Francis J. Lee, M. D., a popular and rising young physician of Grand Rapids, Mich., is a native of Durham county, province of Ontario, Canada, was born January 22, 1869, and is a son of Robert and Mary (Reinbird) Lee, natives, respectively, of Canada and Ireland, and the parents of eight children, viz: John H., a builder in Bethany, Canada; Robert A., principal of high school, Port Hope, Canada; Charlotte E., married and residing in Vancouver; William H., a farmer in Canada; Samuel, inspector of street railways, Detroit, Mich.; Margaret, married to a Mr. Jamison, a farmer and residing in Bethany, Canada; Francis J., the subject, and Albert, of Toronto, in the dry goods trade. The father is a builder and contractor, and with his wife makes his home at Bethany, Durham county, Ontario.

Dr. Francis J. Lee received his elementary education in Port Hope, Ontario, and afterward graduated at Mitchell Collegiate institute, at Mitchell, Ontario, and took a one year course at Trinity university, of Toronto, Ontario, and began business as a dry goods clerk which vocation he followed five years, and was then in business for two years on his own account in Bethany, when fire destroyed all his property. This misfortune was the probable cause of his taking up the study of medicine.

However this may be, he was for eight months employed again in the dry goods trade at Sault Ste Marie, and in October, 1891, entered McGill Medical college, took a four year course and graduated there from in March, 1896. He at once entered on active practice at Ada, Mich., ten miles from Grand Rapids, and continued there until June, 1898, when he went to Chicago, Illinois, took a course in the West side Post-graduate school, and thence came to Grand Rapids, and has since had his office with Dr. William Fuller on Monroe street, where he has already established an excellent reputation that promises much for the near future.

The marriage of Dr. Lee took place in Grand Rapids, in October, 1897, to Miss Avilda Kelton, an accomplished young lady, a member of one of the most prominent families of the city, and who received a high class education in Brooklyn, N. Y., and Chicago, Illinois. The doctor and his wife are members of the Episcopalian church and socially move in the best circles.

Fraternally, the doctor is a member of F. & A. M., the K. O. T. M., and the M. W. of A., and in politics is a republican.