Brownell H. Lee

As printed in 1910

BROWNELL H. LEE (1865), of Jackson, has lived in the county ever since he was five years of age and during his long residence here has been engaged in many difTerent business enterprises. He was born in Madison, Wisconsin, January 29, 1860, the son of llalvor and martha (Hansen) Lee.

When Brownell was one year old the family mov'ed to Primrose, Wisconsin, and after a residence of four years left there on May 2(1, 1805, by ox teams for Jackson county, arriving June 17, 1865. During the fir.st four months of the residence here the family lived in old Fort Belmont, and in the spring of 1866 the head of the family took a. homestead claim on section 2, Des Moines township. Brownell lived at home until he was twenty-two years of age, receiving his education in Belmont and Des Moines townships. His parents both died on the old homestead, aged CO and 58 years, respectively.

In 1883 Mr. Lee set out in life for himself and moved to Charles Mix county, South Dakota, where he took a homestead claim and where he remained about one and one-half years. Returning to Jackson county in 1881, he spent two years on the old homestead. In

188ti he moved to Jackson and was employed as < ream buyer for the Wilson & Avery creamery, and two years later bought the creamery, conducting it one year. He then sold an interest in the creamery and started a brewery, which he managed a year, and then sold out. In 189U Mr. Lee purchased a building on Main street, one door north of Bergc's store, and for the next twelve years was in the restaurant business. In 1895 he purchased the old brick yard and a little later in the same year took in John Stroble and William Finnern as partners, was interested in the business two years, and then sold out to his partners. After disposing of the restaurant business in 1002, Mr. Lee was not engaged in active business for a couple of years, but in 1904 he leased the West hotel and was its landlord three years. He then took charge of the hotel at the north end of Main street and conducted it one year. Leaving the hotel iio started a feed barn, in which business he has since been cgnaged and in breeding Percheron horses. Mr. Lee is a member of the ]?episcopal church and of the M. W. A. lodge.

Mr. Lee was married in Jackson to Misa Kva Simpson. As a result of this union three children have been born, named as follows: Margie M., Huth S. and Hubert B.

As printed in An illustrated history of Jackson County, Minnesota (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.