My Genealogy Hound

Dr. A. J. Magee was born in Philadelphia, Penn., in 1850, and is a son of Robert Magee, a native of Donegal, County Donegal, Ireland. His mother, Eliza (Waters) Magee, was also a native of Ireland. Robert and wife were married in Philadelphia, where he kept books in a jobbing house for eleven years, for the firm of Grant & McClintock. Soon after this he moved to New Philadelphia, Ohio, but in 1857 immigrated to Lewis County, Mo., where he has since resided, being engaged in agricultural pursuits, and where he now owns a nice farm. He served as a Federal soldier during the war. In politics he is a Republican, and in religion a Christian. Both he and wife are over sixty years of age, and are vigorous in body and mind. Our subject is the eldest of a family of six children, all of whom are living. He lived with his parents until he became of age, previous to which he had received a common-school and college education. At the early age of seventeen he began to teach, and part of his education is the result of this labor. His winters were spent in teaching, and his summers in toil upon the farm, and in this way he obtained sufficient means to pay for his education. After a three years’ course at the normal school, at Kirksville, he began the study of medicine under Dr. Briscoe, of Lewiston, Lewis County, and also attended lectures at the Keokuk College of Physicians and Surgeons. After graduating at Keokuk, he located in Bee Ridge Township, where he remained three years, meeting with good success. He then moved to Knox City, in 1881, where he has also been very successful, and enjoys a large practice, considering the number of physicians at that place. In 1880 he was united in marriage to Miss Priscilla Hamilton, a native of Knox County, and a daughter of Armstead and Sarah Hamilton. To this union one son has been born—Bruce Magee. Our subject agrees with his father, politically, and is a member of the I. O. O. F., to which order he has belonged since 1873. Both he and wife are members of the Baptist Church. In connection with his practice Dr. Magee was engaged in the drug business in Knox City, from 1880 to 1886. Knowing well the discouragements to young persons in their efforts to obtain education, he is generous to a fault, giving assistance in any manner that he possibly can. His full sympathy is with the young person depending on self-effort. His motto is: “Never yield to discouragement: Persevere.”