James Connor McGee (1883 - 1961)

Born 2 Aug 1883 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Ella E (Bloodworth) McGee — married 10 Jul 1915 in Bowie County, Texas, United States

Died 14 Sep 1961 at age 78 in Pasadena, Harris County, Texas, United States

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Biography

James was born 2 August 1883 mostly likely in Paw Creek, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He was the son of Thomas McGee and Margaret Underwood.

About 1888, James' parents and siblings moved to Bowie County, Texas, settling in the town of New Boston.

In 1900, at the age of 16, James was working as a farm laborer in his father's farm. Other members of the McGee family were living nearby.^[1]

On 10 July 1915, James obtained from the Bowie County clerk, Joe White, a license for marriage to Ella Bludworth. They were married the same day by W. J. Simmons, Minister of the Gospel.^[2]

James registered for the draft on 12 September 1918 in Texarkana, Bowie County by registrar A. B. Jordon. James was a self-employed farmer living at Route #3, New Boston. He claimed as his nearest relative his wife, Ella. He was of medium height and build with light brown eyes and black hair. James had no infirmities what would prevent service.^[3]

James 1918 draft registration signature

1914, James' father died, and his mother was residing with him in the 1920 census. James was still living in the same neighborhood as several of his brothers and their families. James and Ella had one child at home, 1 1/2 year-old, Ralph. James continued to farm his own land.^[4]

Maybe farming wasn't working out, hard a life as that is on it's own. For whatever reason, James moved his small family to Chaffee County, Colorado, where in the 1930 census he is found working as a railroad tie checker in a creosote factory.^[5]

In 1940 James and his son, Ralph, were both carpenters in building construction. James had been employed for 25 weeks in the past year earning $275, while his son had worked 30 weeks earning $500. The census indicated that the family was still living on a farm. Indeed many of James' relatives were also farmers living nearby. In the category of education, the census showed that James had completed seven years of schooling, his wife Ella one year of high school, and Ralph two years of high school.^[6]

James eventually retired from carpentry. He died 12-18 hours after the onset of peritonitis due to a ruptured diverticulum on 14 September 1961 at the Pasadena General Hospital in Deer Park, Harris county, Texas. His son, Ralph, was the informant on James' death certificate. Interestingly, Ralph did not know the names of his father's parents.^[7]

James was buried at Grandview Memorial Park in Pasadena on 16 September 1961. ^[8]His wife, Ella, would be buried next to him 25 years later in 1986.^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M32Y-DZV : accessed 8 February 2021), Connor Mcgee in household of T T Mcgee, Commissioner's Precinct 2 (south of T.& P. R.R.), Bowie, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 7, sheet 2B, family 35, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,613.
2. ↑ "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1965," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV1H-6HRZ : 7 December 2020), J Cnnar McGee and Ella Bendworth, 10 Jul 1915; citing Marriage, citing Bowie, Texas, United States, Texas State Library, Archives Division, and various Texas county clerks; FHL microfilm 1,839,952.
3. ↑ "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZ61-M9K : 20 January 2021), James Conner McGee, 1917-1918.
4. ↑ *"United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHRY-35Z : 3 February 2021), Conner McGee, 1920.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X7WK-THT : accessed 8 February 2021), James C McGee, Chaffee, Los Angeles, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 28, sheet 3B, line 66, family 53, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 231; FHL microfilm 2,339,966.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KWNP-2DB : 10 January 2021), James C McGee, Justice Precinct 2, Bowie, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 19-19, sheet 3B, line 57, family 47, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 3990.
7. ↑ "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3HC-77T : 13 March 2018), James C Mcgee, 14 Sep 1961; citing certificate number 52515, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,116,792.
8. ↑ "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVKM-K3VR : 7 August 2020), James Conner McGee, ; Burial, Pasadena, Harris, Texas, United States of America, Grand View Memorial Park; citing record ID 27215457, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
9. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (07 February 2021), memorial page for Ella McGee (2 Sep 1897–16 Jun 1986), Find A Grave: Memorial #27215451, citing Grand View Memorial Park, Pasadena, Harris County, Texas, USA ; Maintained by Jean plummer (contributor 46863095) .

Acknowledgements

A huge "Thank you!" to Debi McGee Hoag for her proofreading and finding the 1930 census record.