George Washington Gee

1815 - 1842  (26 years)  Submit Photo / Document    Has 2 ancestors and 17 descendants in this family tree.

• Name	George Washington Gee
  Birth	13 Aug 1815	Rome Township, Ashtabula, Ohio, United States
  Gender	Male
  Death	20 Jan 1842	Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States
  Initiatory (LDS)	26 Sep 1888	LOGAN
  FamilySearch ID	KWVQ-DBG
  Burial	Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States
  Headstones	Submit Headstone Photo
  Person ID	I51148	mytree
  Last Modified	25 Feb 2024

  
  

  Father	Salmon Gee,   b. 16 Oct 1792, Old Lyme, New London, Connecticut, United States d. 13 Sep 1845 (Age 52 years)
  Mother	Sarah Watson Crane,   b. 26 Jan 1795, Sandisfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States d. 21 May 1849, Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States (Age 54 years)
  Marriage	15 Nov 1814	New Lyme, Ashtabula, Ohio, United States
  Family ID	F19021	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Mary Jane Smith,   b. 29 Apr 1815, Stockholm, St. Lawrence, New York, United States d. 1 Mar 1878, Provo, Utah, Utah, United States (Age 62 years)
  Marriage	5 Feb 1837	Kirtland, Lake, Ohio, United States
  Children	1. Elias Smith Gee,   b. 30 May 1838, Fredricksburg, Ray, Missouri, United States d. 10 Aug 1855, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States (Age 17 years) + 2. George Washington Gee, Jr,   b. 9 Oct 1841, Ambrosia, Lee, Iowa, United States d. 17 Sep 1919, Provo, Utah, Utah, United States (Age 77 years)
  Family ID	F19020	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	2 Jun 2024

  
  

• Event Map

  Birth - 13 Aug 1815 - Rome Township, Ashtabula, Ohio, United States Marriage - 5 Feb 1837 - Kirtland, Lake, Ohio, United States Death - 20 Jan 1842 - Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States Initiatory (LDS) - 26 Sep 1888 - LOGAN Burial - - Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Notes

  Compiled by Garda G. Adams (edited C.E.B.) This sketch is the result of much research on my part about my ancestor s , the Gee Family in America. The Gee ancestral line, as far as records permit us to determine, follo w s thusly: Solomon Gee from Devonshire, England, who is found in the ear l y 1700’s in Connecticut in the vicinity of Lyme, New London County, wa s t he emigrant ancestor of this family. Our direct line from Solomon is : (1 ) William, (2) Zopher, (3) Salmon, (4) George Washington Sr., (5) Ge org e Washington II, my grandfather, which brings us down to the establis hmen t of the Latter Day Saints Church in the year of 1830. Salmon, Georg e Was hington Sr. and George Washington II all became members of this chu rch i n the very early years of its formation. Others of Salmon's famil y joine d it later. Some were also among the number who crossed the plain s. The association of Salmon's family with the Church can be identified wi t h circumstances which brought him to the state of Ohio. His father, Zop he r, and a number of others then living in Lyme, Connecticut were attrac te d by the possibilities of the land known as the Western Reserve of Con nec ticut in the northeastern corner of Ohio which had been acquired by E lish a Tracy and offered for resale. In 1803, Zopher’s sons John and Salm on jo ined a small company of men from Lyme who made the difficult journe y to O hio for the purpose of examining the land there so a determinatio n coul d be made whether those interested should relocate from Connecticu t to es tablish new homes in this opening frontier. Apparently their report was favorable to Zopher Gee and a group of frien d s and neighbors who commenced to dispose of their properties preparato r y to their move from Lyme to that part of the new land which later beca m e known as Ashtabula County, Ohio . In 1810, a first contingent of men made their way to the new homesite, J o hn and Salmon Gee among them, and built a small cabin for shelter on Zo ph er Gee's land where they stayed while clearing land in two locations w hic h they planted in corn as an initial food supply for the families t o com e later. Part of the men returned in the fall to Lyme, Connecticut to bring the i r families to this new frontier. On September 20, 1811 or 1812 (history is confusing as to the year), a g r oup of ninety persons arrived and settled in an area first known as Leb an on but later renamed New Lyme, Ashtabula County, Ohio. They had travel