BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO

"History of the Upper Ohio Valley" Vol. II, 1890.

Presented by Linda Fluharty from hard copies provided
by Mary Staley & Phyllis Slater.


Page 654.

JESSE B. MAGEE

Jesse B. Magee, a venerable old settler of Richland township, was born
November 15, 1819, on the farm where he now lives. He is a son of Jesse
Magee, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1780, and came to Wheeling when
about sixteen years of age, where he became the first apprentice at the
trade of cabinet-maker in that town. In 1802 the elder Jesse came to St.
Clairsville, and conducted a cabinet shop until 1808, when he went upon
the land which his son now owns, and cleared him a farm, which he tilled
until his death in 1866. He was married to Elizabeth Coleman, a daughter
of Jacob and Sallie (McCullough) Coleman. Jacob Coleman, a native of
Virginia, removed in 1777, with his wife and two children, from Kentucky
to Short Creek, coming up the river in a pirogue and keeping the center
of the stream to avoid the Indians. A short time later they removed to
Ohio and lived in Richland township several years, then going to Indiana,
and making their home near the site of Terre Haute, where he passed the
remainder of his days. He was the first sheriff of Belmont county, and
was at one time surveyor, engaged in marking out the roads. During the
revolution he served through the war, and at one time he was surprised
by Indians while out milking in the morning, and received seven bullets
in his body, but his remarkable constitution enabled him to survive.
Jesse Magee, Jr., now a leading citizen, was married in 1847, to
Catherine B. Lauck, who was born in 1823, the daughter of Simon and
Mary (Beck) Lauck, the latter of whom was a daughter of Capt. John
Beck. Of their five children born, three are living: Coleman L.,
Francis A. and Mary E. He and wife are members of the Methodist
Episcopal church.