Magee Family History

Roots for the Magee family have been traced back to Delaware, Maryland, which was "home" of the parents of Green Magee and his wife Olly. Although their parents' names are unknown, it is safe to assume that they were slaves.

By the time of Green and Olly's births in 1852 and 1856, respectively, their parents were living in Mt. Olive. Green had 6 sisters: Francis Graves, Beulah Norwood, Plummie, Bell Buchannan, Hudlah McNair, and Martha. Information about Olly's family is unknown as of this writing.

Green dug wells and worked as a farmer; Olly was a midwife. They owned and lived in a two room log cabin that sat under a large walnut tree on 20 acres of farmland. The tree itself provided lots of respite for Green as he sometimes, although not often, found opportunity to rest from his labor.

According to census information, Green and Olly had five children: Annie, Estella, Eura, Elery, and Florence. An adopted daughter named Mausire (or Mamie) was also listed in the census. Given the accuracy of recordkeeping during that period, it is possible that Estella, Florence, and Mausire (or Mamie) were not Green and Olly's children, but were close relatives. It is further unclear what became of the children of their offspring except for Annie and Elery.

Elery was born in February 1877, and married a local girl named Laura; she was born in 1878. It is unclear whether Laura's last name was Funchess, McNair, or Gill. It is known, however, that she had a sister named Alitha Gil who lived and worked with Elery and Laura. In error, the census lists Alitha as their daughter. The manes Carlie McNair and Allie McNair have been mentioned, but not verified, as possible sisters to Laura and Alitha.

Like her mother-in-law, Laura worked as a midwife. And like his father, Elery dug wells and worked as a farmer. They owned cattle, chickens, hogs, geese, turkeys, goats, and sheep; they also grew corn, vegetables, and hay to sell to other farmers. Elery was the only African-American in the area to own a blacksmith shop.

Two children were born to Elery and Laura: Rosie Bell "Sweet" Durr and Mack. Elery also had Melvie and Aviah Mason through two other relationships. Melvie was his eldest child; "Sweet" is his eldest with Laura.

Elery and Laura owned 200 acres of farmland, an 180 acre increase to the 20 that Green and Olly owned. They allowed three families to sharecrop part of the land, and hired laborers to help them work and manage the rest. They also boarded school teachers, and provided transportation for them to various destinations. These teachers influenced later education decisions of "Sweet's" daughter Olivia and Willie's daughter Gladys who also became teachers.

The family maintained membership with Mt. Olive's Point Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church, once pastored by Rev. Claxon. The children received very limited elementary education through the New Prospect School.

Elery died of dental poisoning in the spring of 1934. Laura died of diabetes complications on June 18, 1938. That day was also Mack's birthday.

Elery and Laura left their 200 acres of farmland to "Sweet" and Mack. The children of both assisted their parents in working the land. Over the years, however, most of it was lost to satisfy delinquent property taxes. Before 1953, the last 50 acres were purchased at auction for $2,500 by a white woman whom "Sweet" had provided domestic services. "Sweet's" son Mack repurchased the 50 acres from the woman for the same price after he left the army.

Thanks to Mack, a Magee descendant still has possession of 50 of the 200 acres of land that have been in the family for generations. Today, the land is home for "Sweet," her youngest daughter and son, and their direct descendants.

Mack has made provisions for the land to be divided among his brothers and sisters upon his death.