Lee was the son of Galen and Martha J. (Brown) Amsden. Lee's father died in 1855 and his mother later married Amos Kibbe.
When he was eleven years old, Lee suffered from inflammatory rheumatism, which left him a life-long cripple. He worked as a teamster for the flour mill at Cannon Falls, Minnesota. During the late 1870's, "Dakota Fever" swept the area. On April 30, 1878, Lee and his brother, Cassius, left by ox team for Dakota and arrived in Grant County on May 12, after traveling 240 miles. He and Cassius took homesteads in Section 10, Madison Township.
Lee married Kate Morton on November 26, 1884. They had six children, two of whom died in infancy. When Kate's sister, Lalla Ostrander, died leaving two little boys, they took the three year old, Merton Ostrander, and raised him with the family.
Possibly because of his own handicap, Lee saw to it that his family had the best education he could give them and encouraged the girls to be independent. So that Mamie could attend high school, Lee bought the McPherson house in Bartlett's addition on south Viola Street.
Lee went on to study independently in veterinary medicine, obtained his license, and in 1913 was made a State Deputy Veterinarian. He also started auctioneering and "cried" many sales in the area.
Kate passed away in 1917. Lee remained active until the early 1920's, when he became totally blind. His mind and interests stayed active until his death from cancer in 1927.
Source: 100 Years in Grant County South Dakota 1878-1978 [published by Grant County Historical Society]
When he was eleven years old, Lee suffered from inflammatory rheumatism, which left him a life-long cripple. He worked as a teamster for the flour mill at Cannon Falls, Minnesota. During the late 1870's, "Dakota Fever" swept the area. On April 30, 1878, Lee and his brother, Cassius, left by ox team for Dakota and arrived in Grant County on May 12, after traveling 240 miles. He and Cassius took homesteads in Section 10, Madison Township.
Lee married Kate Morton on November 26, 1884. They had six children, two of whom died in infancy. When Kate's sister, Lalla Ostrander, died leaving two little boys, they took the three year old, Merton Ostrander, and raised him with the family.
Possibly because of his own handicap, Lee saw to it that his family had the best education he could give them and encouraged the girls to be independent. So that Mamie could attend high school, Lee bought the McPherson house in Bartlett's addition on south Viola Street.
Lee went on to study independently in veterinary medicine, obtained his license, and in 1913 was made a State Deputy Veterinarian. He also started auctioneering and "cried" many sales in the area.
Kate passed away in 1917. Lee remained active until the early 1920's, when he became totally blind. His mind and interests stayed active until his death from cancer in 1927.
Source: 100 Years in Grant County South Dakota 1878-1978 [published by Grant County Historical Society]
Lee was the son of Galen and Martha J. (Brown) Amsden. Lee's father died in 1855 and his mother later married Amos Kibbe.
When he was eleven years old, Lee suffered from inflammatory rheumatism, which left him a life-long cripple. He worked as a teamster for the flour mill at Cannon Falls, Minnesota. During the late 1870's, "Dakota Fever" swept the area. On April 30, 1878, Lee and his brother, Cassius, left by ox team for Dakota and arrived in Grant County on May 12, after traveling 240 miles. He and Cassius took homesteads in Section 10, Madison Township.
Lee married Kate Morton on November 26, 1884. They had six children, two of whom died in infancy. When Kate's sister, Lalla Ostrander, died leaving two little boys, they took the three year old, Merton Ostrander, and raised him with the family.
Possibly because of his own handicap, Lee saw to it that his family had the best education he could give them and encouraged the girls to be independent. So that Mamie could attend high school, Lee bought the McPherson house in Bartlett's addition on south Viola Street.
Lee went on to study independently in veterinary medicine, obtained his license, and in 1913 was made a State Deputy Veterinarian. He also started auctioneering and "cried" many sales in the area.
Kate passed away in 1917. Lee remained active until the early 1920's, when he became totally blind. His mind and interests stayed active until his death from cancer in 1927.
Source: 100 Years in Grant County South Dakota 1878-1978 [published by Grant County Historical Society]
When he was eleven years old, Lee suffered from inflammatory rheumatism, which left him a life-long cripple. He worked as a teamster for the flour mill at Cannon Falls, Minnesota. During the late 1870's, "Dakota Fever" swept the area. On April 30, 1878, Lee and his brother, Cassius, left by ox team for Dakota and arrived in Grant County on May 12, after traveling 240 miles. He and Cassius took homesteads in Section 10, Madison Township.
Lee married Kate Morton on November 26, 1884. They had six children, two of whom died in infancy. When Kate's sister, Lalla Ostrander, died leaving two little boys, they took the three year old, Merton Ostrander, and raised him with the family.
Possibly because of his own handicap, Lee saw to it that his family had the best education he could give them and encouraged the girls to be independent. So that Mamie could attend high school, Lee bought the McPherson house in Bartlett's addition on south Viola Street.
Lee went on to study independently in veterinary medicine, obtained his license, and in 1913 was made a State Deputy Veterinarian. He also started auctioneering and "cried" many sales in the area.
Kate passed away in 1917. Lee remained active until the early 1920's, when he became totally blind. His mind and interests stayed active until his death from cancer in 1927.
Source: 100 Years in Grant County South Dakota 1878-1978 [published by Grant County Historical Society]
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