Egbert Swilley McGee (abt. 1897 - 1948)

Born about 8 Feb 1897 in Camden, Kershaw County, South Carolina, USA

Ancestors

Husband of Bartie (Christenbury) McGee — married 9 Sep 1916 in Concord, Cabarrus County, North Carolina, United States of America

Husband of Fonzie (Driggers) McGee — married 11 Dec 1928 in Bushnell, Sumter County, Florida, United States of America

Descendants

Died 26 May 1948 at about age 51 in Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Debi Hoag [send private message]

Biography

Egbert Swillie McGee was born 8 Feb (probably) 1897 in Camden, Kershaw County, South Carolina, to Charles Ervin McGee and Lula (Hinson) McGee. ^[1][2] He was not consistent in his use of a birth year. In 1937, when he signed his Application for Social Security Number, he used 1902 as his birth year^[3] but nineteen years earlier and five years later, when filling out his Draft Registration cards in 1918 and 1942, he indicated his year of birth was 1897.^[4][5]

E. S. first married Mrs. Bartie (Christenbury) York(e) on 9 September 1916 in Cabarrus, North Carolina.^[6] They had at least one child, Ervin Delane McGee.^[7]

After Bartie's death, Edward married Fonzie Driggers on 11 December 1928 in Bushnell, Sumter County, Florida. Fonzie's mother, Lizzie Fore Driggers, signed as a witness of her underage daughter's marriage.^[8] Various records have been found that document Fonzie's year of birth between 1911 and 1917, making her at most 17 years old and at the least 11 years old. Her SS-5 lists 1915 which corresponds to the stories she told of marrying her first husband when she was 13 years old.^[9] Soon after their marriage, the couple moved to Durham, North Carolina, where he was a machinist for the Carolina Motor Rebuilding Company. According to the city directory, they lived at the same address as the company. Did they own the company or was housing a benefit of employment?^[10]

The couple had three children: Constance Wyvonne McGee,^[11] a stillborn child, and Charles Ervin McGee.^[12][13]

The 1940 census enumeration for the Edward S McGee household includes wife Fonzie, sons Ervin D and Charles, and daughter Constance. The family lived in at least two different homes that year, both near the train yards in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia.^[14][15][16]

Edward was employed by CSX Transportation as a machinist from 1937 to 1942.^[17] During that time, he developed a foot pedal attachment that enabled train engineers to more easily control the steam for applying the brakes. He was awarded a patent for the Locomotive Brake Control Attachment on 6 January 1942.^[18] He was promoted to foreman in 1943 and held that position until his death in 1948. His yearly earnings ranged from $1,877 to $3,600^[17] (approx $31,711 - $36,388 per year in 2016 dollars^[19]). He worked in shops in Atlanta, Tallahassee, and Jacksonville in that time period.^[14][20][2] The informant on his death certificate indicated that he was the roundhouse foreman at the Seaboard Shops.

Edward died 26 May 1948 at 841 Ellis Road in Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida.^[2] He is buried in Riverside Memorial Park, Unit 3, Lot 92-7, Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida.^[21]

Following his death, Fonzie and her children received payments from an insurance annuity through the Railroad Retirement Board. Combined, they received a check each month for just under $87/mo (approx $10,548/year in 2016 dollars).^[22]

Research Notes

This profile is Genealogically Defined. It has a biographical narrative with sources for each of the four major events in a person's life (as appropriate): Birth, Marriage, Children, and Death.

• Probable 1920 Census - "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZVW-X7D : 14 December 2015), S Willie Mcghee in household of George W Williams, Raleigh Ward 1, Wake, North Carolina, United States; citing sheet 14A, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,821,326.

• The birth year on the marker was taken from the death certificate and is incorrect (see first paragraph of bio); the death year was provided by the cemetery and is incorrect. Correct information and sources have been added to the FindAGrave memorial. Find A Grave: Memorial #117749351 for Edward Swilley McGee

  [Edward Swilley McGee
  Compass and Ruler emblem "In Loving Memory" Holy Bible emblem
  Feb. 8, 1899 - May 27, 1947]
  

• The relationships to mother Louise "Lula" (Hinson) McGee and son Charles E McGee are suggested by a 61.4 cM autosomal DNA match between Debi McGee Hoag GEDmatch G293623 and her paternal fourth cousin Larry Hayer GEDmatch A037820; more cousin matches are needed for triangulation.

