Sacramento
County
Biographies
James B.
McGuire, pioneer manufacturer of iron doors, 520 K street, Sacramento, was born
August 13, 1824. His parents Lawrence
and Mary (Highland) McGuire, came from County Kings, Ireland, and settled in
Connecticut in 1827. Here he attended
school taught by a brother of the celebrated Lorenzo Dow. In 1832 the family removed to Cincinnati,
where he remained until 1849, when he joined the Dr. Woodruff train and came to
California across the plains; but, as with so many who came in that manner,
dissatisfaction arose and the party was broken up. Mr. McGuire joined James Huff and Henry Greathouse, and proceeded
westward. At Fort Hall they left their
wagons and packed their horses. They
came by way of the sink of the Humboldt, crossed the valley and came into
Sacramento August 21, 110 days after leaving St. Joseph. Mr. McGuire made a prospecting tour to the
Spanish Bar, on the American River, and those two weeks were the first and last
of his mining experience. In the fall
of that year (1849) he started in business in Sacramento, locating on Third
street, between J and K, but varying his occupations during the winter months
by making trips to Marysville on trading expeditions in a whale-boat. Later he built a shop on Sixth and J streets,
where for many years he conducted his business. In 1860 he located on J street, where he still carries on the
business. Mr. McGuires was married
September 1, 1858, to Miss Mary, daughter of John Coffee, who came to
California in 1849 from Boston, and kept a hotel on Fifth street, between J and
K. Mrs. McGuire died in 1879. The children are: Joseph, Belle, Agnes, Lillian and William. The subject of this sketch has never been in
any sense a politician, but has always been interested in the affairs of the
city. He early became identified with
the volunteer fire department; was foreman of Hook and Ladder Company No. 2,
and is a member of the society of Exempt Firemen. He is also a member of the Pioneer Association, and has been both
a director and president of that society.
Transcribed
by Karen Pratt.
Davis, Hon. Win. J., An Illustrated History of
Sacramento County, California. Page 501. Lewis Publishing Company. 1890.
©
2005 Karen Pratt.