James E. McGee
Who's Who in Arizona, 1913, page 545

James E. McGee, Sheriff of Pinal County Was born on the 2nd day of January 1870 in 
Crawford County Arkansas.  When he was five years old his father, becoming 
interested in the gold movement in California, left Arkansas for 
California, crossing the plains and desert in a Prairie Schooner propelled by a yoke 
of oxen.  They were over a year making the trip upon reaching which the father found 
much more gold by tilling the soil than by mining, and settled in Tulare county.  
Here is where Sheriff McGee received his education, as the children of the pioneers were 
educated, here is where he received his early training in trailing men.  Leaving 
California for Arizona at the age of twenty-three he had his first experience in the 
official business, catching a train hold-up man in Yuma County, Florence Arizona being 
the seat of the U.S. court at that time, he brought his prisoner to Florence, Pinal county.  


Two weeks later he was offered the position of Deputy Sheriff of Pinal County, which 
position he accepted and filled until 1904 when he joined the Arizona Rangers, 
and was appointed sergeant under Captain Rynning.  In 1906 he resigned his ranger 
position and was elected Sheriff of Pinal County, which position he still holds.  He is 
recognized as a courageous officer, a man of the West, one of the best shots in Arizona, 
a man who detests crime and whom criminals fear, a man who has done his part to clear 
Southwest Arizona of the element which dominated it for years.

Sheriff McGee is the son of Benjamin F. and Margaret Button McGee, both of whom are well 
known residents of Florence. 

His wife was formerly Miss Mary Harris.  They have two daughters, Mildred and Florence.