In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1912) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1828, Sandusky Township
From History of Crawford County and Ohio : containing a history of the state of Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time ... a history of Crawford County ... biographical sketches, portraits (1881), History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1912)
WILLIAM MAGEE, farmer; P. 0. Bueyrus; son of James and Ann (Moderwell) Magee, was born Sept. 9, 1828. in Sandusky Township, this county, where the familjwere among the earliest settlers. His youth was spent there on a farm, attending, in the meantime, the district school, until 21 years of age, and worked at home for the family until he was 24 years old. On Oct. 10, 1850, he married Miss'Margaret J. Cleland. of Vernon Township; two children are the fruits of this marriage — Rachel A., now the wife of Charles MeCuen, a blacksmith at Wjandot, Ohio, and William W., at home. He has also raised a nephew and a niece — Fenton G. Magee and Rachel E. A. Cleland. After marriage, he farmer the homestead for one year, then went to North Robinson, where he built a saw-mill with Baxter JIayers, in which business he remained for about two years, and afterward farmer for two or three years on rented land. He moved on to his present place in 1857, it being owaekl at the time bjhis uncle, John Moderwell. In 1859, he bought 80 acres of the farm, and added 18 acres to it in 1862. It has good buildings, a fine orchard of his own planting, and is located one mile from Bueyrus. He began life with but little except good health and energy, and has acquired all he has by his own labor and industry. In early times, he bore his share of the hardships incident to life in a new country, being obliged to plow when he was so small that he could not pull the plow loose when it caught under a root, but had to hitch his team to his end of it for that purpose; and has also plowed barefoot, when his plow would freeze fast in the ground at night. He is a member of the Presbyterian Churcli; his wife also was raised in that f\iith. He is a Repul)lican in politics. The father of Mr. Magee was born in Washington Co., Penn.. alwut 1788, and was a teamster in early life, but afterward learned cabinet-making. He was married about 1811;
was in the war of 1812, and marched to Fort Meigs, when the war ended. In the spring of 1824, they drove through to Oliio in a wagon, cutting their way from Mansfield, and arrived at their destination, after a long journey from Washington Co., Penn. He came out on horseback in the fall of 1822, and entered 1(50 acres of land for himself, and 160 also, for John JIayers, his brotiier-in-law, in Sandusky Township. Knisel and Ridgely were the only settlers in that vicinity, which was densely wooded, and the Indians lived within forty rods of his house. They moved into a cabin which had nothing to recommend it but the roof and logs. They drove a cow and two calves through with them, which died shortly after their arrival; he lost many cattle after his settlement here from murrain and in the swamps. He raised a small crop of potatoes the first j'ear in his new home; food was very scarce; they had to pound corn, and sift it through a rag. He was a hard-working man, but met with many misfortunes, which kept him in debt until just before his death. He had considerable mechanical genius, and with tools could do many different kinds of handiwork, as well as building houses. He died April 14, 1850, and his faithful wife Oct. 15, 1851. They had nine children — Eliza, wife of Samuel Parsons, of Gallon; Mary A., died in her 18th year; Robert, died at the age of 55; Belle, is the wife of Peter Wert, of Johnson Co., Mo.; John, died at the age of 55; William, the subject of tiiis sketch; Margaret E. and Sarah J., both died young, one 15, the other 18 years of age, and Pjthelinda died in her 18th j'ear; all died rather suddenly. Mr. Magee, Sr., was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and a Whig in politics.
As printed in History of Crawford County and Ohio : containing a history of the state of Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time ... a history of Crawford County ... biographical sketches, portraits (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
WILLIAM MAGEE, who enjoys the distinction of being the oldest man living that was born in Crawford, county, C, is widely known and universally esteemed, possessing traits of character which have endeared him to those with whom he has associated in any way during his long and worthy life. He was born on his father's farm in Crawford county, Sept. 19, 1827, and is a son of James Washington and a grandson of Alexander MaGee.
