The old well-known McGuire homestead occupies a portion of section 15, in West Galena Township, and embraces eighty acres of finely located and well cultivated land. It is embellished with good buildings, a creditable assortment of live-stock, and machinery, and all other appliances of the well regulated country estate. Besides this property Mr. McGuire has an interest in 205 acres elsewhere in the township, his brother-in-law, Mr. Berry, being part owner. The last mentioned property is mostly in pasture land, and from its location is quite valuable. Mr. McGuire has been the owner of the homestead which he now occupies since the spring of 1880. It possesses for him far more than moneyed value, for it was here he was born, March 30, 1849. He is the youngest of five children, the offspring of Michael and Mary (Smith) McGuire, a further notice of whom will be found in the biography of Thomas Berry, elsewhere in this volume. He received his education in the public schools of his native township and at an early age was trained to those habits of industry and frugality, which has been the secret of his later success. He brought a bride to the old roof-tree in the summer of 1880, being married, June 28th of that year to Miss Catherine A. Berry. Mrs. McGuire is like her husband a native of West Galena Township, and was born July 10, 1848. She is the second daughter and child of John and Mary Berry, and remained a member of the parental household until her marriage, acquiring her education in the common school, and receiving careful home training. She was educated in St. Raphael’s Catholic Sisters’ School, and also was for a time under the instructions of the Sisters of Mercy at their school in West Galena City. She is pleasing and intelligent and was the mother of five bright children, four of whom, however, were taken from the home circle at an early age, greatly mourned by the affectionate and devoted parents. Augustus died when nearly six years old. Thomas and Louisa, twins, died at the age of three months, and

Joseph was not quite two years old when he was taken from the home circle. The only survivor is a daughter, Mary, their first born. Mr. and Mrs. McGuire have lived on the farm, which they have occupied since their marriage, and have gathered around themselves all of the comforts of life, and many of its luxuries. Both are members of St. Michael’s Catholic Church at Galena. Mr. McGuire, politically, is a sound Democrat. He has never had any aspirations for office, preferring to give his whole time and attention to his farming and stock-raising interests

Contributed by Carol Parrish - Portrait and Biographical Album of Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties, Illinois (1889), 644