MCGEE, JOHN A., M.D. - Prominent among the physicians of Cass County whose achievements in their calling have won them high professional honors, material prosperity and the esteem and respect of the people among whom they have labored, is found Dr. John A. McGee, of Virginia. He was born April 26, 1873, in Edgar County, Ill., a son of John Wesley and Nancy (Byram) McGee. Doctor McGee is of Scotch-Irish descent, his grandfather, William McGee, coming to the United States about the year 1828 after his marriage to Susan Dawson, and they settled at Roanoke, Va., from whence they removed to western Ohio, where the grandfather met an accidental death. John Wesley McGee, father of Doctor McGee, was born on the ocean while his parents were coming to this country, and grew to manhood at Sandusky, Ohio, coming to Illinois in 1850. Here he followed farming during the balance of his long and honorable career, and died in 1897. He was married three times, and had eight children, namely: Felix P. and Ann M., by his first union; William W. and Martha E., by his second marriage, and John A., Florence, deceased, Arthur H. and Odis W., by his last union, with Nancy Byram.

John A. McGee's early education was secured in the public schools of Edgar County, following which he took courses in Vermilion Grove Academy and Earlham College, Richmond, Ind. His medical degree was secured from Hahnemann Medical School, of Chicago, where he was graduated in 1896, and following this he entered upon the practice of his profession at Virginia, where he has since been located in the enjoyment of an excellent professional business. He has never ceased to be a student and has taken post-graduate courses at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Chicago. He is a member of the Homeopathic Medical Association, the Cass County Medical Society, the Illinois State Medical Society and the American Medical Association, and from the inception of the county organization until his recent resignation has been secretary of the county organization. Doctor McGee is a member of the board of pension examiners of this district, has been president of the board of health for several years, and for two years has been president of the board of education. His practice is of a general nature, but he has also done a great deal of specializing in surgical work, especially in the Springfield hospitals, and has acquired something more than a local reputation. For three years he has been a valued member of the State Historical Society. He is widely known in fraternal circles, being a past master of the Masonic order and a member of the Blue Lodge and Chapter, and also holds membership in the Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. For some years he has been medical examiner for the Woodmen and various other fraternal and insurance orders.

Doctor McGee was married in Edgar County to Miss Alice E. Constans, daughter of Frederick and Mary (Cook) Constans, and a native of Paris, Ill. Four children have been born to this union, namely: A. Donovan, now in the United States Postal Service, connected with the United States Army, in Texas; and Florence, Lelia and Lillian, all residing at home and attending school.