JAMES A. LEE was one of the earliest settlers of the river's canyon in Cherry Grove OR. He was James A. Lee. Born in Martinsburg, West Virginia, on Decem ber 13, 1805, Lee came overland to Oregon in 1852. He married in Ohio to Matilda Powell (1807-1854) in 1828. The Lee's were the parents of twelve children. Lee died March 28, 188l.

As early as 1855-56 James Lee was operating a sawmill at Lee Falls on the Tualatin River. In 1856 a road was laid out from Alanson Hinman's donation land claim to Lee's Mill. Lee Road, running from Patton Valley to Scoggins Valley. Lee Fall's and the Road were both named for this family.