George Magee was educated in the public schools of Bath and Albany New York. In 1860 he graduated from Princeton and briefly worked at the Steuben County Bank at Bath. A year later, he immersed himself into his father, John Magee's, business. In 1868, upon the death of his father, George Magee would become the Vice President of the Fall Brook Coal Company, and Blossburg & Corning Railroad Company. His brother, Duncan would be the president of the Company. Upon Duncan's death thirteen months later, George would become the President of the Fall Brook interest, and become a trustee for his Father's estate. George would be influential in the completion of many new railroad lines, and the consolidation of many others. In the later years of George's life he would be pressured by Vanderbilt to sell the Fall Brook Railroad. |
George is writing this letter a year after he has graduated from Princeton, at a time where he is just getting acquainted with the work of the railroad. He writes that for the first time he is being left in charge of the company as his partner- Mr. Herm- leaves. (Unfortunately, I have no idea who Herm is. The name as shown up in a few letters of correspondence, but there is not enough information to figure out his job, full name, or anything about him. I know that he worked at the offices of the Fall Brook Company, in Fall Brook, PA)
The reason I transcribed this letter, and enjoy it, is because of the discussion of the Civil War. It goes very well with the last post I made where George's brother, John, writes about his views of the North and South from a military training school. From the letter from John to his Mother, I was able to see that John, although being surrounded by those that supported the Union, did not himself. This letter, like the other, is very interesting to me, as it shows the views of the Magee family and places the rest of the collection in historical context.
In this letter to his Mother, George starts his discussion of conflict with the North and South by saying, “It is pleasanter here now than it was during the winter on account of the war.” This line is great, because a few days after this letter was written the Civil War officially began with the Battle of Fort Sumter. I am assuming that the Battle made it a little, not as pleasant, in the weeks following this letter. However, the winter of 1860 was one that was a quite troublesome and unpleasant, even for a small town in northern PA. States were succeeding, the election was occurring, the Union dissolving, and the 13th amendment was being proposed. Many things were occurring that were testing the young nation and many debates and arguments occurred creating division, divide, and disagreement.
The letter also states, “I am glad that I am here instead of at Bath for here I can say what I please. I do say many things which would cost me a coat of tar and feathers if said at home.” George is writing from Pennsylvania, rather than New York which was full of Radical Republicans who favored the harsh treatment of the rebelling Confederate States and those that supported them. The Magee family lived in New York, and many of the Fall Brook offices were at the time run out of Corning and Watkins, New York. George would have been living in Fall Brook, as he worked at the offices located there. As we can see later in the letter, George, like his brother John, did not support the Union and felt that his views would not be accepted if discussed in radical New York. George states his views by saying: “While there was a union I glorified in it as much as any but now that it only exists in name, I want a peaceable separation, no war. Never shall I by thought or dead take part in this unholy crusade against the South and her rights. Nor will I on the other hand assist the South against the North.”
I am fairly certain that George's father, John Magee had the same view of the South, agreeing with the separation of North and South, but supporting peaceful separation rather than a fight. From the collections I have been seeing how the Civil War helped the Fall Brook Railroad grow, so understanding the view of the family towards the war, is very interesting. I will keep searching, and hopefully find more.
The reason I transcribed this letter, and enjoy it, is because of the discussion of the Civil War. It goes very well with the last post I made where George's brother, John, writes about his views of the North and South from a military training school. From the letter from John to his Mother, I was able to see that John, although being surrounded by those that supported the Union, did not himself. This letter, like the other, is very interesting to me, as it shows the views of the Magee family and places the rest of the collection in historical context.
In this letter to his Mother, George starts his discussion of conflict with the North and South by saying, “It is pleasanter here now than it was during the winter on account of the war.” This line is great, because a few days after this letter was written the Civil War officially began with the Battle of Fort Sumter. I am assuming that the Battle made it a little, not as pleasant, in the weeks following this letter. However, the winter of 1860 was one that was a quite troublesome and unpleasant, even for a small town in northern PA. States were succeeding, the election was occurring, the Union dissolving, and the 13th amendment was being proposed. Many things were occurring that were testing the young nation and many debates and arguments occurred creating division, divide, and disagreement.
The letter also states, “I am glad that I am here instead of at Bath for here I can say what I please. I do say many things which would cost me a coat of tar and feathers if said at home.” George is writing from Pennsylvania, rather than New York which was full of Radical Republicans who favored the harsh treatment of the rebelling Confederate States and those that supported them. The Magee family lived in New York, and many of the Fall Brook offices were at the time run out of Corning and Watkins, New York. George would have been living in Fall Brook, as he worked at the offices located there. As we can see later in the letter, George, like his brother John, did not support the Union and felt that his views would not be accepted if discussed in radical New York. George states his views by saying: “While there was a union I glorified in it as much as any but now that it only exists in name, I want a peaceable separation, no war. Never shall I by thought or dead take part in this unholy crusade against the South and her rights. Nor will I on the other hand assist the South against the North.”
I am fairly certain that George's father, John Magee had the same view of the South, agreeing with the separation of North and South, but supporting peaceful separation rather than a fight. From the collections I have been seeing how the Civil War helped the Fall Brook Railroad grow, so understanding the view of the family towards the war, is very interesting. I will keep searching, and hopefully find more.