e d more than six hundred miles by wagon, some drawn by horses and other s b y oxen. In this group were Zopher Gee and his second wife, Lura, sometimes call e d "Laura," and their young family. His first wife, Esther Beckwith, mot he r of John, Salmon and Esther had died in 1794 back in Lyme. Some of the settlers might have been called rich financially but mone y o r no money, there was no time for lament. Here people had to work o r the y would starve. Zopher and his family were among the sturdy pioneers who toiled hard th a t life might be bearable for their families. ******** of a home was th e f irst order of business for all. Then clearing of the land and plantin g o f crops. The dwellings of the pioneers in the Western Reserve were at first cru d e bark and brush shacks. They were replaced as soon as possible by nea t l og cabins. Large logs about a foot in diameter were used, filled betw ee n with clay or wooden wedges. Roofs of clapboards and floors of punche on s split from logs. Doors were heavy wood with leather or wooden hinges . W indows were wooden cross slats covered with oiled paper. Chairs wer e thre e-legged stools and cupboards were boards laid on wooden pegs. The woods supplied them with meat (deer, bear and fowl). Also, homes, ma p le syrup and some fruit so they fared well if they worked hard. These early pioneers, so history tells us, were a rough, hardy, intellig e nt lot. They believed in God, good order and education. They were kin d an d sociable and had frequent parties. Wood chopping for the men, quil tin g bees for the women, with goodies for dinner and supper. They practiced "Love thy neighbor as thyself," lovingly, kindly, earnest l y and effectively. This was the foundation stock of my great grandfath e r George Washington Gee. The Zopher Gee family prospered during the years 1813-1815 and he bui l t a large, and for those days, commodious house which is still in every da y use. His oldest children soon married and established homes and farms of the i r own in this new western country. In the marriage records of Ashtabula County, we find the marriage of Sal m on Gee to Sarah Watson Crane on 15 NOV 1814, who was a daughter of Will ia m Crane and Sarah Watson. There were ten children credited to this cou ple , eight of whom grew to maturity. George Washington Gee was the oldes t ch ild born to this family. He was born 13 AUG 1815 in what the famil y recor d identifies as New Lyme, Ashtabula County, Ohio. The historica l record o f this county gives the first name of this township as Lebanon . It was of ficially renamed New Lyme in 1825. So George W. Gee really wa s born in Le banon, Ashtabula County, Ohio. His brother, Giles by name, w as also bor n in Lebanon 18 JAN 1817 and died 23 APR 1821. The third chil d was bor n 1 SEP 1818 in Austinburg, a neighboring township. The other brothers and sisters of George Washington Gee were: Sarah Caro l ine born 30 AUG 1820, Amanda Melvina born 20 JAN 1823, Erastus Smith bo r n 29 JUL 1825, Susan Eliza born 31 JAN 1828, Salmon Jr. born 13 JAN 182 6 , Electa born 13 JUL 1833 died 28 JAN 1838, Martha Brewer born 9 APR 18 38 . Some of these children are identified as having been born in Rome whic h i s a neighboring township of New Lyme (Lebanon). History states that t hi s area was known by the name of Richfield until 1829 when it was chang e d to Rome. Records also show that the father, Salmon Gee, moved to Geau g a County, probably the township of Thompson in 1828 and later to Kirtla nd , Lake County, Ohio in 1834. Our historical sketch now reverts to George W. Gee about whom it was int e nded. Little is known about George Washington Gee’s early life. It wou l d necessarily reflect the hard work and toil of a child born on the fro nt ier on the farm of his father and mother with what little formal educa tio n there was available at that time and in that area. He was thirtee n year s old when the family moved to Geauga, which would probably consis t of se tting up a new home and a clearing for a new farm . We can find no indication historically of the reason for their move. T o t he author, the reason for their move is explained in the preface of t hi s sketch since it was here the Gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Sa int s was taught to this family. The father and mother of this family wer e ba ptized into this church in July of 1832, just two years after it ha d bee n organized. George