The Magee and Watson families were among the early settlers and developers of Pittsburgh. In the early nineteenth century, they were joined by the marriage of hatter Christopher Linem Magee (1786-1839) and Jane Watson (1796- 1880). The Watson family purchased and developed land in Pittsburgh, leasing lots to relations in the Wylie and Black families, as well as other neighbors. Jane and Christopher Magee had four children, including Christopher (1829-1909). Christopher graduated from the Western University of Pennsylvania, where his uncle, Robert Watson, had been chancellor, with a bachelor's degree in 1848. Later, he earned his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1852. He was elected to the state legislature in 1856. In 1859 Christopher married his cousin, Elizabeth Louise McLeod (1836-1902) of Staten Island, New York, and they resided on Grant Street in Pittsburgh. Elizabeth Louise, known to her family as Louisa, made extended trips to the east coast to visit her family throughout her marriage to Christopher. Later in life, she summered in Jacksonville, Florida, and various resorts in New Jersey and New York. Christopher and Louisa had seven children, five of whom lived to adulthood: Margaret (1861-1894), Christopher, Jr. (1863-1951), Jane (1869-1880), Julia (1871-1921) and Walter (1874-1952). Margaret was survived by her husband, Kier Mitchell, and daughter, Louise. Louise attended Misses Shipley's School in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, with the financial assistance of her grandfather. Christopher, Jr. earned his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania and was employed by a Pittsburgh firm. Walter, called "Doc" by his siblings, traveled extensively in Europe and Asia. Little about Margaret, Jane or Julia is found in this collection or in secondary sources. Christopher Magee was appointed to the Court of Common Pleas No. 2 of Allegheny County in 1885. He was active in the community as an incorporator of Shadyside Academy, Pittsburgh Hospital for Children, and the Allegheny Cemetery. He was a member of the Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce, the University Club of Pittsburgh, the Delta Phi Club of New York City and the Pennsylvania Forestry Association. Christopher was involved in the Democratic Party, serving on the Allegheny County Finances Committee. The extended Magee family had prominent members not mentioned in this collection. For example, William A. Magee, mayor of Pittsburgh, was a cousin of Judge Christopher Magee. Also, Christopher Lyman Magee (1848-1901), was a Republican Party political leader in Pittsburgh whose home became the maternity hospital that is now UPMC Magee Women's Hospital.
From the description of Papers of the Magee family, 1790-1952. (University of Pittsburgh). WorldCat record id: 31528752
