Biography of William L McGuire, Independence Co, AR

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SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas. 
Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889.
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page 690 

William L. McGuire, farmer, Batesville. The name that heads this
sketch is one long and worthily identified with Independence County, and,
indeed, no history of this immediate vicinity would be complete which failed to
make proper mention of Mr. McGuire. Originally from St. Louis County, Mo., his
birth occurred near the city proper now, on the 5th of September, 1840. His
father, Elam S. McGuire, was a native of North Carolina, but emigrated to
Missouri while single, and was married in St. Charles County, of that State, to
Miss Catherine E. Lewis, who was a native of Virginia, but who had emigrated to
Missouri with her parents. They moved to St. Louis County a short time
afterwards, and located near St. Louis, where he followed tilling the soil for
one year. He lived in a little cabin, cut wood and hauled it to St. Louis. In
1841 he moved to Independence County, Ark., and stopped in Batesville, where
subsequently he and his brother, William L., engaged in farming in what is now
Greenbriar Township. They farmed in partnership for a number of years. He then
moved to Batesville and carried on the drug business until about 1856, when he
bought and moved upon the Lee farm, adjoining his flouring-mill property, a
mile and a half northeast of the town, which he had purchased three or four
years before, and which farm, with a part of the mill property (210 acres, 100
under cultivation), is owned and cultivated by his heirs. He there remained
until his demise, in December, 1858. The mother died in December, 1888. He and
his wife, being faithful Christians, members of the Presbyterian Church, were
among the few to organize a Presbyterian Church in Batesville, in 1849. He was
elected and ordained a ruling elder. They gave a hearty, cheerful, helping hand
to all religious, educational and benevolent efforts and enterprises in the
community. They were the parents of seven children – all living; William L.,
Charles E., Thomas W., Walter S., John W., Elam A., and Laura B. The father was
postmaster at Batesville through one administration (Taylor and Filmore's) and
was also school commissioner. He was a Whig in politics, and was also a Know.
Knowing. He was a prominent Mason. William L. McGuire was but one year old when
he came to this county, and here he received a good, thorough education. He
attended the Literary and Military Institute in St. Louis County, Mo., for some
time, and was there at the time of the death of his father. He then came home
and there remained. His father was a man who believed in making his boys
useful, and required their assistance in his business. There the son first
learned in some degree the ways and forms of business – drug store and
postoffice, and further on, milling, running of machinery, etc. When his father
sold out his drugs and moved on the farm, he being the oldest, naturally became
the leader in carrying out the directions of his father until his death, when
he became more the manager on the farm, on which he has continued, with the
exception of two years in the employ of his uncle, E. R. McGuire, and cousin,
J. C. McGuire, in Oil Trough Bottom, this county, in charge of a gin and mill;
and one year in the employ of his aunt, Mrs. S. S. Watson, St. Charles County,
Mo. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and in his politics he
affiliates with the Democratic party. In 1862 he enlisted in Company C,
Dobbins' Regiment and served through the war. He was wounded twice at LaGrange,
Ark., by a pistol shot, once in the right leg and once in the shoulder. He was
in a great many hard skirmishes and witnessed many hardships.