My father's name name was Oliver Horatio McGee. Was a baseball nut and a great trap shooter. "Shooting at clay pigeons. Shot left handed and after a state championships held in Marengo back in the teens he and another great shot and shot and each had no misses for so long their shoulders got sore and they flipped a coin to see if one would miss to end the contest.  Dad lost the coin toss and just shot straight up in the air to lose.  Winner got a new gun. 

  Dad always had a joke to tell. He never ran out of jokes.  I guess that's where I get it.  We milked cows by hand and he could really milk.  I tried to get as good as him but he always beat me.  He farmed and worked in a kutlery factory in Rockford.  He had 3 brothers, Harry, Buckie, Unckie, and 4 sisters, Muriel, Cassie, Lettie, and Jennie.

   I think he was born in Marengo, IL.  He wasn't overly religious.  Was a Catholic until they gave him hell for working on Sundays. But it was the only way to save his crop, so he stopped going to church.  He never smoked but he chewed snuff all the time, hardly ever brushed his teeth, but when he died in his 50's he still had his baby teeth.  Never went to dentist.  He belonged to the Masons but during the depression with 3 kids he had to stop any cost of memberships.  Dad was allmost as wide as he was tall.  he was short but a powerfull man.

   Mom was so different. She would not say shit if she had a mouthfull of it.  She never said anything bad about anyone.  Her favorite saying was "What ya call it." She was the one to make us kids mind.  Dad would never do anything to punish us.  He used to laugh at mom when we were doing something we shouldn't.  Mom would say, "Do you want a whipping?" Dad would laugh and say, "what a hell of a thing to ask a kid--of course he don't want a whipping." 

   After Dad died, mom took pension for Dad's war time help.  About $70.00 a month, she made ends meet and somehow saved money.  After Bev got married she went to live with her and just George, Guy, and Louise was home.  Dorothy was married also.

  Mom's mother lived with her after her dad had passed away.  We were always a close family.  They were good parents and had to struggle through life because of the depression and all.  Love, Uncle Mack.

 

 

  I'll try  to anser some of your questions,  I can not help you on this youngest son.  I remember my Mom talking about Aunt Jennie, Aunt Ethel, but what reatives they were, great aunts to me.

  Yes, I remember Grandpa Fox very well.  When they moved from Rockford to Kirkland to a farm that they got in a deal with their home in Rockford.  I went to live with them and to help on the farm I was 16 or 17 as I remember.  My dad, Ray I remember very well as for him being buried on the 4th of July I can say for sure. 

   Fibber and I were both overseas and Fibber in Okinawa in the Army and I in the Phillipeans in the Navy.  Mom went to the Red Cross rep and asked if Fib and I could come home for the funeral the Rep told Mom "no they aren't officers."  So when I found out how they treated mom I scratched Red Cross off my list card have not given a penny to them and never will.

  Dad and Mom were real nice to us and Fibber was still home and helped her a lot to get along.

  Dad was in WWI airy.  He was sent to Africa and as soon as they landed, they shifted them to France or Italy because the war was centered there at that time.

  Don't ask me the time, I wasnt' even born yet.  Dad used to tell me some of his war stories when we were working on the farm.  I remember Grandpa Fox(Chester ) had a younger brother that lived in Rockford the same time Grandpa Fox lived on North Chicago Avenue.  As I remember, his name was Will Fox and according to your chart Grandpa Fox was 14 when Will was 2.  All I can help you with sorry.

  I hope you can read my writing sometimes I can't even figure it out myself. Love you and really enjoyed hearing form you.  Uncle Mack

 

 

  I used to live in Capron and worked with your mother.  We rode together in Genoa.  I have two children, Mike and Cindy.  My mother is Margaret and my dad Oliver Sandberg. 

  I can remember all the family reunions we had in July.  One for your grandmother and one for my grandmother.  In my records from both my grandmother and my mom have your grandfathers name as Ray Oliver.  He is the 6th child in the family.  I remember always they talked about Uncle Ray.

  The Children are:

   1. Harry Claude July 1 1879-1959

   2. James Dillan (Unkie) Jan. 26, 1882-1962

   3. John Schooley Nov.28, 1884-1900

   4. Fanny Fay Mar 23, 1886-1923

   5. Catherine Mae July 26, 1888-March 30, 1977

   6. Ray Oliver April 1, 1890-July 2, 1945

   7. Jennie Pearl Aug 17, 1891-1964

   8. Gary (Buck) Feb. 17, 1893-1976

   9. Electie Florence June 27, 1898-March 1976

 10. Minnie Maude Oct. 30, 1899-March 26, 1990

 

Ted and Viv still live in the same house there in Marengo.  I have alot of information on Aunt Letties family and my family. I hope this helps a little. Sharyn Dalton

 

 

Hi, just got the mail you sent me, and I have an answer for the people you asked about.  May Fox is Lucinda Mae Pierce Fox, Grandma Avis McGee's mother.  She had May L. Fox put on her tombstone.  Lucille (Fox) West is Grandma Avis McGee's sister.   Lucille, lived with Chester and May (Lucinda May).  As for Ray McGee, Pvt 3 Co1 Development BN World War I, that is Grandpa McGee, Avis McGee's husband.  He died when my dad was 7 and your dad was 4.  Dad said that he was buried on the 4 of July and that it impacted his 4th of July celebrations for many years.  I think he still thinks of him on tht day. Lori.