John Marshall Lee was born September 21, 1828, in Bartholomew County, Indiana. The first 18 years of his life were spent on a farm. At about 20 years of age he was apprenticed to learn the carpenter trade, which he pursued for 12 years. In June 1846, John, in company with his parents, came to Iowa, settling in Louisa County. On December 31, 1850, he married Sarah Jane Wilson. He was a veteran of the Civil War and was enlisted in the 34th regiment, company D, of Iowa volunteers. Politically, he is republican in principle. He has been elected to fill every position that the citizens of a township can bestow, from constable up to justice of the peace. A pioneer of Furnas County, Nebraska, he died at the Ingleside asylum on October 12, 1912. He was a member of the House of Representatives both in Iowa and in Nebraska.