The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-09-05

We herewith present to the readers Of
the ADVOCATE a correct likeness OF the
veteran Labor Reformer, John Magwire,
of St. Louis, Mo, whose paternal grand
father BarthOlaIse~ Magwire, came to this
country from Ireland about the year l735.
He served as a soldier under (then Col.
Washington during the war between the
British colonies and the French and In
dians His original discharge - dated
Dec. IL, 1853, states, Bartholomew
Magwire having served . full term In the
Pennsylvania Militia, is this day discharg-
ed" He was in the srnly under Brad
dock.
His maternal grandfather, Michael Mag
wire, was Captain in the warof the Revo-
luton. He emigrated with his family
from the neighborhood Of Taneytown,
Md, in the year 1888, to place in the
Allegheny Mountains, where the town OF
Loretto stands in Cambria county, and there
in the wilderness established settlement
known as "Magwire's Settlement"
His father, Michael Magwire, was born
in the State of Delaware IN May, 1768,
and at the age Of YEARS was carried by
has parents d,the valley Of the Juniata,
IN what srso-A~rds Aecam- Huntington
y county. he ~lAA segved siu ssre E-~----L
vania militia in the war OF the Revolution
at its close.
His father inherited the farm upon
which his father had settled upon in 177I,
and resided there until he died in 1855
aged 80 year,. He possessed wonderful
physical, as well as strong mental power
The historian of the yuniata Valley visited
him before his death in lS55, and received
from him the facts and incidents upon
which he founded " Jones history of the
Juniata Valley" The historian says he
is indebted to Mr.. Aagwire for the facts
he relates. He remarked that although
Mr. M was on his death bed he had the
most wonderful memory ct any man ht
ever knew. :" His memory was as true az
the needle to the pole, and he recOilectec
days and dates with Ian accuracy that as
tonished me, and when l was leaving
him" (says Mr.. Jones, he took my hanC
and said, my young friend, this is the las
narrative will ever make" Ny muid L
yet clear; my lungs are sound, but thu
powers of life are giving away, and In !
few days my body till go back to the clay
have endeavored 30 fulfill the duties re
quired by the law of my being. 4 hav'
obeyed the laws of God and man. l hav'
always respected the latter and paid hom
age to the former, and for the future, hav'
nothing to fear"
The historian further remarked. "Ths
the man had nerer hired who could say tina
Michael Magwire had ever wronged m An.
This is the legacy his father left to hi
children, and he could have hequeatheS
nothing else Of which his son could b
more proud.
John, the author Of the present sketch
was born on the old homestead in Hunt
ingdon County, Pa. June %, 1905, work
ed on the farm for years, and received tn
advantages of the county schools. Dur
ing boyhoOd, he had great fondness TO
ancient history, and before he was eighteel
years Of age, firt read the Bible and New
Testament at schDol, it being then schoo
book; next read Jossphus, Plutsrch's lives
RolliD, the historian of our own country
80 far as then written; the history o
Napoleon's war. etc. But he received b
tradition from the wonderful memory @
his father, a more accurate account OF tn
Indian wars, and the war of the Revolr
! tion, than has ever been written (of mar-
of the incidentsl
r From the farm he went to the iro
works, and engages first as clerk, and
less than two YEARS, end before he w'
9 twenty-three years Of age, was promote
r to manager, and in that capacity, superb
tended the manu- iacture Of pig iron and cha
Z coal blooming atIthe works Of Lyon, Shor
n & Co., and J HI. b c. RS hoenberger on Il
: Jun,Ata, in Pennaslvania There were lar.
n bodies oflAnds belonging tothose iron work
a most of which had uncertain titles these
d had to look after; and in that way became
10 practical surveyor, and familiar with Il
: land laws Of PfnnsylvaniaI There W
, much litigation; He was familiar with I
Il the manufacturs Of iron in Pennsylvar
!, in all its manifold details. and witness
}, the ups and dokns Of that trade from Is
rs onward to 1896 He visited the iron re
'g ion Of Ohio anH Kentucky forinformstic
ard In 1887 came to 81. Louis, Mo-. o