Washington Gee, now eighteen years of age, als o was b aptized 17 FEB 1833 at Kirtland, Ohio. Just what he really did immediately following his baptism we have no com p lete record as yet. There is a record in the book, "The Teachings of Jo se ph Smith” that suggests something about where he was and what might ha v e occurred. It is found on page 20. The heading is, "An Epistle of th e Fi rst Presidency to the Church in Thompson, Geauga Co., Ohio.11 (2nd p aragr aph) Kirtland, Feb. 6, 1833. Dear Brethern, "It seemed good unto th e Hol y Spirit and unto us to send this our epistle to you by the hand o f our b eloved Brother Salmon Gee your messenger who has been ordained b y us, i n obedience to the commandments of God to the office of Elder t o presid e over the church in Thompson taking the oversight thereof to le ad you an d teach you the things which are according to Godliness," etc. George W. was in Kirtland too with his father since he was baptized o n 1 7 FEB 1833, which was shortly after this epistle was written. He ma y hav e returned to Thompson with his father. We have no indication as t o jus t where the mother and the rest of the family were at this time. W e migh t expect, however, that they were with the father in Thompson. Church history tells us of the great difficulties that had overtaken t h e Saints in Kirtland at this time. From the Journal of John Smith, brot he r of Joseph Smith Sr. we quote, "The Spirit of speculation, a mania t o ma ke money became prevalent throughout the United States and many of t he Sa ints joined wildcat schemes and forgot their Holy annointing to min istr y of God. With this came the spirit of Apostasy and rebellion. It le d th e Prophet to exclaim, "It seems as though all the powers of earth an d hel l are combining to overthrow the church." The temple was not yet completed. The faithful of the church were ther e s uffering abuse and persecution striving to complete it. George was pr obab ly there doing just that. They, George and his father, were at the meeting held 7 MAR 1835 which w a s called for the blessing of those who had, assisted by labor or othe r me ans helped in building the house of the Lord. Their names are liste d wit h those at that time. George Washington Gee also was ordained an Elder at this time. On 16 MAY 1836 Church History records the arrival of the grandmother o f t he Prophet from St. Lawrence County, New York with her two sons, Asah el a nd Silas, and their families with other converts from that area. I t was i n this group that George found his life companion, Mary Jane Smit h, cousi n of the Prophet Joseph Smith. They were married on 5 FEB 1837 . This wa s announced in the February issue of the "Messenger and Advocat e" publish ed by the church. Due to the conditions in Kirtland, the Prophet had left there and settl e d in Missouri hoping to carry on the work of the Lord there without per se cution. Other Saints were leaving as quickly as they were able to arra ng e their affairs. George and Mary Jane managed to leave. They moved to Fredricksburg, Ra y C ounty, Missouri in 1838. Here their first child was born on 30 MAY 18 38 , a son named Elias Smith Gee. There must have been a little group of the Saints who settled here at th a t time. Fredericksburg, Ray County, Missouri is designated in histor y a s a post office in the Fishing River Township. Their stay here must h av e been short. They were driven into Illinois. From the "Autobiography of George W. Bean” compiled by Flora D. Home , w e take this statement, "In the fall of 1839 the expulsion of the Morm on s from Missouri took place — the city of Quincy, Adams County, general l y became the temporary lodging place for many of the persecuted people . M y father having added to his lands and improved it for some time wa s poss essed of several houses and cabins which for a short time were fil led wit h some of these people. I remember especially George W. Gee and h is wif e who was the sister of Elias Smith, as well as the cousin of th e Prophe t Joseph Smith. "Brother Gee taught school for our district that fall. I remember the sh o ck it gave us when it leaked out that his wife was a cousin of Joe Smit h . What a risk of contamination we were in. Of course he was soon dismis se d." When they were driven from Fredricksburg, Esther, Mary Jane's sister a n d her husband, Amos Botsford Fuller, were evicted from their home and t he ir house burned when