John R. Gee

A Biographical Sketch of John Gee by his daughter, Helen Gee Woods, Rexburg, Idaho May 20,1937: John Gee was born April 11,1859 at Tooele City, Utah. He is the fifth child of Lysander and Mary Etta Rowe Gee. He was baptized and confirmed in the L.D.S. Church by Thomas Atkins in the Tooele Ward about the year 1867. His father, Lysander Gee was an early Utah Pioneer, having crossed the plains with the saints, in about the year 1848;coming from Far-West, Missouri and from Nauvoo, Illinois. Solomon Gee, grandfather of John Gee is a founder and a charter member of the L.D.S.Church. He was one of the seven who constituted the first quorum of seventies under the early church organization, about the year 1835. He was born at Lyme, Connecticut, and married Sarah Watson Crane, November in 1814. His son, Lysander Gee served as the superintendent of Sunday Schools in the Tooele Ward for twenty-five years. He was a carpenter, social welfare worker, studied law, and served the city as Probate Judge for a number of years. He was an outstanding citizen of his community. He married Mary Etta Rowe, his third wife in Salt Lake City, February 10,1850. From this union there are nine children.

John Gee when only fourteen years of age, purchased with his first earnings, a large colonial clock which he gave to his mother at Christmas Time. She gave it back to him at the time of her death, and is kept in his home as a loved relic of the past. Mr. Gee moved from Tooele, Utah to Lewiston Utah about the year 1888. There he resided for some time with his sister, Emma Gee Telford. He then crossed the borderline into Franklin County, and started a business for himself in the town of Preston. And it was while here that he presided in laying a corner stone in a large brick building built by Mr. Larson. A copy of the first newspaper printed in Preston, together with some script, which was then in common use, was placed between the two stones in the corner of the building.

Mr. Gee was noted for his charitable acts of kindness, whenever donations were needed, his name always appeared among the first on the list. When he was financially able he offered and gave the means for education to those who could not afford to enter the Onieda Stake Academy. During this time Mr. Gee met Olive Caroline Winn, daughter of John and Eliza Stephensen Winn. They were married October 2,1896 in Salt Lake City, and made their home in Preston. A daughter, Helen Viola was born the following year at the W. S. Lyle Ranch nine miles north of Idaho Falls, Idaho, this being the home of Mrs. Gee’s eldest sister, Viola Case Lyle.

Eighteen months later a second child was born, John Lysander at Preston and named for his grandfather, Lysander Gee. John Winn, father of Mr. Gee’s wife was born in Tennessee. He married Eliza Stephensen, his second wife, and mother of Olive Winn Gee. She also was born in Tennessee. A year after their marriage, a daughter, Sarah was born in Richmond, Utah 1865. Three years previous to this the Bannock Indians began to steal cattle and chickens from the pioneers--a small band who had emigrated from Utah in the spring of 1860. An oft-repeated axiom of Brigham Young was: “It is cheaper to feed the Indians than to fight them.” And it was only by adhering to this policy that the little colony could exist and grow.

The settlers maintained a food-bin for the Bannock Indians to draw upon to which they all contributed. But the savages so far outnumbered them that they could demand what they wanted with impunity. Large bands of Bannocks had collected near the mouth of Battle Creek (where is the homestead of John Winn); about twelve miles northwest of Franklin, and in late December,1862 several of their number attacked a company of miners who were coming down from Leesburg, a mining camp on the Salmon River. They shot one man and wounded several. The survivors hid in the brush and went to Richmond, Utah under cover of night to report the attack. The authorities sent out some men to get the dead body and some horses. This they succeeded in doing, although they were also attacked by the Indians. A message was sent to Salt Lake for troops and Colonel P. E. Connor came with two hundred men. It was none soon, for only the day before the soldiers arrived in Franklin. The Indians had visited the town, secured twenty-four bushels of flour, and threatened the Whites with their tomahawks while they performed a war dance around the Bishop’s home. When Connor and his men reached the Indian camp they found it well fortified and almost inaccessible, being in a deep ravine with rifle-pits under a steep bank. After three successful charges, when fourteen men were killed and many wounded, Connor divided his men into three parties. One division went around to come up the creek, another came down the creek from the north and he, himself, led the attack from the front. The savages were surprised and nearly three hundred of them were killed in a few hours. The battle of Battle Creek, or Bear River as it is sometimes called(January 29,1863) shattered the power of the Bannock tribe, and put an end to Indian depredations in that region. It was in this battle that John Winn and his wife were active participants.

