Brother of Sarah Jane McGee Larimore. His parents were Charles D. McGee, born 22 Jan. 1794 in Wake Co., NC, d. 20 March 1870 and Mahala Poteet, born 28 Nov. 1800 in Powell's Valley, Lee Co., VA. They were married 3 May 1821 in Fishing River, Clay Co., (Gilmore's Fort) MO. They are buried in the Pleasant Hill Primitive Baptist Cemetery in Clinton Co., MO.

James was married first to Deborah McCulloch on 30 Dec. 1847 in Clinton Co., MO. She died 6 Feb. 1853 after having 3 children, George Thomas, Perry Jackson, & William Jackson.


James served during the U.S.-Mexican War of 1846-47 which lasted a year and a half, from the spring of 1846 to the fall of 1847. He served as a Private in Co. C, 1st Missouri Volunteer Calvary. In Jan. 1887, he drew a pension based on this service. And after his passing, Martha received pension benefits.


1850 U.S. Census for Fishing River Twp, Clay Co., MO:
James O Mcgee M 26 Missouri
Deborah Mcgee F 25 North Carolina
George T Mcgee M 1 Missouri


James then married Martha Adeline Gibson 20 Aug. 1853 in Buchanan Co., MO. They had 7 children. They moved to Oregon ca 1875.


1860 U.S. Census for Nodaway, Nodaway Co., Missouri (Aug.)(P.O. Maryville):
James Mc Gee M 37 MO; farmer
Martha Mc Gee F 32 Virginia
George Mc Gee M 11 Missouri
Perry Mc Gee M 9 Missouri
William Mc Gee M 8 Missouri
James Mc Gee M 6 Missouri
Hannah Mc Gee F 4 Missouri
Charles Mc Gee M 3 Missouri
Laura Mc Gee F 1 Missouri

They reside next door to his parents, Charles & Mahala McGee & their children, Nancy (18 yrs) & Margaret (16 yrs). Charles is a farmer.

Also living nearby are the Cox & Larimore families into which some of the McGee children from Charles & Mahala have married. There are 7 family units living beside one another.


James and Martha and the children are found in the 1870 U.S. Census in Iowa Township, Doniphan Co., Kansas. The household includes:
James Mcgee M 45y, b. 1825 MO
Martha Mcgee F 40y, b. 1830 Alabama
Perry Mcgee M 19y, b. 1851*
William Mcgee M 18y, b. 1852*
James Mcgee M 15y, b. 1855*
Hannah Mcgee F 14y, b. 1856*
Charles Mcgee M 12y, b. 1858*
Mirabel Mcgee F 10y, b. 1860*
Oliver Mcgee M 9y, b. 1861*
Margaret Mcgee F 5y, b. 1865*
Mattie Mcgee F 7m, b. 1870, Kansas
*These children were born in MO.


1880 U.S. Census for Williamsburg Prec., Josephine Co., OR:
James O Mcgee Self M 56 Missouri
Martha A Mcgee Wife F 51 Alabama
James A Mcgee Son M 25 Missouri
Hannah Mcgee Dau F 24 Missouri
Charles W Mcgee Son M 22 Missouri
Laura B Mcgee Dau F 20 Missouri
Oliver P Mcgee Son M 18 Missouri
Margret A Mcgee Dau F 14 Missouri
Martha J Mcgee Dau F 10 Kansas

James is a farmer. The older sons assist w/the farm work. Hannah & Laura work as a domestic servants. Laura has shortened her middle name Mirabell to Bell.



Notes: For data on son George Thomas McGee (w/Deborah McCulloch), see his daughter Ila McGee's memorial 76528687 at the Chalk Bluff Cem., Stilwell, Adair Co., OK. Daughter Elsie Gibson (m. James?) & Mollie m. James Hall. Mollie & James Hall homesteaded across the creek (Thompson?) from Mollie's grandfather, James O. McGee. James Hall was the son of Thomas J. Hall & Elizabeth (both b. 1844, MO. It was rumored that George d. Alaska, but in 1910 he resided in Oklahoma & was 60 yrs old.

Children w/Martha:

Hannah Deborah McGee, b. 12 Mar. 1856, MO; m. Charles Haight (1838-1927) ca 1882-1883; d. 30 Oct 1913, Ashland, Jackson Co., OR. He passed away on 19 April 1927 in Little Shasta Valley, Siskiyou Co., CA. Hannah & Charles are buried in Little Shasta Cem., Montague, Siskiyou Co., CA; Memorial 160562282 (Charles).

Margaret m. John Taylor ca 1886, Jackson Co., Oregon. They lived most of their married life in Ashland, Jackson Co., Oregon. They are buried in Ashland Cem., Ashland, OR; Memorial 150232350.

Margaret, b. June 1865, Nodaway Co., MO; d. Jan. 1938, Ashland, OR.

They had no children of their own, but did adopt a daughter, Thelma Taylor.