Biography of Joseph D. Lee, 1899, State of Oregon
Surnames: Lee, Witten

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Transcribed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
W. David Samuelsen - January 2002
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Oregon Native Son, Vol. 1, June 1899, page 116

JOSEPH D. LEE.

Joseph D. Lee was born in Polk county, about one mile northwest of where
Monmouth now stands, on July 29, 1848, his parents having come to Oregon the
previous year from Iowa. His boyhood days were spent on a farm, during which
time he attended school. He completed a partial course the La Creole academy
of Dallas, after which he sometimes assisted in his father's store, sometimes
worked on the farm and at others teamed between Dallas and Portland. In 1870
he was appointed postmaster of Dallas, but resigned after three hears'
service. In 1872 he was married to Miss Eliza Alice Witten, a graduate of
Willamette university, who, previous to her marriage, was a successful teacher
in the university of Washington. In 1878 he was elected to the legislature
from Polk county, and in 1880 was elected to the state senate, serving in that
body four years. During the latter year he was a leading spirit in securing
the extension of the narrow-gauge railroad to Dallas, which line has since
been made a standard-gauge road.

In 1883 he and his wife accompanied the Oregon pioneers on their famous
Eastern trip over the Northern Pacific railroad. At the expiration of his term
as senator for Polk county, he was elected joint senator for Polk arid Benton
counties, serving four years in that capacity, thus making ten years of
continuous service in the legislature. Probably no other man in Oregon has
ever represesented his native county continuously in the legislature for a
full decade. 

In 1886 he moved from Dallas to The Dalles in the hope of improving his
daughter's health. During his residence in the latter place a large portion of
his time was required looking after interests in the vicinity of Portland. In
1891 he bought a dry goods store in East Portland, and in 1892 removed to the
East Side, where his family still resides. In 1893 he sold his mercantile
possessions and was appointed deputy clerk of the municipal court, in which
capacity he served until 1896. In the fall of that year he canvassed the state
for McKinley and Hobart. In the autumn of 1897 he received a proposition from
the Chamber of Commerce of Portland to represent that body in cities east of
the Rockies, an effort to direct Alaska business via Portland. This work kept
him busy between Pittsburgh and Denver until the spring of 1898, and was very
successful in many ways. Immediately after his return he engaged actively in
the state campaign, and after the election he canvassed Western Oregon,
securing products for the industrial fair. At the special session of the
legislature called in September, 1898, he was chosen reading clerk of the
senate, and was re-elected at the regu lar session in January last. On April
1, 1899, he became the Oregon penitentiary, by appointment of Governor Geer.
In addition to the usual duties of that respon- sible position, the last
legislature made it the duty of the superintendent to build seven miles of
road by convict labor, which work is already under way. He is one of the
original incorporators of the Native Sons of Oregon, and now holds the office
of first vice- president in the grand cabin. He also belongs to the Masons,
Odd Fellows, Woodmen of the World and National Union. Mr. Lee's life has been
a busy one, full of kind words and deeds. He. is blessed with an accomplished,
faithful wife and a happy family, to whom he is deeply devoted.