The McGhees

James H. McGhee in 1918

Ruth McGhee Bull and Harold Bull c. 1909

Leone McGhee in 1914

J. Donald McGhee in 1915

Gravestones in Postville Cemetery

After serving as sheriff of Waukon, widower James McGhee came to Mason City in 1903 with his 3 children: Ruth, Leone and J. Donald. His wife had died in 1893 just 2 days after the birth of J. Donald, after several weeks of ill health.

In 1903, James McGhee, a widower, bought the house for himself and his three children, after serving several years as sheriff of Allamakee County.

In 1917, his daughter, Ruth, bought the house from him, having married a young bank clerk named Harold Bull who had been living across the street with his family at what is now 697 East State Street.

James McGhee was elected to the Iowa State Legislature in 1918, serving two terms. In 1922, he was elected mayor of Mason City, but died in office of smallpox in 1924. The newspaper reported that many townspeople went to the doctor to get vaccinated when they heard of his fate.

Ruth McGhee Bull lived at 718 East State Street with her husband and their two children until 1933. Ruth was active in the local historical society. Harold worked his way up the ranks at First National Bank until they moved to Mankato, where he became president of National Citizen's Bank. Harold and Ruth ended up in Sioux City, where he was president of Norwest Bank.

Leone McGhee graduated from Iowa State College in 1916 (?) with a degree in Home Economics. She was teaching home economics in northern Minnesota during the events of 1918 bearing witness to the end of the war, the great forest fires and, of course, the 1918 flue.

J. Donald McGhee, James' son, went to Iowa State College at the same time as his sister, but only graduated from Iowa State College in 1917 and was drafted into World War I in 1918. His diplomas, unit photo, service manuals, letters and other personal effects remain preserved in the home. He went on to be employed in the livestock business after the war.

J. Donald McGhee Papers

Interesting Tidbit

Postville Herald
Postville, Allamakee Co. Iowa
April 10, 1930

The UB Church Bronze memorial tablet on the wall of the new Postville Church. It will bear the names of members of the Bethel Church who have long since went to their eternal reward.

IN MEMORIAM - BETHEL'S BELOVED

Rev. Robert Laughlin, Mrs. Robert Laughlin, David Jemison, Mrs. David Jemison, Wells Eaton, Mrs. Wells Eaton, William Simpson, Asel Eaton, Mrs. Asel Eaton, James Laughlin, Mrs. Elisha Harris, J.N. Smith, mrs. J.N. Smith, David Smith, E.R.A. Brainard, Asa Cheadle, Mrs. Asa Cheadle, Isaac Brainard, Mrs. Isaac Brainard, W.A. Owen, Mrs. W.A. Owen, Mrs. G.W. Harris, Mrs. Olena Swenson, Mrs. Mary Leet, Mrs. Jennie Waters, Mrs. Carolyn Cook, Mrs. C.B. Miller, Mary Miller, J.F. Miller, Mrs. Clarence Owen, George Jones, Mrs. Jennie Smith, Mrs. Susanah Early, Mrs. Ruth McGhee (aunt? Grandmother? other?), Mrs. Olive Yarwood, Mrs. Lottie Davis, Mrs. Elizabeth Sawyer, Mrs. Stella Uhl Cook and Mrs. Carolyn Hammel.