The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-08-13
Mr.. NIECE DEAD
One Of Jersey. City's Notable
Citizens Passed Away
Yesterday.
LAWYER AND POLITICIAN
His Stirring Career at the
Bar and AS a Republican
Party Worker.

PafGy worker.
With universal regret the news was re-
ceived yesterday afternoon that MI
Flayel MCGEE, the well known lawyer OF
this city, had died at his home on MontF
gomery street. He had been ailiEg Tor =
few weeks from stomach trouble, DUE
none of his family supposed it to be SER
ious. A few days ago gastritis was de-
veloped and his physician saw that re-
covery was hopeless. He succumbed to
the disease late in the afternoon. He was
aware of the approach of death and was
| conscious almost to the last.
4 John Flavel MCGEE was born in Free
linghuysen township, Warren county, on
| April 6, 1874. He was prepared for coll
lege at Newton Collegiate Institute New
ton, and Blair Presbyterian Academy,
Blairstown, and after entered Princeton
from which he was graduated in June,
1865 Three years later he received the
degree of master of arts. While in col
lege he won the first prize in debate lif
Clio Hall. After leaving college he began
the study of the law with John M. Sher-
rerd and ]. G. Shipman in Belvidere, and
1868.
| He then came to this city, entering INTO
a business engagement with the late
Stephen B. Ransom, and formed part
nership with William Muirheid under tho
style of Muirheid and MCGEE. In 1871 ne
1 was admitted counselor. At that time he
argued two cases in the Supreme Court
| which attracted much attention. One CT
/ +l,o of no inf a fi0nal trust
| Co. vs. Haight, in which it was held for
the first time in this State that in esti-
mating the assets of a corporation for
taxation United States securities and
mortgages not liable to taxation must be
deducted. The other leading case was
that of Ransom VS.. Ruckman, wherein
| the Court of Errors settled the law on -he
doctrine of arbitration. These naturally
/ drew many eyes on the young advocate,
and he was employed on important rail-
| road litigat ton, and since that period mas
been extensively engaged by corporations,
| notably railroad, banking and insurance.
/ In the practice of admiralty he was one OF
the earliest members of the bar of this
| State
The late Governor j. D. Bedle in 1876
| ioined the firm, which then became Bedle,
| Muirheir and MCGEE. In 1888 Mr.. ]. D..
4 Bedle. Jr joined it, and the firm be-
i came Bedle, Muirheir, McGee and Bedle,
/ Jri In 1892 Mr.. Muirheid died and MS
| name was dropped. In 1894 the Governor
| died and his son. Mr.. Thomas f. Bedle,
| came into the firm, which then became
| MCGEE, Bedle and Bedle. The latter re-
| tired from it in 1899 and the firm was NC
| Gee and Bedle, as it is today.
| To fill the vacancy caused by the death
| of Mr.. Justice Bradley of the United
| States Supreme Court the bar of this
| State put forward the name of Mr.. NC
1 Gee. and again or the death of Chief JUS
/ tice Mercer Beasley few years ago, ne
was also put forward by his legal friends
| for the exalted place.
| In Republican politics Mr.. MCGEE was
1 always very prominent, taking the stump
| in National, State and local elections lie
| was a forceful speaker and always active
| in campaign work. He was prominent in
| the contest for United States Senatorshlp
/ when Rufus Blodgett defeated the late
Governor Leon Albeit. Both Mr.. McGee
/ and his partner, Governor Bedle, took an
| active part in the fight against Albeit.
| When Governor Griggs was nominated
/ Mr. McGee was again prominent in bring
ing Hudson county to Griggs's support
| When Prosecutor c. II. Winfield died
Governor Griggs offered the vacancy OF
the position formerly occupied by him to
Mr. MCGEE, but he refused 1t. He was
first vice-president of the Republican
County Committee and was an ex- Presi-
dent of the Union League Club. he be-
longed to the Palma and Carteret Clubs
the Society of the Cincinnati and Sons OF
the American Revolution. Mr. MCGEE
| was counsel for the Delaware, Lacka-
wanna and Western Railroad Company.
Mr.. MCGEE was twice married. His first
wife was Miss Frances e. Harris, daugh-
ter of Dr. Harris, of Belvidere. She left
him a son, Lawyer Frank MCGEE. The
second wife, who now survives him, was
Miss Julia T. Randolph, daughter of the
late Judge Bennington Randolph and
there are two sons and four daughters OF
that union:-Bennington r., Flavel,
Misses Julia, Hope, Dorothy and Helen.
The Hudson County Bar Association
has issued notices calling for a mem
orial meeting to be held on Wednesday
/ afternoon next in Chancery Chambers at
| four P. NJ
i The following resolution have been
| adopted on behalf of the University
Club
l
Whereas, Flavel MCGEE. LID,
/ Princeton 65 former president OF
the University Club of Hudson County
has been removed from up by death;
and
| Whereas, The University Club owed
1 much of it's success to his efforts and
cooperation and the club as whole,
and its members individually feel that
4 a great loss has occurred on account
of his attainments, position and char
| acter; therefore be 1t
Resolved, That the Committee on
neurology publicly express on behalf Of
the club their feeling of Bereavement
and sorrow and that this resolution
appear in the public print.
i On behalf of the University Club,
DANIEL VAN WINKLE,
G.. c. WILSON.
W. PATTERSON ATKINSON,
Committee on Neurology.
| The funeral services will take place on
Thursday morning at II o'clock at the
house, No. $50 Montgomery street. Rev.
DR.. Chas. Herr, of the First Presby-
terian Church, of which Mr.. MCGEE was