WILLIAM McGEHEE

FROM: The History of Gallatin, Saline, Hamilton, Franklin, and Williamson Counties, Illinois (Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1887).  P. 726.

           William McGehee, farmer, was born March 30,1831, in Gibson County, Ind., the son of Benjamin and Mary (Owens) McGehee. The father of Scotch-Irish descent, and born in Tennessee in 1812, went when a small boy with his father, Jacob, to Gibson County, Ind., where the latter spent his life, a pioneer of southern Indiana. Benjamin was married in Gibson County, and in 1841 moved to Hamilton County and bought eighty acres in Beaver Creek Township. He was a successful man, and at one time owned 360 acres, all excepting eighty acres being in White County. For twenty years before his death, in 1875, he was a resident of White County. The mother, born in Kentucky in 1812, died in 1844 in Hamilton County, Ill. Our subject, the oldest and only one living of five children, was ten years old when they came to Illinois, and about thirteen when his mother died. His education was in subscription schools, and he lived with his father until over twenty. In 1851 he married Loranie A., daughter of James Moore, and born in 1830 in Hamilton County. Their eight children are Bailey, Benjamin, Henry, Mary E. (wife Of Romelia Rister), William H., Maggie D. (wife of John Rose), Rhoda Belle and Albert, Since his marriage he has lived in Beaver Creek Township, near his present farm, excepting five years which were spent near Springerton. In 1854 he traded for eighty acres in Section 13, where he has lived mostly ever since. The eighty acres and $60 received from his father he has increased to 760 acres, 420 of which are in White County. He erected his home in 1886 for $500. He is a Republican, first voting for Fillmore. About 1856 he was elected constable and held the office for two years, and has served as school director a number of years. He is an esteemed man and reliable farmer. His wife is a member of the Christian Church.