street)
Hardanger Gate - (An area in Norway where many early Lee settlers
came from)
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