Hosiah Elcanah "Hosea" McGee

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Hosiah Elcanah "Hosea" McGee was born 10 March 1844 in Newton, Catawba County, N.C., the son of Jacob McGee and Mary Adaline Sigman. Jacob and Mary Adaline were married 7 August 1838 in Lincoln County, N.C. Jacob died at the age of 30 leaving Mary Adaline and four little sons. Hosea and his brothers Jonas, Eli and William attended school regularly and helped on the farm. Later, Mary Adaline married J. George Deal on 22 August 1858 in Iredell County, N.C. He was a widower with a large number of children. They had two daughters, Sarah Ellen and Harriet Eudora Deal.

Hosea and his brothers fought for the Confederacy in the Civil War. Hosea enlisted 21 January 1862 in Catawba County, N.C., and was in Company B, 42nd North Carolina Regiment. He was a brigade mail-carrier. Jonas enlisted in Company A, 12th North Carolina Regiment. He was mustered in 27 April 1861 at Newton, N.C. Jonas was promoted to Corporal on 1 May 1863 and was wounded at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, 1-3 July t 863. He was discharged on 5 April 1864 by reasons of wounds received at Gettysburg. Eli enlisted in Confederacy service 1 September 1862 at Petersburg, Virginia and surrendered 26 April 1865.

After the war Hosea and his brothers returned home. But it wasn't the same. Their father had been dead for sometime and after their mother remarried there was already a large family to take care of. Also people were heading west to explore a new land and a new way of life. The boys must have been caught up in this adventure because Hosea moved to Arkansas, Eli went to Texas and William settled in Illinois. Jonas was the only one of the four brothers to remain in North Carolina.



Relatives were already in Arkansas when Hosea arrived in 1866 right after the Civil War. His Uncle Eli Sigman had settled in Vanndale, Cross County, Arkansas before the war. Hosea moved to Harrisburg, Poinsett County, Arkansas and met and married Mary A. "Molly" Hays (1849-?) daughter of Judge Henry Albert Hays and Mary A. Stancell on 12 December 1869. Hosea and Molly had a daughter Mary Elizabeth "Lizzie" who was born 28 August 1870. Molly died giving birth to a second daughter and the baby died as well. They are probably buried at the Hays Family Cemetery. Lizzie married Asberry Smith Newson in 1890. Lizzie died 3 November 1940 and is buried by her husband in Newsom Cemetery, Harrisburg, Arkansas.

After his first wife died, Hosea married Susan Roberts "Susie" Harris, daughter of William Henry Harris and Jane Posey Copeland on 17 December 1874 in Poinsett County, Arkansas. Her father served as Poinsett County Judge from 1846-48, 1850-54 and 1856-63. Her Grandfather, William H. Harris served as Poinsett's "first" County Judge from 1838-1840.



Hosea and Susie McGee were the parents of seven children: John Quincy, William Henry, Charlie Baxter, Dollie Jane, Luther Elcanah, Eli Alonza and Maggie Era.

John Quincy McGee was born 18 March 1877 and died 12 December 1877.

William Henry McGee was born 18 March 1877 and died 29 March 1877.

Charlie Baxter McGee was born 16 January 1879 and died 16 June 1956. He married Gussie Pauline Mardis on 24 December 1900. They were the parents of two children, Maude and Lester.

Dollie Jane McGee was born 18 August 1881 and died 29 April 1979. She married Henry Walter Rorex on 6 July 1904. They were the parents of seven children: Dora Lee, Nora, Cora, Charlie, John, Cecil and Walter Wesley.

Luther Elcanah McGee was born 9 December 1882 and died 18 October 1884.

Eli Alonza McGee was born 26 June 1884 and died 10 July 1964. He married Leona Shepherd on 9 Oct 1904. They were the parents of eight children: Winnie Dill, Earnest Glen, Luther Vernal, Harry Robert, Woodrow Wilson, Carlton Russel, Tommy Elcanah and William Harlan.

Maggie Era McGee was born 5 August 1888 and died 17 Feb 1977. She married James Lewis on 30 May 1909. They were the parents of three children: Jewell, Lillian and James Arvel.

In 1876 Hosea bought 80 acres of land for $100 from his in-laws William Henry and Jane Posey Copeland Harris. He farmed this the rest of his life. Hosea was also a skilled carpenter.

Hosea became a member of Pat Cleburne Camp 1027 United States Veterans when it was organized in June 1897 in Harrisburg. He attended those meetings regularly. In June 1909 he met his brothers William and Eli at a Confederate Reunion in Memphis, Tennessee. In May 1914 he attended a Confederate Reunion in Jacksonville, Florida. A Grandson, Tommy McGee of Harrisburg, was a little boy of seven when he died. He fondly remembers him sitting "military style" on his horse Luce.

Hosea went back to North Carolina twice to visit friends and relatives. Hosea's brother Eli came to visit in Harrisburg and named Dollie's daughter Dora when she was born in 1905. Hosea's half-sister Sarah Shook visited after the family moved to Rising Star, Texas, and struck oil.

Hosiah Elcanah "Hosea" McGee died Saturday afternoon 7 June 1924, at his home near Bethel of old age and Bright's Disease. He was buried at 4 o'clock Sunday afternoon. Grandson, Tommy McGee remembers riding to the funeral in a horse drawn buggy with his parents. His sister and brothers followed in a wagon. Wagons and buggies were in the procession along with a car or two. Judge John Dobson, a family friend and Methodist Minister preached the funeral. Five of the seven surviving members of Pat Cleburne Camp 1027 United Confederate Veterans attended. The Ex-Confederate was finally laid to rest.

Susan Roberts "Susie" Harris wife of Hosea McGee died Friday 5 October 1934, at her home near Bethel. Her funeral was conducted by Judge Dobson and Rev. P.B. Kinsolving Sunday afternoon, 6 October. She was buried by her beloved husband in Farm Hill Cemetery, Harrisburg, Arkansas. 

--Dr. Lynn McGee, 1200 Brentwood Dr., WestMemphis, AR 72301