Conspicuous among the pioneers sent out from the Old Dominion to wrestle with the dangers and difficulties of the western wilderness, was John Sandford GEE. Born in Virgnia, January 10, 1777, he was married in his twenty-first year to Susan TUDOR, the ceremony taking place July 10, 1798. His spirit of adventure had been whetted by the tales of daring and heroic achievement in Kentucky under the leadership of the celebrated Daniel BOONE. He longed to join these devoted pioneers, but did not succeed in crossing the mountains until 1803. He settled in what is now Metcalf county, entered land and engaged in farming, after the rude methods prevailing at that day in the sparsely settled state of Kentucky. In addition to farming, he carried on surveying which was a profitable business in the formative period of the new commonwealth.

Sandford GEE lived a useful and industrious llfe, became prominent and popular as one of the leading pioneers of the "Dark and Bloody Ground" and was gathered to his fathers at a ripe old age. He left a worthy son to succeed him in the person of William GEE, who was born October 16, 1810, at the old Kentucky home. On Octoher 3, 1837, when twenty-seven years 0ld he united his fortunes with Malinda BILLINGSLEY, one of the amiable and resolute girls of his neighborhood.

The children resulting from this union were:

1. John A., of Tamaroa, Illinois
2. I. G. GEE, who is the subject of this sketch
3. W. S., of Tarkio, Missouri
4. M. D., of Mountain Grove, in the same state
5. Henry M., deceased

The father moved to Illinois in October, 1852, and settled about four miles east of Tamaroa, in Perry county.

About 1883, he went to Nebraska, but after a residence of three years, returned to Illinois and located at Tamaroa where his long and active life was terminated by the summons that eventually comes to every human being.

In his younger days, he taught school, later became a proficient surveyor, but his main business was farming. He and his wife were charter members of the old Paradise church in Perry county, which was organized in 1853 in a barn near where the present meeting-house stands. During these forty-eight years of church relationship, this sturdy couple were faithful to every duty. William GEE departed this life in May, 1890, and his faithful partner survived him only a few years.

I. G. GEE, the second in order of birth of their children, was born in Simpson county, Kentucky, September 19, 1841, and was eleven years old when his parents emigrated to Illinois. He worked on the farm in boyhood, later taught one term of school, and then began the study of medicine. After graduating from the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati, in 1865, he engaged in the practice near Gitigerrell, in the south part of Jefferson county.

In 1892, after a prosperous and popular career in this profession, he retired and located at Mount Vernon for, a life of more leisure. He has prospered as the result of ability, energy and strict devotion to business. He has extensive farming interests, besides other valuable in-vestments. He is a stock holder and vice-president of the Third National Bank, president and stock holder of the Waltonville Bank, conducted by I. G. GEE & Company, and also a stock holder in the Mount Vernon Car Manufacturing Company. He has served as City Alderman and Supervisor of Mount Vernon township. He is president of the Royal Building and Loan Company, of Mount Vernon, and quite prominent in Masonic circles by virtue of his membership of the Blue Lodge, Royal Arch Masons and Knights Templar, branches of that ancient order.

Personally, Doctor GEE is a fine specimen of physical manhood-large, well built, over six feet in height, always wearing a broad white hat, his picturesque appearance recalls the best Kentucky type. He is justly proud of his family history and few men have had a more worthy line of ancestors.

On December 26, 1867, Doctor GEE was married to Elzina J., daughter of J. J. FITZGERRELL, a native of Gibson county, Indiana, who came to Jefferson county many years before the Civil war and reared a family here. He was born in 1815, settled in Illinois in 1839, and died on his old homestead June 30, 1887, after a long, blameless and useful life. The five children born to Doctor and Mrs. GEE were:

1. James William, who died in infancy
2. John 5., deceased
3. Han L., a physician of Mount Vernon
4. Earl, who died when six years old
5. Knox, cashier of the bank at Waltonville, of which his father is senior partner

Doctor and Mrs. GEE are memhers of the First Baptist church of Mount Vernon.

Source: Walls History of Jefferson County, Il
By John A. Wall 1909

Submitted by: Misty Flannigan Dec 1997