Biography - John S. Gee

John Sheldon Gee, a retired hardware merchant of Flaxton, and the president of the Burke County Fair and Agricultural Society, was born July 3, 1860, at Virgil, Cortland county, New York. His father, John L. Gee, was born and reared in Pennsylvania and in early manhood removed to New York, after which he engaged in farming in Cortland county for many years. Eventually he homesteaded near Marshall, Lyon county, Minnesota, becoming one of its pioneer settlers and there carrying on general agricultural pursuits for a third of a century. At length he retired from the farm and took up his abode in Monticello, Minnesota. He married Felicia Seamons, who was born in New York and spent her last days in Monticello.

John S. Gee continued a resident of the Empire state until he accompanied his parents on their removal to Minnesota, after which he assisted his father in the work of the home farm until he had attained his majority. He then purchased land in Lyon county, Minnesota, and engaged in farming on his own account until 1900, when he sold that property and made his way to Flaxton, North Dakota, taking up a homestead claim in the vicinity of the town. He cultivated that property until he secured the title thereto, after which he became a resident of Flaxton. He was appointed postmaster in 1901 and occupied that position continuously for fifteen years, or until January, 1916. Upon his retirement from that position he entered the employment of the Flaxton Hardware Company, with which he is still connected. He owns his homestead property, upon which there has never been a mortgage. He is accounted a successful man and is highly esteemed and respected by all who know him.

In February, 1882, Mr. Gee was united in marriage to Miss Ellen Marron, at Marshall, Lyon county, Minnesota. She was born in Grant county, Wisconsin, near Platteville, a daughter of Owen and Ellen Marron, who were natives of Ireland, and on coming to the new world settled in Wisconsin. After leaving that state they became residents of Lyon county, Minnesota, and there Mrs. Gee was reared upon the home farm, completing her education by graduating from the high school at Marshall. To Mr. and Mrs. Gee have been born nine children, of whom six are living; Maud, the wife of George Wilson, a farmer of Saskatchewan, Canada; Vernon Lynn and Roland, who are also farming in Saskatchewan; Etta, the wife of Jay Olney, a farmer of Steele, North Dakota; and Harold and Lyle, at home.

In politics Mr. Gee is a republican and for ten years he has served on the school board of Flaxton. He is president of the Burke County Fair and Agricultural Society. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Presbyterian church and fraternally he is a Royal Arch Mason, belonging to the lodge and chapter at Marshall, Minnesota. He also became a charter member of the Modern Woodmen camp at Flaxton, in which he has filled all the chairs. He is a man of kindly spirit, of genial disposition and sterling worth, pleasant and agreeable in manner and looked upon as one of the most substantial and valued citizens of his town. He owes his success entirely to his own efforts, for he started out emptyhanded, working his way upward to success by reason of his close application and diligence.

Extracted 05 Nov 2019 by Norma Hass from North Dakota History and People, published in 1917, volume 2, pages 398-399.