Their eldest son, Dick Winn, at present (May 1937) owns and resides on the old homestead, part of the battleground where the battle of Battle Creek was fought. The valley today is beautiful, and is a resort with Hot Springs where many people go for entertainment and health. John Gee and his family moved from Preston, Idaho to Grantsville, Utah, a village south and west of Salt Lake City, about the year 1899. It was a small settlement, with a few scattered homes. The land was an alkali-clay with very little if any vegetation. Artesian wells were the source of the water supply, and Mr. Gee drove one for his private use. Even though the country seemed a hazardous wasteland, the family was happy; and the children would revel in a frolic of boat riding with their father in the early morning while their mother prepared breakfast.

2003 May 21, David O. McKay Library, Brigham Young University-Idaho, Rexburg, Idaho Founders of the Snake River Valley

Gee, John 1859-1937

Mrs. Gee at this time was a vivacious, spirited young woman, robust and ambitious; her strength was without bounds. She stood bravely in defense of her husband’s pursuit; shoulder to shoulder with him. Mr. Gee invested here, in the saloon business with much difficulty. License and high taxes were imposed upon him by a prejudiced people. But his business grew; and he was fast becoming financially safe when threats of burning his building came from the mouths of envious voices.

One night his wife was awakened in strange resentment--a foreboding that predicted alarm! She awoke Mr. Gee, urging him to dress and go at once to his saloon. He did so at three o’clock in the morning, and found his bartender carrying from the cellar, his stock to be immediately hauled away; in the midst of which was a slow but steady fire burning through the back of the floor. It had been started under the cellar rafters.

Mr. Gee called for aid; the fire was extinguished; the stock rescued; and the bartender arrested. A trial was held with justice given the plaintiff, but the villagers were in protest. Living conditions were crude then, as compared with now--the water was unfiltered and unhealthful. And as a result of this Mrs. Gee contracted typhoid fever. She almost lost her life save for the extreme consideration given her by her husband, who supplied her every need that might suffice to recovery. Medical aid and supplies were then brought to Grantsville by stage from Salt Lake City.

Mr. Gee sold his business there and moved to Marysville, Idaho in the Fall of 1900. He took with him there, two prize-winning teams, one a work team and the other a buggy team. The later team being very spirited would, at times attempt a run away. They often-times carried the family through swift currents, in times of high water; with Mr. Gee standing in the buggy, braced against the dashboard and pulling on the lines with all his might, trying to steady the horses that had once run away with him through a field of wheat.

The work team competed with many teams in the county; and at a fete of our-pulling another; the work team won, and was purchased by J. W. Webster. One winter in the Marysville country proved to be enough for the family, it was long, cold and penetrating. A few scattered houses indicated that a settlement had begun. It was a fertile region, but cultivation of the land had just begun; and the outlook for prosperity was far away.

Mr. Gee wanted to set-up in business; and in the spring he moved to Rexburg, and bought a hotel and a saloon, which stood beside one another in the location, which is now west of the Z.C.M.I. During this time a third child was born--a son, Leland, who gave back his life to the Deity after one week, at the price of an unstable physician; and at the risk of Mrs. Gee’s life. Dr. Woodburn was one of the practicing physicians, who married an Indian breed at Rosses Fork.

