In doing some research, I discovered that Uncle Chris was actually his great uncle, his mother's uncle, brother to Daddy's grandfather, who also had a good name: Francis Henry McGee. I actually found my great grandfather on the internet and I'm adding that info below.
But first, the Christopher Columbus Beauregard McGee story. Uncle Chris was a bad alcoholic who spent much or his life stowing away on trains going from Waycross down to somewhere in Florida. Whenever he came back into town, he'd bring a bunch of bananas.
That's the entire story as far as what I remember Daddy telling us. I don't think it would have been nearly as memorable if his name hadn't been so unique. According to what Sandy told Katherine, poor Uncle Chris met his demise falling off one of those train cars when he was, yes, inebriated.
I often wondered if the story was true, but in locating Francis Henry McGee I did find that he had a little brother named Christopher and they were from Macon. See below.
Old Frank must have done well for himself as he was able to provide this house for his family. At some point, he gave it to his daughter's family. I think it was before she (Annie Belle McGee Mayo, my grandmother) died in 1920 during the influenza epidemic when she was pregnant with her fifth child.
This is the same house where we lived when Sandy and I were little. However, Mama and Daddy had divided it up into apartments and enclosed some of the porches by then. The house still stands in Waycross and there are still people living in it,
The same house today.
Francis Henry McGee
Birth:
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Jun. 21, 1858
Macon Bibb County Georgia, USA |
Death:
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1914
Ware County Georgia, USA |
 Father: William McGEE Mother: Eliza [--?--] Spouse: Susie Julia PACE Married: probably in Bibb Co, Georgia NOTE: 1860 Bibb Co, GA Federal Census, Macon PO, Series: M653, Roll: 111, Sheet: 32, Page: 442 McGAHEE, William (h/h) age 30 Ireland (Occ.: Machinist) McGAHEE, Eliza (fem) age 30 Ireland (Keeping House) McGAHEE, Francis H. (male) age 1 Georgia 1870 Bibb Co, GA Federal Census, Macon PO, Subdivision 458, Series: M593, Roll: 136, Sheet: 21, Page: 623 McGEE, William (h/h) age 47 Ireland (Occ.: Patt-- Maker) McGEE, Elizar (fem) age 36 Ireland (Keeping House) McGEE, Francis H. (male) age 12 GA McGEE, William (male) age 9 GA McGEE, Christopher (male) age 7 GA 1880 Bibb Co GA Federal Census, Macon, Series T9-0135, Page Number 195B (Occupation: Machinist) McGEE, Frank (Hus) age 21 yrs GA GA GA McGEE, Susie (Wife) age 20 yrs GA GA GA PACE, Julia G. (f) Age 45 yrs GA TN TN 1900 Sumter Co GA Federal Census, Americus, 4th Ward, GM 789, ED 65, Series: T623, Roll: 221, Sheet: 8B, Page: 219 (Occupation: Master Machinist) McGEE, Frank H. (Hus) age 41, Jun 1858 GA Ireland Ireland McGEE, Susie J. (Wife) age 41, Feb 1859 TN TN TN McGEE, Stella E. (dau) age 17, Feb 1883 GA GA TN McGEE, Annie B. (dau) age 14, Sep 1885 GA GA TN McGEE, Susie G(?) (dau) age 8, Aug 1891 GA GA TN 1910 Ware Co GA Federal Census, Waycross, 6th Ward, ED: 176, Series: T624, Roll: 214, Sheet: 15B, Page: 271 (Occupation: Auto) McGEE, M. F. H. (Hus) age 51, M1, GA Scotland Ireland McGEE, Susie (Wife) age 51, M1 32 yrs, 3 children, 3 living, AL AL AL MAYO, Stella (dau), age 26, M1 4 yrs, 2 children, 2 living MAYO, (?). (son-in-law) age 35, M1, GA GA GA MAYO, Annie B. (dau) age 24, M1, GA GA AL (3 other people I can't read - census faded) PACE, (?) L. (?), Mother, age 76, AL TN TN Family links: Spouse: Susie Julia Pace McGee (1859 - 1911)* Children: Stella McGee Mayo (1883 - 1954)* Annie Belle McGee Mayo (1885 - 1920)* |
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Francis Henry McGee's decanter.
Taylor has it and points out that his initials are etched on it.
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