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Below is a family biography included in The History of Washington County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Hon. Hosea M. Maguire (deceased) was born about 1813 in Simpson County, Ky., near Bowling Green. His parents were natives of North Carolina, and were of Scotch-Irish extraction, their parents being early pioneer settlers of the Carolinas. The parents of our subject came to Washington County, Ark., in an early day, where they made a home and lived the remainder of their active and useful lives. They were faithful and consistent members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Hosea M. Maguire was reared in this county, and in early manhood adopted merchandising and trading as an occupation. In these he met with success, but upon the outbreak of the Civil War, being a strong Southern sympathizer, he gave liberally to the cause of secession, and upon the close of that memorable conflict, like a large number of his contemporaries, he found himself without home or fortune. Being of a sanguine disposition, however, he at once began to retrieve his broken fortunes, and to that end engaged in the manufacture of tobacco. This industry yielded him a comfortable income, and he later resumed mercantile pursuits with such success that upon his death he left quite a fortune. In 1850 he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Louisa Trammel, who bore him a family of two sons (now deceased) and seven daughters. After the death of his first wife Mr. Maguire married Mary Smith, widow of Andrew Smith and a sister of his first wife. Three of the daughters borne by his first wife are now living: Mrs. A.. L. Williams [see sketch of husband], Mrs. Mac Devin [see sketch] and Miss Addie Maguire. One daughter (now deceased) became the wife of W. D. Moore [see sketch]. At the time of his death, July 23, 1888, Mr. Maguire was representing Washington County in the Legislature. He was a faithful and consistent member of The Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, which buried him with full honors. He was a quiet and unostentatious man, who journeyed through life upon the principle that “whatever is worth doing at all us worth doing well.’’ His prosperity only enhanced the natural charity with which he was endowed. The poor and needy were ever sure of receiving words of comfort and material assistance from him, and his death was mourned by a large circle of friends and associates. He reared and educated his family well, and was rewarded by seeing them become honorable citizens. His daughters who married became the helpmeets of men of esteem and acknowledged ability.

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This family biography is one of 300 biographies included in The History of Washington County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Washington County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Washington County, Arkansas family biographies, click here

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