JAMES P. LEE. The above worthy gentleman is a member of the well known firm of Merrick & Lee, general merchants at Swan, Missouri, and is noted for honorable, upright dealing. He is a business man of high ability, a most reliable authority on all matters connected with his line, and a popular citizen, who deservedly enjoys the confidence and respect of a wide and constantly increasing circle. He is also engaged in farming and is as successful in that as he is in his business. Mr. Lee was born in Washington County, Penn., in 1855, and is a son of Arnold H. and Sarah A. (Perrine) Lee, natives of Washington County, Penn., also. In that county the parents resided for many years and then came to Greene County, Missouri, where the father was killed in the Marshfield cyclone. He was a farmer and stockraiser and a man universally esteemed. He came of the old Virginia stock of Lees, and his father, Henry Lee, born in that State, died in West Virginia. The father was a cabinet maker by trade, and a soldier in the War of 1812. Isaac Perrine, the maternal grand-father, was probably born in Washington County, Penn., where he passed his life as a farmer and merchant. The parents of our subject reared six children, as follows: Samuel S., of Sparta; Rachel, of Spokane, Wash.; Elizabeth, also of Spokane; James P., our subject; Robert E., also in the State of Washington; Laura, wife of Chas. Browner, of Spokane; and two died in infancy, one being the eldest of the family.
Our subject received a limited education in youth and when seven years of age began contributing to his own support, working for an uncle, who was a sheep dealer, for three years. The carver of his own destiny, Mr. Lee has made it an honorable one. He remained several years with his uncles, with but very little schooling, and finally decided that he could do better with strangers. He then farmed for about ten years, and then seeing that education was the open sesame to the storehouse of riches and success, he lost no opportunity of gathering practical knowledge, and attended school for some time. In 1876 he came to Christian County and engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1890, since which time he has been engaged in merchandising at Swan, but also carries on farming and stock dealing. He is doing a good business and is a popular man. On the 11th of August, 1878, Mr. Lee was married to Miss Alfredine A. Meyers, a native of Summit County, Ohio, and the daughter of Henry W. Meyers. Mr. Lee is an Odd Fellow, a member of Sparta Lodge No. 424, and is passing through the chairs. He is wide-awake and thoroughgoing, and by his industry, economy and good management has become well off. He assisted in supporting the family for some years before starting out for himself.