Esther had given birth to a child just three hour s b efore. We find the Saints collecting at a place in Illinois called Commerce, la t er called Nauvoo. This is where we next find George and Mary Jane. In a record G. S, serial NV no. 25163-Pt 7, we find among other things M i nutes of General Conferences and the High Council men who located in pl ac es just across the river from Commerce (Nauvoo) on the Iowa side of th e r iver. In the minutes of a general conference of the Church held in Co mmer ce, Hancock County, Illinois on 5 OCT 1839, we find this statement , "It w as unanimously voted that a branch of the Church be established i n the Te rritory of Iowa. Elder John Smith was elected President of thi s branch. " Some of the settlements that became a part of this Branch wer e Montrose , Nashville, Ambrosia, Zarahemla, etc . George W. and Mary Jane and small son Elias Smith settled at Ambrosia, L e e County. As we read the minutes of the general conferences held at var io us times in these respective settlements, we find George W. Gee ofte n cal led to be clerk, both in conferences and High Council meetings in t his ar ea until, in a conference held 7th, 8th and 9th of August, 1841, h e was m ade Church recorder. He represented 109 members from Ambrosia and 13 members from Keokuk as h a s been mentioned. During all of this time, he and his family were residing in Ambrosia, L e e County, Iowa. It was a small settlement where a number of the member s o f the Church resided from 1840 to 1846 when the march to the Rocky Mo unta ins began. A post office was established and George W. Gee was mad e postm aster. He was also made county surveyor. Ambrosia extended from Montrose as far as Sugar Creek. At one time, th i s area was included in what was called the Half Breed Tract and was inc lu ded in land purchased by the Church with intent to build a city, Zarah eml a and for Nashville, Iowa. In the Journal History of the Church under the date of 30 MAR 1840, a re p ort of a short mission for the Church into the State of Tennessee is gi ve n by George. I am writing it just as it is given because I feel it sup pli es a touch of the kind of person he was and of his faith and testimon y o f the truthfulness of the Gospel: "MAR 30, 1840 — George W. Gee reported missionary labors as follows: I l e ft my home last NOV 1839 to preach the Gospel in Tennessee trusting alo n e in the Lord to sustain me as I was alone and had never attemped to pr ea ch before. I commenced preaching in DeKalb County. "The people were prejudiced in consequence of the falsehoods that had be e n written from Missouri by our most zealous persecutors, but on hearin g , expressed their surprise to hear me contend so strongly for the Bibl e a nd its requirements; and that we should not be persecuted for preachi ng t he very order of things which all Christiandom was earnestly prayin g for. "On arriving at Overton County, I found Elder Julian Moses. We preache d t ogether for two weeks and baptized two. Then I went to Jackson Count y an d preached almost constantly for six weeks. Doors were open on the r igh t hand and the left. I have baptized ten in all and others are believ ing. "Brother Moses joined me in Jackson County. We traveled and preached i n m any places but could not supply all the calls. The prejudice of the p eopl e appeared to give way on hearing for themselves. "Our wants were well supplied. We never lacked for a comfortable plac e t o lodge. We attained twenty-one subscribers for the "Times and Season s" a nd the call was "books, books, books," but the common weapon of misr epres entation was used against us by many individuals. We were invited to a public discussion of our principles which we accept e d. This lasted three days. Myself and Brother Moses on affirmative an d Re verend L. DeWitt and F. A. Stone (Campbellites) negative. "The points at issue were: 1- The Book of Mormom is a sacred record an d w as translated by the inspiration of God and came forth in fulfill- me ri t of Prophecy. 