- PETER ALVIN McGUIRE, a prominent citizen of Janesville, dealer
in wood and coal, was born in
- Oswego, N.Y., in the year 1838, and is a son of Matthew and
Nancy (DALTON) McGUIRE. His father was a native of Ireland, and
was there reared and married. In about 1829 he emigrated with
his family to America, and settled in Oswego, N.Y., where, until
1847 he continued to reside, when he removed to Racine County,
Wis. After two years, in 1849, he located in the town of Wyocena,
Columbia County, where his death occurred in 1858, leaving a
wife and five children. Mrs. McGUIRE is still living and resides
at Janesville with her son, Peter A. She is now in the one hundredth
year of her age, having been born Aug. 15, 1789, and is probably
the oldest person in Rock County.
- Our subject remained at home until 1862, when, stirred with
patriotic impulses, he enlisted in his
- country's service in the month of February of that year,
and was assigned to Company D of the 19th Wisconsin Infantry.
The hardships and exposures incident to army life undermined
his constitution, and after eighteen months' service he was discharged
on account of disability. He has never yet recovered his former
health, and will probably ever be a sufferer from the effects
of his army experience.
- After his return from the war Mr. McGUIRE engaged in the
grain business, and was located at
- different places in that pursuit. Settling in Winneshiek,
Iowa, he went thence to Austin, Minn., and three years later
became a resident of Winnebago City in the same State. Two years
subsequent to that time he removed to Delavan, Fairbault Co.,
Minn., later to Calmar, Winneshiek Co., Iowa, and in 1878 went
to Lawler, Chickasaw County, then in 1881 to Algona, Lossuth
County. The year 1884 found him in Phillips County, Kan., and
in November of that year he came to Janesville where he has since
engaged in business as a dealer in wood and coal. He is located
at No. 101 North Academy street, and succeeded Messrs. BLAIR
& GOWDEY on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad
in June, 1887. He has built up a good trade, and is well worthy
of public patronage.
- At Portage City, Wis., on the 2d of June, 1862, Mr. McGUIRE
was united in marriage with Miss
- Celia E. POTTER, a daughter of David POTTER, but in 1874,
while residing in Delevan, Minn., the death of the lady occurred.
One child of that marriage, Glennie, is still living. While engaged
in business at Calmar, Iowa, Mr. McGUIRE was again married, his
second union, on the 25th of September, 1878, being with Miss
Hattie E. CHURCH, a daughter of James CHURCH, who settled in
the town of Rock, Rock County, Wis., in 1850. Her father was
a native of Luzerne County, Pa., and a well-known citizen of
this community. After residing in the town of Rock for about
twelve years Mr. CHURCH came to Janesville, and for several years
served as Alderman of the city. His wife's maiden name was Sarah
VAN ANTWERP, a daughter of John VAN ANTWERP, a pioneer settler
of Rock County. Mr. CHURCH died in Janesville in 1883, leaving
a widow and five children, namely: Hattie E., Cora, James, Oliver
P. and Elvira V.
- John VAN ANTWERP, the father of Mrs. CHURCH, and the grandfather
of Mrs. McGUIRE,
- was born in Montgomery County, N.Y., Nov. 1, 1805. He there
grew to manhood and wedded Miss Elizabeth CARNCROFT, who was
born Sept. 15, 1809, and their marriage was celebrated in 1828.
Mr. VAN ANTWERP learned the trade of a boot and shoemaker in
his youth. Some time after his marriage he remained in his native
State, but at length removed with his wife to Allen County, Ohio,
and then to Shelby County. In 1843, nine years after his removal
to the Buckeye State he came to Rock County, Wis., locating in
Rock Township about one mile from Afton, where he began making
a home. He erected a saw-mill, which he began operating and was
attaining to a good degree of success when death call him from
this earth, in October 1846, only about three years after coming
to Rock County. He left a wife, and six children between the
ages of two and a half and fifteen years, the family comprising
three sons and three daughters all of whom are living, as follows:
Mrs. Catherine ALGER, of Nebraska; LaFayette, a resident of Rock
County; Mrs. Sarah CHURCH, of Janesville; David who is living
in Nebraska; Lottie and Frank of Monroe, Green Co., Wis. After
the death of her first husband Mrs. VAN ANTWERP became the wife
of Abram RAFTER, a native of Niagara County, N.Y. He also died
many years ago. They had one son, William RAFTER of Janesville.
- Mr. and Mrs. McGUIRE have been the parents of two children
- Ralph and Herbert Ray. The
- latter died in infancy. During his residence in Kansas, in
1884, a sore affliction visited Mr. McGUIRE in the loss of a
son, Walter Floyd, who died at the age of eighteen years. He
was a most promising young man, had just graduate from the Cedar
Rapids Business College, and a bright future seemed open before
him. His loss was a great affliction to his father.
- Mr. McGUIRE holds a pew in the Baptist Church of Janesville,
where his family attend. He is a
- demitted Mason, and has been associated with the I.O.O.F.
and G.A.R.
-
- Taken from "Portrait and Biographical Record of Rock
County, Wis." (c)1889, p. 340.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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