After Mrs. Gee gained strength, she took charge of the hotel and with several helpers operated it for some time, later selling it to Henery Bigler, father of our local sheriff, Ursel Bigler. About the year 1899 the first train came to the valley. And many interesting anecdotes have been related by Mr. Gee in regards to the momentous event--some in connection with Mr. Rends,John Whitney and Miles R. Cahoon, men who were in business in the town. Two years later (1901)the first bank opened with Ross J. Comstock as its head. Mr. Gee sold his saloon, there being two others in the town, one owned and operated by Laymon brothers, John and Herman, another by Joseph Tribe, in the building located then, about where the City Drug store now stands. Mr. Gee then went to work for Joseph Tribe and was with him for about five years. During this time another son was born, Marion Rowe Gee, named for his grandmother Rowe, wife of Lysander Gee. This was in the year 1904.

The family, one year later moved from a residence owned by Walter G. Paul to a log house on the main street, which stood behind a blacksmith shop owned and operated by Andrew Nash. Beside this blacksmith shop was a Chinese laundry, owned by SING LEE THE CHINAMAN as he was called. He brought beautiful silk dress patterns to Mrs. Gee for her small daughter, Helen. But before she could get them made into dresses, he would run into the house in wild stampede, go to the dresser and pull out the drawers in search of the silk. Each time it was given back to him, and the third time it was given him was with the orders to stay off the premises. Mr. Goldberg, Justice of the Peace issued a restraining order upon the obtrusive Chinaman.

John Gee is sympathetic to the unfortunate, this being one of his outstanding character traits. He met and knew David Evans, who was left deaf and mute from diphtheria. He asked Mr. Gee to sign a note with him for a suit of clothes, and he did, getting them at the Henry Flamm Department store. He also bought a tamale can and started Dave in a little business for himself. One night he took the can to Sugar City and cleared $200.00,there being a celebration their, the tamales sold fast. Dave brought the can back in the night and set it behind the blacksmith shop; and with the money left town. He was picked up at Pocatello. Mr. Gee was forced to pay the note off to Henry Flamm with interest. ED Dewsnup was also a merchant in the town at that time.

The year 1905 John Gee, Joseph Tribe and John Farnes took up some dry farm land; the same being known as the REXBURG BENCH. Their claim lay about ten miles south and east of town. Previous to this, or perhaps during this time John Whitney owned a livery stable. He had working for him Mr. Starboard, who was known as the professional all-night-man. He died the winter of about 1910,and being not a member of the church, his funeral was held in the W.O.W. Hall. His wife, Mrs. Starboard, at times assumed the part of Carrie Nation, and would raid the town saloons; striking the bartenders over their head with her umbrella.

N. P. Hallstrom during this time owned a threshing machine, and did most of the threshing in the valley. Mr. Gee worked and slept with him in the harvest season, the same, however extending sometimes until Christmas. John Whitney sold his livery stable to Pop Driggs--a character of note who was stabbed with a pocketknife by a man named Ace Church. The gash was along the edge of the jawbone, which saved the throat and his life. The act occurring over a petty argument while they were on a fishing trip. John Vorce, local druggist administered sedatives until the doctor arrived.

John Gee and his family lived on their dry farm in summers and one winter, in order to prove up on the land. They suffered hardship and struggle in this period of pioneering. Mrs. Gee’s health was poor, but she helped to build a fence around the land, rolling the barbed wire on a spool along the newly planted posts. She also, helped her husband grub sagebrush and burn it. Clearing the fields of this stubborn plant was no easy matter. The two eldest boys helped, by riding the sulky, disc plow. And by the year 1907 the land was under complete cultivation with good crops produced. One of the best, and most heaviest yields of grain was that of barley, which at times, netted forty-five bushels per acre.

Mrs. Gee, in 1907 gave birth to another son, Friend Ronald. She suffered this birth to extreme; for she had but little strength; and following, a serious operation took place, performed by Drs. Walker and Crismon. The effects of which she was for years recovering.

The winter spent on the dry farm was a severe one, as all are generally, in this section of the country. Whenever it is spoken of, an incident occurring on the eve of February 14th (Valentines Day) is instantly recalled to mind. The momentous event held the family close to one another; for one of the worst blizzards ever experienced was in progress that evening. The wind raised and tore the tar-papered roof off of a little summer shanty, which was built between two rooms, one a log, and the other a cement room. The screeching children clung to their parents, hovered about an old wood stove that stood in the center of the log room; while the father struggled with the stovepipe, trying to keep it from being carried away through the crude stove-pipe-hole in the roof. The blizzard calmed about ten o’clock; and the children disarming their fright set about making valentines.

