Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis
Pub. Co. 1893.  p. 1135.
 
HOLLISTER D. McGUIRE

     a prominent and public-spirited citizen of Portland, Oregon, is one of that
State's native sons, having been born in the city of his residence on August 18,
1853.  His father, Francis McGuire, is an honored and worthy pioneer of the
State.  He was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, on July 4, 1810.  His father,
Josiah McGuire, served his country as a colonel in the war of 1812, while his
grandfather, James McGuire, came from Scotland about the year 1740, bringing
with him his wife and two children, and settled in the Colony of Virginia, where
several generations of the family were born.  The family owned a large
plantation, and were prominent Virginians for many years.  When Francis McGuire
became a man he was for five or six years engaged in business on the Mississippi
river, until the malaria of the swamps of that region affected his health.  He
then removed to Burlington, Iowa. in 1840, engaging in mercantile business
there. In 1842 he was married to Miss Arvilla Green, of Buffalo, New York. He
continued in business in Burlington, Iowa until 1851, when a renewed failure of
health warned him to seek a more genial climate. Consequently, with his wife and
four children, he crossed the plains to Oregon, arriving in Portland in 1852,
purchasing, in the following year, a farm in Washington county, where he resided
until 1855, when he moved to the city of Portland. Here he was actively engaged
in business for fifteen years, doing in that time a large amount of the
contracting and building of the city. In this business he met with signal
success, becoming by his energy and public-spiritedness, a prominent factor in
the public enterprises of the metropolis.  Among other things, he took an active
part in the organization of the Mechanics' Fair, the first enterprise of the
kind in the State, out of which has grown the present association and the
Exposition Building.  In 1871, before much had been done in East Portland, he
removed there, purchasing twenty acres, and built upon this land in the vicinity
of Eighteenth and I street. The correctness of his judgment has been amply
proved by the subsequent rapid growth of the city, the property doubling itself
in value. There he resided, actively engaged in business, until his old disease
of ague attacked him, when after four years of suffering, endured with heroic
fortitude, he finally breathed his last on the 13th of January, 1879, in his
sixty-ninth year of age. He was mourned as an upright citizen, a faithful and
loving husband, and a kind, indulgent father. His widow and four children had
the sympathy of the community in their bereavement. Eliza, the eldest child,
became the wife of Mr. J. M. Murphy, editor of the Washington Standard,
published at Olympia. The three sons are worthy and reliable business men of
Portland. The other sons are: H. P. and W. W., each having families of their
own. The mother is still living, respected and esteemed by all.
     The subject of our sketch was raised and educated in the city of Portland,
where he has always since resided. He learned the trade of a decorator and
painter, which business he carried on for about eight years. He did the work of
that kind on the Unitarian church and other buildings. In 1879 he turned his
attention to the real-estate business, in which be has since continued. He has
both invested for himself is now all built on, having and laid out property for
others, principally on the east side, and most of it being inside property. He
platted and sold the Elizabeth Irving
Addition, which contains forty acres, and which is now all built on, having some
of the handsomest houses on the east side.   He also handled the Kenworthy
Addition, and the Bunnell's Addition, both now in the heart of the city. Lots
which he bought for $500 have become worth $3,500. He is also manager of the
Delmeshover Addition, and is half-owner of the East Portland Heights, both being
eligible residence property. The average price of lots is from $600 to $800 and
$1,000.
     Mr. McGuire is, politically, a Democrat; and is a member of the Masonic
fraternity.
     He has been twice married, having the misfortune to lose his first wife and
child. In 1882 he married Miss Kate Stuart, a native of Arkansas, a daughter of
Mr. J. L. Stuart.  They have four children, all born in Portland, viz.: Silva
S., Arvilla P., Francis L. and Hollister E.    Mr. McGuire has always been
deeply interested in the welfare of his city and State. The growth and welfare
of the city of his birth have always been matters of personal interest to him,
and possessing foresight and business ability, he has aided her materially in
her march to opulence and fame.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in December 2013 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.