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSBN-61P : 22 January 2015), Egbert S Mcgee in household of Chas E Mcgee, Franklinsville Township, West Franklinsville Precinct, Randolph, North Carolina, United States; citing sheet 8A, family 130, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,241,213. Provides parents' names (Chas E and Louise McGee), first name and middle initial, month, year, and state of birth. Also listed are his brother Wm C and sister Fannie L.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Duval County, Florida Death Certificate no 10146, Edward Swilley McGee, 26 May 1948; Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Jacksonville, Florida. Provides the city and county of birth.
3. ↑ Edward Swillie McGee, 719-07-3970, 26 January 1937, Application for Account Numbers (Form SS-5), Social Security Administration. Copy received from the Railroad Retirement Board on August 8, 1997.
4. ↑ "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZ8T-JSF : 12 December 2014), S Willie[sic Swillie] Mcgee, 1917-1918; citing Charlotte City, North Carolina, United States, NARA microfilm publication M1509 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,765,628. [An image of both sides of the card can be found at Ancestry Record 6482 #16637470 with attached Image.]
5. ↑ "Georgia World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2QZ-CFS5 : accessed 3 November 2016), Edward S McGee, 1940-1942; citing image 348-349 of 1017, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-27491-18572-50?cc=1880573 : 5 July 2016, accessed 3 Nov 2016), McGarity, Walker - McGehee, Elmer Abner; Atlanta, Fulton, Georgia, United States, Records of the Selective Service System, 1926 - 1975, RG 147, National Archives at St. Louis, Missouri.
6. ↑ Concord, Cabarrus County, North Carolina, Marriage License and Certificate, E. S. McGee and Mrs Bertie Yorke, 9 Sept 1916; "North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 ", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F891-LHM : 8 July 2016, accessed 3 Nov 2016); citing image 536 of 1685, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-43773-18033-44?cc=1726957 : 19 July 2016, accessed 3 Nov 2016), Cabarrus > Marriage licenses, 1915-1919, vol A-Z; Cabarrus County Courthouse, North Carolina
7. ↑ Ervin Delane McGee, online database, "U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007," Ancestry.com (http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=60901&h=18277951 : accessed 29 September 2015); citing Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007
8. ↑ E. S. McGee and Fonzie Driggers. Sumter County, Florida, Marriage License and Certificate of Marriage. File Number 16456. Marriage Book 6, Page 432. Filed 11 December 1928.
9. ↑ Fonzie Driggers McGee, family stories told to Debi Hoag between 1973 and 1989.
10. ↑ Durham (North Carolina) City Directory (Richmond, Virginia, USA: Hill Directory Co), 1929, pg 376; digital image, "U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995," Ancestry.com (http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2469 : 13 September 2017) North Carolina > Durham > 1929 > Durham, North Carolina, City Directory, 1929 > image 191 of 407. [McGee Edgbert S (Fonzie) mach Carolina Motor Rebuilding Co r140 Hunt. The Abbreviation List on Image 32 (pg 60) shows that "mach" is the abbreviation for machinist. The address is identified as Carolina Motor Rebuilding Co, not a residence, in the street directory found on image 333 (pg 657).]
11. ↑ Harrison County, Mississippi Standard Certificate of Birth no 4301, Constance Wyvonne McGee, 20 Feb 1932; inherited by Debi Hoag from Fonzie "Peggy" Driggers McGee in Feb 1989.
12. ↑ Marion County, Mississippi Standard Certificate of Birth no 33967, Charles E McGee, 11 Oct 1934; inherited by Debi Hoag from Fonzie "Peggy" Driggers McGee in Feb 1989.
13. ↑ The #1934 Birth Certificate of son, Charles, identifies the father as Edward Swillie McGee of Columbia, Mississippi, age 35, born in Camden, South Carolina. He was a machinist in the business of manufacturing batteries. The certificate is also the source of information regarding the stillborn child. The pregnancy lasted five months and ended due to Fonzie having malaria. The 1932 Birth Certificate of daughter Constance Wyvonne indicates her father was born in Camden, Arkansas. No other records with that state have been found to date (2Nov2016)
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1} "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K7L1-CYZ : accessed 3 November 2016), Edward S Mcgee, Militia District 469, Fulton, Georgia, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 60-1, sheet 8A, family 187, National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) digital publication T627, roll 674. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: NARA, 2012. [Residence was at 5 Tallulah Street, northeast of the train yard.]
15. ↑ Greater Atlanta (Georgia) City Directory (Atlanta, Georgia, USA: Atlanta City Directory Co.), 1940, pg 930, col 1; digital image, "U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995," Ancestry.com (http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2469 : 14 September 2017) Georgia > Atlanta > 1940 > Atlanta, Georgia, City Directory, 1940 > image 468 of 1141. ["McGee Edw S (Fonzie) mach h20 Holley NW." The residence is southwest of the train yard.]
16. ↑ GoogleMaps showing two known addresses and train yard, Google (https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Tallulah+St+NW,+Atlanta,+GA+30318/20+Holly+Rd+NW,+Atlanta,+GA+30314 : 14 September 2017).
17. ↑ ^{17.0 17.1} Railroad Retirement Board, letter, received by Debi Hoag, 8 Aug 1997, with enclosed SS-5 and service and earnings statement.
18. ↑ Patent #: US2268953, Edward S. McGee, "Locomotive Brake Control Attachment," 6 January 1942; United States Patent and Trademark Office, Alexandria, Virginia, USA (https://www.uspto.gov : accessed 13 November 2020)
19. ↑ Inflation Calculator, accessed 3 Nov 2016
20. ↑ W. C. McGee Obituary. Charlotte Observer, The (Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina). 3 February 1946, Section 2, Page 13.
21. ↑ FIND A GRAVE, database with images (http://findagrave.com : accessed 3 Nov 2016), memorial no. 117749351, Edward Swilley McGee, created and photographed by Susan; citing Riverside Memorial Park, Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida, United States of America. The gravestone has errors. See Gravestone Data Extraction for an explanation. Find A Grave: Memorial #117749351
22. ↑ Railroad Retirement Board, letter, received by Mrs. Fonzie D. McGee, 13 Jul 1948; inherited by Debi Hoag, Sept 1989. McGee Family Files. Privately held by Debi McGee Hoag, Leesburg, Florida.

