Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-05-20
Paper Read by Miss Sarah Gee
at the Pioneer Meeting Last
Week.
EARLY HISTORY OF GEE BOYS
First Marriage in Sumner Township
Life in The Early Fiftys as Exper-
fenced By Pioneers

Persever1ng LABOR gains our OoleCts'
Perseverance is the virtue wanted. a
linn hearted purpose of victory. 1t is
this that builds. constructs, accom-
plishes whatever is good, great and
valueahle.
The pioneers were some of the sons
of perseverance of unremitting toll end
industry; such were George Z. and
Isaac Gee of Sumner township, Gra-
tiot county.
George E. and Isaac were born In
Lyons township, Wayne county, New
York. in 1888 and 1887 respectively.
Their parents were Joseph and Eleanor
Gee. They lived on a farm where
Joseph died in 1889 Eleanor died in
Sumner township 1888. at the home
of her daughter. George was left at
the tender age of six years to fight
life's battle without the guidance of
father, from then until eighteen he
worked for substantial farmers sum-
mers and winters went to school. AT
that age he returned home and worked
the homestead few years, where ny
dint Of much perseverance, he saved a
little with which he deided to come
west and take up claim
Isaac remained at home after the
death of his father until twelve years
of age, his mother having married
again. He then went to Ohio to live
with his brother in-law. James Gar
gett, making that his home for seven
years he worked on farms and in saw
mills, and later in commission store
in Cleveland. Here his fidelity and
good behavior won for him a good
salary.
After thus getting some start in the
world he began preparations for COM
ing west to establish home. In the
fall of "a George came TO Cleveland
from New York state to join him.
Together they came to Ionia county
and in North Plains township secured
an old and experienced land locker at
IS per day. BY compass they came
through unbroken forests to Sumner
township, Cratic county, where for a
distance of twenty miles a bush had
not been cut. On sections .. 10, Is.
and 10 they located 900 acres of land
which they afterwards divided. and
later disposed of part of their holding
to help clear the rest. Ii was while
that they found the blazing of another
prty on their lines. They became sus-
picious that somone else knew good
tract of land as we'll as themselves.
Hurriedly finishing their lines they
were ready to start to the land office
Ionia about O'Clock In the after
noon. They travelled rapidly in the
cool woods with bright sun overhead
and when that had gone to its rest,
they were guided by bright moon and
satrs. Two tired boys and guide
were resting the next morning on the
door steps Of the land office when the
man opened at the usual hour they
had reached there shortly before.
Being eager to get their breakfast they
got their papers first and with the
coveted articles buttoned up in their
coats. departed for the breakfast
When leaving the Office who hould
they meet but the party who had been
blazing on their lines a very dis
appointed lot were the second party
when they learned OF their own defeat
After disposing of their guide they
then returned TO Cleveland. Ohio In
the spring of 1855 they returned to
Ionia county, having decided TO make
permanent settlement on their claims
Both being single men they secure
Michael Mcnamara and wife. Mar
garet, as assistants. She had won the
reputation of a good cook the summer
before. and ne a good worker by
working for contractor on the ID.
and NJ. railroad. There she knead~d
two barrels of -four into bread ia a
day to feed the hungry men, They
only received about twenty dollars for
lnD 1uiHlhct y WJths hhc tOnAi utl wi
failed to pay them the rest. As they
did not have many worldly possessions
it did not take them very long to pack
and they were soon ready to start for
the unbroken wilderness
George and Isaac hired two teams 70
bring their goods and provisions as
far as Pine River, where they arrived
April lst. with snow two feet deer
and crust hard enough to sustain
the weight of man. A few days
later they purchased yoke of oxen o.
Mr. Ransom TO briog their goods the
rest of tie way ms the teams had gone
back to Ionia. They crossed the
river on the ice. after which progress
was slow as they had to cut road
TO the land. at the same time keeping
on the high ground to avoid the
(Co,,f,oood On x,o0o Txol