Biogrpahy of Robert McGee

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Biography of Robert McGee

(1850—1933)

Robert McGee was born April I, 1850 in Harris County, Georgia. He was one of the first settlers on the Upper Penasco, Lincoln County (now Otero) of the Territory of New Mexico, having traveled here by ox and wagon. He filed claim on a homestead (160 acres) prior to 1880, and built the first house in the mouth of what is now known as McGee Canyon. He later built on the present site of the Wm. A. Frizzell home and around the turn of the century built the house best known as the John L. Parker home.
On August 26, 1894 he shot and killed George Fird (Spelling on headstone is Ferd) Chatfield in the orchard of the homestead. Friends and neighbors did not believe he shot to kill, but to scare some young boys who had been stealing apples.
Nothing more is known about Fird Chatfield except that he is buried in the lower portion of the Mayhill Cemetery. There is no marker, but this information is recorded in old cemetery records. (A new marker was put on his grave in 2008)
On October 13, 1894 the Grand Jury of Lincoln County returned a true bill against Mr. McGee. The exact date of the trial is unknown. He was prosecuted by L. F. Nations and found guilty of murder. He was sentenced to 5 years in the state penitentiary at Santa Fe by Judge N. B. Laughlin. He was committed to the prison on May 16, 1897.
According to the Penitentiary records, he was 48 years old at the time of his commitment. He was single, a farmer by trade. He reported that he had been self supporting since the age of 12, and his parents (names unknown) were not living. He was a small man - 5' 71/2" tall, weighing 139 pounds. He was blue eyed, brown haired, wore a beard and had a fair complexion. He was a temperate man who could read, write and compute, but only claimed a primary education. He claimed no religion, but stated that his parents had been of the Baptist faith. He listed his nearest friend or relative to be his friend A. M. Coe who lived about 1 mile south of him where the Penasco River and James Canyon meet.
On September 14, 1898, Governor Miguel A. Otero issued an executive order, ordering the pardon and release of Mr. McGee. This was due to his consultation with the trial judge and district attorney after the receipt of the many letters and petitions from the people of Lincoln County. He was apparently held in high regard by his friends and neighbors.
Mr. McGee was released from the Penitentiary at Santa Fe on September 16, 1898 and returned to his homestead on the Upper Penasco where he lived the remainder of his life. He died February 28, 1933 and is buried in the James Canyon Cemetery in Otero County, New Mexico.

Written and Contributed by Virginia Stanbrough

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