2- That Apostles, Prophets and spiritual gifts; such a s he aling, diversities of tongues and their interpretation are necessar y in t he Church of Christ, according to his order. "At the close of the debate we baptized one. There were others we thin k w ill obey the first opportunity. "We arrived home on 28 MAR 1840." John Smith was writing a letter to his friend George Albert in England , t o which George Gee added the following postscript dated JUN 1840: "I was laboring in the vineyard of the Lord about two months ago. "I have bought land here (Ambrosia). I am engaged in cultivating the soi l . All is well at present. The Saints are fast emigrating to this plac e an d the work is rolling onward." And in the Journal History of the Church under the date of 7 OCT 1841 . w e find this entry: "Council House of John Taylor at Nauvoo. (Business of the Meeting) "Vot e d 17 missionaries to be called to the various fields of labor." Among t h e names on the list that followed: "Elder George Washington Gee, calle d t o fill a mission in Pittsburgh." Two days after this call was made, Mary Jane gave birth to their secon d c hild; a son, George W. Gee, Jr., born 9 OCT 1841 at Ambrosia, Lee Cou nty , Iowa. Shortly afterward, the father left to fill his mission call in Pennsylva n ia. Probably sometime in November, we do not have the exact date, not l on g after his arrival in his field of labor, he was called to administe r t o a child suffering from black measles. The child recovered but Brot he r Gee contracted the disease and passed away as a result on 20 JAN 184 2. In the Documentary History of the Church Vol. IV, page 500, we find an e n try by the Prophet Joseph Smith, "Thurs. 20 JAN 1842, attended a speci a l council meeting in the upper room of new Store, George Washington Ge e d ied today.” There is also a footnote with a brief history of George W. Gee's life. T h e views of which are already given in this sketch. I repeat the closin g p hrases of this note: “In the fall of 1841, he was sent to Pittsburg h wher e he died 20 JAN 1842 while in the discharge of his duties, havin g won th e affection of all the Saints with whom he became acquainted b y his integ rity and perseverance.” His opportunity for schooling had been limited but by his own exertion , h e had attained an excellent education and had collected quite a respe ctab le library. His granddaughter, Ina Gee Hodson, once wrote a short history of his lif e . I repeat her concluding paragraph: "At his passing, his young wife w a s left with two small sons one about three and one-half years old and t h e other only three months old. These children were taken across the pla in s by their mother in 1852. The eldest died 10 AUG 1855 about three yea r s after their arrival in the Valley. George W. Jr. eventually settle d i n Provo. He cared for his mother in his home until her death in 187 8 an d raised a large family of faithful Latter Day Saints ” Descendents of Solomon Gee of Lyme, Connecticu t Charles E. Benjamin 1981 Library of Congress Number 81-8176 4 Life and Light press, Winona Lake, Indiana Pages 220-230 Times and Seasons, Vol.4, p.127 POETRY. Lines occasioned by the death of Elder George W. Gee[?] late of Ambros i a, Lee County, I. T. who died in the city of Pittsburg, Penn. on the 20 t h of Jan. 1842. BY MISS E. R. SNOW. THE HERO'S REWARD. Well may the fire of glory blaze Upon the warrior's tread; And nations twine the wreath of praise Around the hero's head: His path is honor, and his name Is written on the spire of fame. His deeds are deeds of courage, for He treads o'er gory ground, Amid the pride and pomp of war When carnage seeps around: With sword unsheath'd, he stands before The foe, amid the cannon's roar. If such the meed the warrior gains- If such the palm he bears- If such insignia he obtains- If such the crown he wears: If laurels thus his head entwine, And stars of triumph round him shine; How noble must be HIS reward Who, 'midst the crafts of men; Clad in the armor of the Lord Goes forth to battle, when The powers of darkness warfare wage, And satan's host around him rage. Who goes opinion to unbind, That reason may go free, And liberate the human mind From cleric tyranny. To sever superstition's rod, And propagate the truth of God. Who wars with prejudice, to break Asunder error's chain, And make the sandy pillars shake Where human dogmas reign, Who dares to be a man of God, And bear the Spirit's sword abroad! Above all earthly, his shall be An everlasting fame; The archives of eternity Will register his name With gems of sacred honor rife- His crown will be eternal life. Age at death 26 years 5 months and 7 days George Washington Gee was one of the clerks of the Council Point Branc h f rom 1839-1841. The other clerks were Elias Smith, Wilard Snow, and J. F. L ane. Souce Archives at the Church historians office, SLC.