J. Donald McGhee Papers

Approximately 10 years worth of letters to J. Donald, dating from 19-- to 1922, and other documents (diploma, college textbooks, WWI unit photo) were found in the house.

1910

James Donald McGhee graduated from high school in 1910. We have his diploma.

The Park Inn Hotel and City National Bank, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, opened in downtown Mason City across from Central Park

Colby Car Company started operation (buildings are still used, until recently by the Associated Milk Producers, Inc. AMPI)

1911

The first airplane flight was made in Mason City

The former fire ‘shed’ was razed, the new fire headquarters was built on the same lot

1913

Shown as freshman at Iowa State College as a member of Kappa Sigma, p300-301 The Bomb

1914

Sophomore in Kappa Sigma, p298-9 The Bomb

1915

Junior in Kappa Sigma, profile on pg 89 The Bomb, nickname "Maggie"

1916

Missing from the Kappa Sigma page, pp 190-1 The Bomb

1917

Junior (!?) in Kappa Sigma, p 252 The Bomb. Graduated from Iowa State College in Animal Husbandry. We have his diploma (on parchment!). We have photos of his fraternity brothers.

J.D.'s father sells the family home to his older sister.

1918

Drafted and served in the 70th Machine Gun company. We have the unit photo.

Leone, J.D.'s sister, is working at a school in Biwabik in far northern Minnesota.

J.D.'s father elected to the state legislature, running unopposed as a Republican.

October

• 4 October 1918 - from Leone McGhee (sister) in Biwabik, MN to Don McGhee, M.G. Co. 70th Infantry, Camp Funston, Kans. - adventures of a young teacher in rustic Minnesota
• 6 October 1918 - from Leone McGhee (sister) by way of the Hotel Holland in Duluth - https://www.perfectduluthday.com/2016/09/04/lobby-hotel-holland/
• 7 October 1918 - from James McGhee (father) in Mason City, IA - his election news, family financial stuff
• 9 October 1918 - from friend/family in old hometown of Waukon, IA - discusses influenza
• 10 October 1918 Waukon - from friend/family in Waukon, IA - discusses family's move to Mason City in 1903, father's election to legislature
• 10 October 1918 Biwabik - from Leone in Biwabik, MN - more trials of a young teacher
• 11 October 1918 - from Leone in Biwabik, MN - Army flu quarantine and pyles
• 13 October 1918 - from Leone in Biwabik, MN - making fudge, social life, feeling left out
• 14 October 1918 - from Leone in Biwabik, MN - the forest fires and influenza
• 14 October 1918 Mary - "Monday A.M." letter from Mary Ketcham to Leone (sister) which she enclosed in her 22 October letter to Don, news of widespread flu in Iowa - schools, etc. closed, no fall teachers conference
• 16 October 1918 - from Lela (?) in Arlee, Montana - stars on Baptist service flag, mention of influenza
• 16 October 1918 Biwabik - from Leone in Biwabik - tales of school illustrated by Edythe
• 17 October 1918 - from Leone in Biwabik - more on the forest fires
• 18 October 1918 - from Ruth Bull (sister) in this house (!) - flu in Mason City
• 18 October 1918 to Leone - from Harold Bull (bro-in-law) to Leone (sister) which she enclosed in her 22 October letter to Don, presumably the letter that Ruth mentioned him writing above 18 Oct. He mentions the M.C. quarantine, canceling the state IOOF convention and undertakers working day and night at Camp Dodge.
• 21 October 1918 - from Leone - teaching issues, preparing clothes for fire refugees
• 22 October 1918 - from Leone (enclosed letters from Harold Bull, 18 October above, and Mary Ketcham, 14 October above
• 25 October 1918 - from James McGhee (father) - worrying about his son, some flu deaths
• 27 October 1918 - from Carlyle Anderson of Mason City - school closed 2 weeks, working at the sugar beet plant
• 29 October 1918 - from Bid (apparently Leone's sorority sister?, mentioned in other letters) in Fairfield, IA - brief mention of flu at Ames, news of friends in the war
• 31 October 1918 - from Leone - Halloween party, snow on the ground

November

• 5 November 1918 - from Leone (sister) in Biwabik, MN - bad influenza up north, school close and turned into a hospital, teachers working as nurses
• Blue Ink Letter - letter without date/envelop from Leone in Biwabik, MN to ibid.- tending Edythe who has been bedridden with the flu
• 17 November 1918 - from Leone - Edythe taken to Duluth for treatment of her flu, "hospital" still going
• 19 November 1918 - from Leone - Edythe going home to Fargo to recover
• 20 November 1918 - from Leone - a bit of despondency and a whiff of scandal
• 21 November 1918 - from Aunt Luna in Waukon, IA - Armistice celebrations and flu news
• 23 November 1918 - from Sgt. James A. Cruickshank in Camp Wadsworth, S.C. to Corporal McGhee - transitioning to peace time, mentions a couple deaths (flu?)
• late November 1918 - from Leone - letter for Thanksgiving, Edythe wheelchair-bound recovering from flu in Fargo, life getting back to normal in Biwabik - hospital closed but school still out
• 28 November 1918 - from Leone - Thanksgiving Day, everything still closed from flu but school to resume Monday
• 29 November 1918 - from Ruth (sister) in this house - Armistice celebration, school still closed, names flu deaths

December

• 6 December 1918 - from J.H. McGhee (father) in Mason City, IA - farming, legislature, flu news
• 12 December 1918 - from Leone (sister) in Biwabik, MN - war news, some flu returning
• 16 December 1918 - from Ruth (sister) in this house - flu innoculation and deaths
• 16 December 1918 Biwabik - from Leone - Christmas plans, another flu death
• 18 December 1918 - from Leone -
• 24 December 1918 - from Leone -
• 28 December 1918 - from Aunt Lida in Waukon, IA -

1920

The census reported Mason City’s population at 20,065 and was ranked as Iowa’s 11th largest city, and shows J.D. living in the family home with his sister's family.

James H. McGhee (father) elected to second term in state legislature

1922

James H. McGhee (father) starts service as mayor of Mason City