Andrew E. Lee | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 3rdGovernor of South Dakota | |
| In office January 1, 1897 – January 8, 1901 | |
| Lieutenant | Charles N. Herreid Daniel T. Hindman John T. Kean |
| Preceded by | Charles H. Sheldon |
| Succeeded by | Charles N. Herreid |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 18, 1847 |
| Died | March 19, 1934(1934-03-19) (aged 87) |
| Political party | People's Party |
| Spouse | Annie Chappell |
| Profession | Merchant |
Andrew Ericson Lee (March 18, 1847 – March 19, 1934)[1] was an American politician who served as thethird Governor ofSouth Dakota.
Lee was born nearBergen in Norway and at a young age moved with his parents to the United States. His parents were Eric Lee and Augusta (Johnson) Lee. He spent his childhood on a farm inDane County, Wisconsin. He moved toDakota Territory and settled atVermillion in 1867. Lee and Charles E. Prentis became partners in a mercantile business in 1869. Lee was married in 1872 to Annie M. Chappell. They had one daughter. Lee was the brother-in-law of Hans Gunderson and Lyman Burgess, both of whom served as members of theDakota Territory House of Representatives. He was the uncle ofCarl Gunderson who served as Governor of South Dakota. Hans Gunderson married Lee's sister Isabel. Isabel's brother and son were South Dakota Governors. (information about Isabel from unknown newspaper article in possession of a family member writing this update.) It was also known in the family that Andrew Lee and Carl Gunderson did not get along.
In 1896, Lee ran forGovernor of South Dakota on thePopulist ticket and beat A. O. Ringsrud ofElk Point by only 319 votes. He was elected to his second term on theFusion Party ticket, an alliance of Independents in the state. The party was formed in 1896 from an alliance of Democrats,Free Silver Republicans, and Populists who were opposed to the platform of the state Republican Party.[2] He was the only non-Republican governor to hold office until the election ofWilliam J. Bulow in 1926. Populist governor Lee was instrumental in getting the Initiative and Referendum passed. A major focus during his administration was eliminating inefficiency and mismanagement within State Government. A major issue during his administration was the organization and return of the state militia which served in thePhilippines during theSpanish–American War.
In 1900, the Populists nominated Lee for Congress, and he spoke at the Populist convention inSioux Falls,South Dakota. Lee lost in a Republican landslide, which ended the political influence of the Populists in South Dakota. In 1908, Lee ran unsuccessfully as aDemocratic candidate for Governor of South Dakota.
Andrew Lee died at his home inVermillion, South Dakota, on March 19, 1934, the day after his 87th birthday. The Gundersons and the Lees are buried in the old Bluff's Cemetery (Bluff View Cemetery in Vermillion, Clay County, South Dakota US).
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| First | Populist nominee forGovernor of South Dakota 1896 | Succeeded by Himself as Fusion candidate |
| First | Fusion nominee forGovernor of South Dakota 1898 | Succeeded by Burre H. Lien |
| Preceded by John A. Stransky | Democratic nominee forGovernor of South Dakota 1908 | Succeeded by Chauncey L. Wood |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Governor of South Dakota 1897–1901 | Succeeded by |
| Governors |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Lieutenant governors | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
