THE ORAL LESLIE GEE FAMILY
Furnished by Maude Gee Reeves


Charles Gee, the beginning of this history, said of Surry County, VA, married Hannah ? . This Charles Gee is believed to have descended from around Manchester, England, most likely from the Stratford Branch. The names. "Charles, James and Henry Gee", first appeared there about 1500, and continued to recur in every generation at those places up to the time the Virginia immigrant (Gee) was born, probably in the period 1650-1670. The Charles and Hannah Gee children were James. Charles Henry and Robert.

The second Charles Gee, pursued here, married Bridgett Neville, daughter of John and Bridgett (Tomsley) Neville and had issue: John, James, Henry, Benjamin, Nevil, Jesse, William, Charles, Elizabeth, and Penelope.

Nevil Gee, followed here as the third generation, married ? Lucas, born 1729 in Lunenburg or Sussex County, VA area, and their issue were: Charles, Nancy, Jesse, James, Amey, William, George, Lucas, Neavel, James and Reuben.

This Neavel married 19 July 1797, Elizabeth Andrews, born Mecklenburg County, daughter of George Andrews. The children were: William Oliver, Alfred, Claiborne, Neavel and George.

William Oliver Gee (son of Neavel), died 1840, in Maury Co., TN, married Nancy Scott, 10 Oct 1821. She died in 1876, in Williamson Co. Issue of 7 children: Sallie Ann Gee; Margueritta Gee; Roberta Gee, who married Lea Smithson; James Lucas Gee, a Confederate soldier; Andrew Barton Gee (also a confederate soldier, mortally wounded in battle at Chickamauga); William Knott Gee and George Gee. (Killed by rock thrown in play by a brother).

James Lucas Gee, son of William Oliver, born 13 July 1829 in Maury Co., TN, died 26 May 1896, enlisted 27 May 1861, in Confederate army from Nashville, for three years, served under Captain P.G. Smithson's Co, D, 20th Regiment, Tennessee Volunteers. He became orderly Sergeant and was wounded in the shoulder at Battle of Murfreesboro. Later he became 1st Sergeant and then 3rd Lieutenant and sought in Battle of Nashville, captured at Shys Hill and sent by train to military prison in Louisville, KY, and after five days ending 20 Dec 1864, was transferred to Johnsons Island out in Lake Erie near Sandusky, OH. He walked the three miles to the Island on the ice. Attempts to escape were unsuccessful and rations were reduced. The Confederate Museum at Sandusky, OH, in 1969, reveals that Johnsons Island is now inaccessible, privately owned, and the cemetery only remains. The state of Georgia furnished grave markers for each prisoner buried there. However, James Lucas Gee survived, took oath of allegiance to the United States, 16 June 1865, and returned home on foot. He married 2 Jan 1873, Sallie Ann Elizabeth Smithson, daughter of Clement and Mary Ann (Smithson) Smithson (11 Sept 1843-26 Dec 1915). The family lived on a 70-acre farm in the Peytonville Community (13th District) of Williamson County, raised four children and are buried on the home place. The children were:

1 Frank Lavender Gee (1 Nov 1874-22 June 1940), graduate of Southern Law College, employed by L & N Railroad in Nashville, married 15 July 1917, Nona Mai Ham, no children, spent latter years at parents' home place as owner.
2 Ola Mai Gee (17 Dec 1876-Sept 1944) married E.C. Ladd, a carpenter and farmer in Peytonville area. Issue: James Archie (Pete) Ladd, died 1968, a soldier in U.S. army in France during WWII.
3 James Larry Gee (7 July 1880-7 Feb 1947), married Louise Thompson, employed by L & N Railroad in Nashville, later returned to Williamson County. Issue: a daughter that died an infant.
4 Orell Leslie (Doc) Gee (3 April 1883, Williamson Co.,-3 Oct 1970), was head of the only Gee family in the Tenth District of Rutherford Co., having moved his family to a 220 acre farm, in Nov 1917, near Jackson Ridge Church where the family lived for 53 years (known as the Ivy P Burns home place).

Prior to moving to the Jackson Ridge area, "Doc" studied his brother's law library, developed a zest for reading, served two terms as constable in Peytonville Community, farmed and cared for his invalid mother. "Doc" married 29 Oct 1911, Sallie Sue Rieves, born 24 March 1890, in the 10th District of Rutherford Co. She was the daughter of Ira Owen Rieves and Rebecca (Hayes) McDaniel Rieves. Both "Doc" Gee and wife, Sally Sue Rieves are buried Mt Hope Cemetery in Franklin. A quiet, outstanding, independent, respected citizen and hard-working family, their children are:

a Alma Hannah Gee (8 March 1916- 19 Feb 1957), married James F Hendrix of Summitville, and buried at Mt Hope in Franklin.
b Sallie Frances Gee, b 23 April 1917, first married David Frank Parker, Doweltown, TN, and second married April 1981, Frank Waller of Brentwood, TN. No children, she was a seamstress.
c James Lavender Gee, b 1 April 1919, served in Europe during WWII, retired from General Motors in Detroit after 30 years, married Elma Ruth McBee, daughter of Robert Lula (Jolly) McBee, of Shelbyville. Issue: Bobby Gerald Gee, Rebecca Gee, Patricia Sue Gee, and Jimmie Dwight Gee.
d Owen Lucas Gee (4 Dec 1920-6 Oct 1926), and is buried at the James Lucas Gee home place in Williamson Co.
e Ola Elisabeth Gee, b 24 May 1924, retired from General Motors Corp., Anderson, IN, after 36 years service; married 24 Jan 1953, Lloyd Boone, b 7 Sept 1924, Hamilton Co., IN, son of Ward and Ruby (Stansbury) Boone. Issue: Bryan Leslie Boone and Vicki Sue Boone, now in Marion Co., IN
f Maude Thompson Gee, b 21 Oct 1925, eight generations from Charlie Gee of Surry Co., VA, as are all the issue of "Doc" Gee, employed by the Veterans Administration in Murfreesboro; now resides at the old home place west of Jackson Ridge, the only Gee that remained in Tenth District of Rutherford Co. Maude Gee married James P Reeves, b 16 April 1929, son of Owen Franklin and Mabel (Owens)Reeves, Oxford AR, retired form army and presently is Chief of Police for Eagleville, TN. There are no children. Maude, respected and loved by all, has been chiefly responsible for keeping the Jackson Ridge C. P. Church in existence and active. All are proud and pleased with her activities in this endeavor.