Bio of Lee, Van Ransalaer (b.1817) Wabasha Co., MN
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Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Barbara Timm and Carol Judge
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This bio comes from "HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY" 1884.
Check out Barbara's site for more great information on this book:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~mnwabbio/wab1.htm
There are also some pictures and information from descendents for some 
of the bios on her pages.

Lee, Van Ransalaer, veterinary surgeon, Lake City, is a grandson of
Ephraim Lee, who entered the colonial army at seventeen and served through
the revolutionary war. Ephraim Lee was born in New York, of Virginian
parents, and moved to Canada when James - his son, the father of this
subject - was three years old. James Lee grew up in Canada, married
Elizabeth McVeigh, and settled on a farm in her native town, Elizabeth,
Leeds county, Ontario, where V. R. Lee was born in March 1817. Schools
were few and primitive in that region and period, and our subject reached
the age of seventeen with very little book culture. His parents then
removed to Ohio, and when eighteen he set out to make his own way in the
world. For some years he was employed as teamster and in various kinds of
labor. In 1844 he opened a livery stable at Milan, Ohio, and began the
practice of his profession, which his father had followed and taught him.
By study he has improved upon his old practice, and has followed the
homoeopathic system twenty-four years. In 1854 he moved with a team from
Milan to La Crosse, and came to Lake City in the fall of 1863. His
practice is successful and he is widely known. For two years he kept the
Lyon House, the leading hotel, and was landlord of the Sherman House, now
burned, five years. In theological views Mr. Lee is a confirmed
Universalist, and politically has always been a republican. He has been
twice married: in 1844 to Wealthy A. Emerson, who died childless seven
years later; in 1852 to Elizabeth daughter of Asher Chapman, both born in
Amherst, New Hampshire. Three children have been given to the latter
union. The eldest, Charles H., is in Minneapolis; the youngest, Marian
Wealthy, keep house for her father. Francis is his father's assistant in
business. In the fall of 1882 the mother of these children passed away and
calmly waits their coming on the other shore.