James A. McGee

    James A. McGee, farmer, Monroe Township. The grandfather of Mr. McGee, whose name was James McGee, was a native of Ireland, a linen weaver by trade. He emigrated from there about 1800, and came to the state of Virginia, where he resided until 1822, when he came to Jefferson County, Indiana, where he died.

    His wife's name was Mary Hook, and she was also a native of the Emerald Isle. Mr. McGee was a soldier in the war of 1812-15, taking the Irishman's side of the fight where England is engaged -that is, against her. There is a relic of his service still preserved in the family of his descendant, James A. McGee, in the shape of a bayonet which the old  Irishman carried during his service.

    In Virginia, in April, 1802, was born to this pair a son, whom they called William. William came to Indiana with his parents, and here raised a family.

    Mr. James McGee was one of their sons, and was born December 21, 1830, in Jefferson County, and has made it his home ever since. Mr. McGee was born on a farm, and ahs been a farmer all his life except while he was engaged in the army. He was educated in the schools of his youth time.

    In 1855 he married Mehitabel Smith, and they had six children: John W., Albert T., George F., Jennie, Howard H., and Harry S. His wife died in 1871, and he married again in 1877, Sarah C. Mower, who was Henry Smith's widow, daughter of Jacob F. Mower, a native of Wirtemberg, Germany. From this union there are three children: Arthur B., Effie E. and Robert R.

    Mr. McGee enlisted in Company H., 40th Indiana Volunteers in 1864, and was in the following battles: Spring Hill, Columbia, Overton's Hill, Franklin and Nashville, besides a number of minor engagements. He was in the front rank at the battle of Franklin, Tennessee, where the regiment went in with seven hundred men, and could muster only one hundred and fifty after coming out.

    After the war he settled down to the quiet life of the farmer. He owns 154 acres of well improved land in this county. He is a prominent member of the G. A. R., and is a prematurely old man by reason of his life in the army.

    He has never been an office seeker, but has held some positions of profit and trust with credit to himself.

Source: Biographical and Historical Souvenir for the counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott and Washington, Indiana. By John M. Gresham & Co., 1889.