See Also:

• "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M56V-2PD : 29 October 2015), Swillie Mcvea in household of Charles E Mcvea, Catawba, York, South Carolina, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 103, sheet 35B, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,375,481.

• "Florida State Census, 1945," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNNT-3WQ : 14 November 2014), E S Mcgee, Wildwood, Sumter, Florida; citing line 42, State Archives, Tallahassee; FHL microfilm 2,425,210.

  [McGee E. S., 47, born S. C., RR Foreman
  -------- Fonsie, 31, born Fla, wife
  -------- Constance, 13, born Miss, student
  -------- Charles, 10, born Miss, student]

• "Florida Deaths - Jacksonville - Edward S McGee (50)", The Miami Herald, Miami, Florida, (1948) 30 May 1948, Page 3C, column 3; from Newspapers.com page 31, created Newspapers Clip: 136694772 on Tuesday, December 12, 2023.

• "U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995," Ancestry.com (http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2469 : accessed 20 Oct 2016)
  • Jacksonville, Florida, City Directory, 1951, Richmond, Virginia, USA: R. L. Polk & Co., pg 395

    [McGee Peggy (wid Edw) clk Clean Clns r840 Edgwood]

• Ephemera in the McGee Family Files. Privately held by Debi McGee Hoag, Leesburg, Florida.
  • Notarized consent dated 31 August 1954 from Fonzie D McGee for her minor son Charles McGee to marry. Fonzie states that Edward Samuel[sic] McGee is the father and is deceased
  • Florida, Duval County, Jacksonville, Riverside Memorial Park, Locator Map- Edward S McGee received by Debi Hoag from Town & Country Funeral Home, 7242 Normandy Boulevard, Jacksonville, Florida, 3 November 1999
  • Joyce Walker, letter, received by Debi Hoag, 28 December 1996. "Your grandmother and her first husband (your grandpa) were my parents' landlords when the[sic] first married. They lived in Columbia, Miss. (near Hattiesburg) Your grandparents moved to Florida, but they wrote often & sent packages for over 50 years. When Mother became ill in '69, I started writing to "Aunt" Peg to keep her posted on Mother's condition."