My Genealogy Hound

FRANK W. MAGEE. one of the young and enterprising farmers of Thornton township, Buffalo county, was born at West Camden, N. Y., June 22, 1855, and is a son of Abram S. Magee and Mary (Dible) Magee. His father was a native of New York, in which state he continued to reside until his death in 1878. He was a sawyer by occupation and a man of considerable influence in the community where he lived, was always quiet and peaceable and never was known to have any trouble with his fellow-men. He was a model man in every respect and his example is well worthy of imitation. He was the father of three children, of whom Frank W. was the second. James Magee, the paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a Pennsylvanian German, and his wife, Mary (Dible) Magee, was a native of New England. Her father, John Dible, was quite a prominent man during his time, being deacon in the Methodist church for many years. He also held various official positions of honor in his country. Frank W. Magee was reared under the parental roof until eighteen years of age, when he began working out by the month on a farm. He did not, however, confine himself strictly to farm labor, but varied his occupation by working at whatever he thought he could do the best and earn the most. He emigrated to Buffalo county, Nebr., June 13, 1879, and spent his first summer working on a farm. The following spring he took up a homestead in Thornton township, where he has since resided. The country in that part of the county was sparsely settled at that time and neighbors were few and far between. Young Magee came West with limited means; in fact, it might almost be said that he had no means whatever. But he came with the determination to succeed, and notwithstanding his great suffering on account of his poverty he is now on the road to success and is numbered among the substantial farmers of his section. It is indeed difficult for one to fully appreciate the condition of a person coming to a country like this at that time with no money or friends, and being compelled to work his way through under such embarrassing circumstances. None but the brave and courageous succeed.

Frank W. Magee was united in marriage December 10, 1878, to Miss Mary Fester, of Clinton, N. Y., and from this union four children were born — Arthur, born April 6, 1881 (deceased); Maud, born March 17,1884; a third child born July 6, 1885 (deceased), and Sarah E., born November 4, 1887. Mrs. Magee was born in Lewis county, N. Y., February 22, 1857, and is the daughter of John and Sarah Fester, both of whom came from Germany. Mrs. Magee is a member of the United Brethern church. Mr. Magee has been chosen to fill various local offices and has always performed his official duties in a highly creditable manner. He is a man who strives at all times and under all circumstances to merit the respect and approbation of those around him.