The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 940 
A portrait of Alfred F. Guinan appears in this publication.

ALFRED F. GUINAN.

Alfred F. Guinan, a teacher in the schools of Iowa, a miner and prospector in
Alaska and now  successfully identified with fruit raising in the Yakima valley,
is the owner of valuable orchards covering about eighty-four acres of land near
Selah. Mr. Guinan was born in Hamilton county, Iowa, in June, 1868, a son of
Charles and Mary Ann (Kelly) Guinan, the former a native of Ireland, while the
latter was born in Canada, in which country their marriage was celebrated.
Crossing the border into the United States, they became residents of Iowa about
1865 or 1866 and there the father engaged in farming until his death. Both he
and his wife have passed away and they left to their family a most creditable
name.

Alfred F. Guinan acquired a public school education and during vacation periods
assisted his father in the work of the fields. After his textbooks were put
aside he concentrated his attention largely upon farm work but also took up the
profession of teaching, which he followed for a year in Iowa. He then removed to
the northwest and for a year was identified with educational interests in
Montana. Later he became associated with the Blackfoot Milling Company as
bookkeeper and sealer, occupying that dual position for five years. He was next
bookkeeper with the Mammoth Gold Mining Company in Montana and in 1899 he went
to the Klondike, spending four months in Dawson. In the spring of 1900 he
removed to Nome and there remained continuously with the exception of two winter
seasons, until 1907. During his stay in the far north he located a group of
claims near Nome and still has mining interests in that section. He is also the
owner of a large dredge which is being operated in that part of the country. In
the fall of 1907 Mr. Guinan, however, came to Yakima and bought an interest in
orchard land on Selah Heights. He finally made individual investment in
eighty-four acres, whereon he now resides, and of this he has eighty acres
planted to apples and pears. His orchards are among the best in this section of
the state. They are in excellent bearing condition and everything is done along
the most modern, progressive and scientific lines to keep his trees healthy that
fruit of the finest size, quality and flavor may be produced. He has also seeded
the greater part of his land to alfalfa and is thus raising a double crop. In
1911 he erected a fine home upon his place, it being one of the attractive
residences of that part of the valley.

In 1904 Mr. Guinan was married to Miss Alice Weober, of Davenport, Iowa.
Fraternally he is connected with Yakima Lodge, No. 318, B. P. O. E., and also
with the Knights of Columbus and his membership in the latter also indicates the
connection of the family with the Catholic faith, being communicants of St.
Joseph's Catholic church. His political support is given to the democratic
party, and while never an office seeker, he keeps well informed on the questions
and vital political problems of the day. He is a member of the Arctic
Brotherhood of Alaska and a life member of the Arctic Club, of Seattle, and has
had most interesting and varied experiences during his sojourn in the northwest.
Today he is ranked among the wide-awake, alert and energetic business men of
Yakima county, his wisely directed efforts being a potent force in bringing to
him substantial prosperity.

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Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in January 2008 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.