Alexander MaGee was born in Ireland and came to America in early manhood, settling in Washington county. Pa., prior to the Revolutionary War. He acquired 400 acres of land in Washington county and lived on the same into old age, a well preserved man possessing all his natural faculties except his eyesight, which faded some years before his death. The family has been one of unusual longevity. He married in Pennsylvania an excellent woman who belonged to an old Presbyterian family of Washington county, and the following names of their children have been preserved: Alexander, John, William, James Washington and Nancy, the last named becoming the wife of John Ramsey.
James Washington MaGee was born in Washington county. Pa., in 1789, and grew to manhood in his father's house. In those days a source of income was open to sturdy young men in the business of hauling freight over the mountains, there being no great transportation lines yet constructed, and James Washington MaGee made numerous trips of this kind. Having thus earned the capital he was anxious to invest it in land and in 1821 came to Ohio, then the far West to Pennsylvania, and in Sandusky township, Crawford county, entered 160 acres of land for himself and also 160 acres for each of his three brothers-in-law, a one-quarter section for William Moderwell, another for John Clemens, and another for John Magars. Having thus insured a little settlement in the wilderness he, with the other families, in 1823 came with their wagons and ox-teams, to Crawford county. Here all established themselves and lived out long and useful lives and all have descendants in the county. James W. MaGee cleared and improved his farm and remained on it a contented man during the rest of his life, his death occurring April 14, 1850. His father had been a Federalist and he was a Whig. In the latter part of his life he united with the Presbyterian church. On May 10, 1814, he was married in Washington county, Pa., to Miss Ann Moderwell, who was of Scotch parentage, but was born in Pennsylvania. She was born February 21, 1792, and in loving tribute to her son, William, declares that when she died on October 12, 1852, there passed from earth the best woman that ever lived. She was a devoted Christian wife and mother and not only her family loved her but the whole neighborhood. Mr. Ma- Gee can conceive of no higher type of womanhood than was this beloved mother. Nine children were born to James W. and Ann McGee, as follows: Eliza, who died at the age of 70 years, leaving two children: Mary A., who died at the age of 21 years; Robert, who was survived by children, Isabel and John, both of whom are deceased; Sarah I. and Margaret E., twins, the former dying at the age of 16 years and the latter when aged 19 years; and Ethalinda, who died when aged 18 years.
William MaGee passed his boyhood and youth on the homestead farm and as opportunity was afforded attended the district school. He was industrious and provident during his active years and accumulated a large amount of property, the greater part of which he has given to his children in order to witness their enjoyment of it, but he still retains a farm of 116 acres, which lies in Bucyrus township. On Oct. 10, 1850, Mr. MaGee was married to Miss Margaret Jane Cleland, who was born in Vernon township, Crawford county, O., Nov. 3, 1828, and died at her home in Bucyrus, Feb. 14, 1899, an estimable woman in every relation of life. The following children were born to them: an infant, deceased, who was born September 13, 1851; Rachel Ann, born March 31, 1853, who is a widow living at Los Angeles, Calif.; and William Wallace, who was born August 28, 1856, and now has charge of his father's farm in Bucyrus township. He married Amanda Dirmeyer and has had two children: James, who died in childhood; and Florence A. When five weeks old a niece, Rachel Emma Ann Cleland, lost her mother and she then became a member of the household of Mr. and Mrs. MaGee. She grew up a dutiful and loving daughter and for eleven years was the chief dependence of her adopted mother, Mrs. MaGee, the latter of whom was an invalid for thirteen years, being afflicted with creeping paralysis. Since then she has been equally dutiful to her uncle and adopted father, Mr. MaGee. On May 13, 191 1, she was happily married to Ray H. Furister, who was born June 17, 1878, in Michigan, a son of the late A. J. and Susan Viola (Hodges) Furister. In his views on public matters Mr. MaGee is in sympathy with the cardinal principles of the Republican party. He has always been a Presbyterian in religious faith.
As printed in History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: William Moderwell (b. 1840)
Their biographies name William Magee: Arthur Cleland (b. 1796)
The printed record stops around 1881. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.