One of the most beloved memories that Mrs. Gee retains of those years of struggle and of giving birth, is the resounding of wagon wheels at the close of a summer day; bantering over a rocky road--the dugway leading to Moody Creek, and across it, up the other side to home. She would stand in the dusk and listen for the creaking wagon, which Mr. Gee would bring loaded with freshly mown hay from a neighbor’s irrigated farm in Teton City. The valley farm was owned by our neighbor, Wier Baker.

Some hated and called him a petty miser, but there never was a time that he refused John Gee one favor. He loaned him horses whenever he was in need of them; and although he was brutal with them, Mr. Gee could take the same, and tame them after they had been made wild.

One of the saddest memories that Mrs. Gee retains is the suffering that her husband went through when forced to give up his eyesight. He went to Salt Lake City, and was operated on for a malady of the eyes--cataracts. Dr. Frank Middleton performed the same, which was partially successful, with some sight saved in one eye.

In the year 1909 the sixth and last child was born, another boy, Golden Elmo who has forever been a joy and a blessing. Mr. Gee sold his dry farm to Fred Parkinson about the year 1912. And purchased his present home from H. W. Webster. He then bought a herd of Holstein cows; and for some time operated a dairy.

John Gee always trusted every man, and took them at their word. At the risk of his character traits, honesty, and a devotion to loyalty he purchased an irrigated farm in Independence, Idaho, and the land proved to be not what its owner had purported, so with three successive crop failures the family was forced back to their home in Rexburg.

In writing this brief sketch of John Gee, I shall volunteer to add his traits of merit. He loves life and his fellowmen, and is always pleased to gain another friendship. His personality radiates joy, love and humor, which is characteristic of balance. Thrice he had triumphed over a physical crisis; and met the odds with a smile. The shelter of the large heart restores the bondage of the small. And his is indeed the large heart, lending this virtue to his neighbors and friends at all times. He has helped widows and their families, with as much concern for their welfare as for his own.

Early one Christmas morning he took to a large family whose father was out of employment, a box of food, candy and nuts and some fruit--one instance showing that he believed in doing unto others as he would have others do unto him. He always arose in the morning with a song in his heart, and his husky voice would carry a tune into all parts of the house, so that this was the accustomed way of arousing the family every morning.

The following supplement is added by request: The living children of Mr. and Mrs. John Gee are named as follows: Helen Viola Gee born August 25,1897. She married James Francis Woods November 7,1922. To this union are the following named children: James Francis Woods Jr. born August 16,1923.,Robert Cromwell Woods born January 12, 1926, both born in Rexburg. Mrs. Woods is a gifted woman. She was educated in the Rexburg Public Schools, and at Ricks Academy. She also spent some time in Nurses Training at the Pocatello General Hospital. She is a poet in the highest honor ranks, whose work has received deserving merit in the following named anthologies: AMERICA SINGING published by Loring Eugene Williams at Cleveland, Ohio., CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN WOMEN POETS, published by Henry Harrison, New York City., CROWN ANTHOLOGY OF VERSE, Crown Publishers, New York., PAEBAR COMPANY PUBLISHERS, New York.

John Lysander Gee born February 21,1899, Marion Rowe Gee born July 23,1904, are both residents of Rexburg at the present time. Friend Ronald Gee born June 22,1907; is a resident of Idaho Falls, and is employed there as a mechanic in the Ford Garage. Golden Elmo Gee born September 3,1909; is at present a resident of Ogden. He served Piggly Wiggly Stores in Salt Lake City for nine years, as their manager. And is at present District Salesman for the Heinz Pickle Co. traveling as far north as Pocatello. He married Florence Magleby, school teacher at Salt Lake City, June 8,1935. A baby girl, Janet Ann was born to them March 1,1937.

THE END

Transcribed by: Christina L. Robinson Winter 200