John Magee (1801-1872) was the son of Charles Magee and Elizabeth Montgomery. He was born Nov. 8, 1801, in County Cavan, Ireland, and died June 8, 1872, in Two Rivers, WI. James C. Magee’s death certificate says his father was born in Carin, Ireland. I cannot find a town by this name, but there are a large number of towns with similar spellings that could have been meant. At least, Carin is how another person translated it. Looking at the original, it could easily say something else; in fact, to me it seems to have at least seven letters, but it is impossible to make out. Also, it might just mean Cavan, which is also similar. On July 17, 1826, at St. Gabriel Presbyterian Church in Montreal, Canada, he married Susanna Cook or Cooke (1806-1891). She was born Dec. 27, 1806, in Scotland, possibly Glasgow, and died Oct. 10, 1891, in Two Rivers, WI. Another researcher claims she was born in County Monaghan, Ireland, but that’s not what her obituary says.
    John left Ireland in July of 1825 and arrived in New York City in August of 1825, while Susanna immigrated in 1824 with her brother Robert Cook. There is a record of the ship Lady Sherbrooke traveling from Quebec to Montreal with the passengers Robert Cooke and three others from Aug. 17, 1825. It is unknown if this is could be Susanna. John apparently moved to Canada not long after arriving in New York. There is a record of a John Magee on the ship Malsham traveling from Quebec to Montreal Aug. 17, 1825, the same day as the ship with Robert Cooke arrived in Montreal. A fellow researcher claims he went to Canada to work on the Rideau Canal, which was being constructed at the time, but I don’t know if there is reliable evidence for this. There is a record of a John Magee living in West Gwillimbury in Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada in 1836 and I think there is good evidence this is the same person. He may have also lived in Kingston, Ontario, Canada before West Gwillimbury. He applied for U.S. citizenship in 1856 in Manitowoc, WI, so he immigrated sometime before then. The family moved to Two Rivers, WI in 1856. His immigration record says he immigrated in New York Jan. 23, 1857. I don’t know if this means when he crossed the border or when he applied for citizenship.
    Charles Magee immigrated through Lewiston, NY, on Sept. 22, 1854. Apparently he went ahead to scout out a new place to live. The family lived near the tannery complex in Two Rivers and became a part of the tannery community, particularly the singing group. They raised a variety of crops on their farm along with some livestock, mainly pigs.
    Below is a copy of John’s obituary from the Shawano County Journal - Thursday, June 20, 1872:
OBITUARY - The subject of the following notice was the father of Mr. Charles Magee, of this place, who has the sympathy of the community in his bereavement.
    DIED - At his residence in Two Rivers, Manitowoc County, Wis., early Saturday morning, June 8th, 1872, John McGee, aged 71 years. Mr. McGee has resided some 14 years in the town, and was a well known and respected farmer possessed of more than average intelligence, and fearless and independent in the expression of his views on all public matters. His loss will be severely felt by a large circle of relatives and friends who have the sincere sympathies of the whole community in their affliction. His funeral was attended by a large concourse from the Presbyterian church, in Two Rivers, where a sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Wilson, whose services the deceased had been in the habit of attending with great regularity.

John Magee and Susanna were the parents of 13 children, two of whom probably died young and are unknown: Charles William Magee, John G. Magee, James Cook Magee, Robert Magee, Elizabeth Magee, Richard Magee, Martha Magee, Hannah Magee, Joseph Magee, Catherine Magee and Susanna J. Magee.