John L. McGuire was probably the fourth son of Davidson and Margaret Kelley McGuire. Depends on whether you credit James as the first or the second son, or a son at all. At any rate, John L. was in the middle of the family, after Timothy, Mary Jane, James, Charles, Elizabeth Jane, and Mahala.
He carried a family name, "John L." being the name of several cousins. I have never known what the "L" stands for, nor have I seen any explanation anywhere. It could stand for "Lafayette," which is a common middle name in the family. It could be "Lee," after some neighbors. Or, according to Jim McGuire, it could be just plain old "L." Nonetheless, the "L" was an integral part of his personality. It appears often.
John L. was definitely born about 1833 in AL, probably in Leeds on his father's land. Some sources list his birth as Columbiana, and that may be, but I've never seen any documents to prove it. Doesn't it make sense to think he was born at his dad's farm??? His birth month was probably January through June based on the dates of the 1850 and 1860 Censuses for Jefferson County.
The sources for this material include the 1840, 1850 & 1860 Censuses, Jessie Johnson (Civil War record), the Shelby County Historical Society (Moses Johnson fracas and Civil War record), Birmingham Public Library (Civil War record), and the Hebron Baptist Church records at Samford University in Birmingham.
John L. McGuire's timeline:
• 1833: Born in Columbiana, Shelby County or more likely Leeds, Jefferson County, between January and June
• 1840, age 6 or 7: In household of Davidson McGuire in Jefferson County and enumerated as the male 5 - 10.
• November 7, 1850, age 17: Enumerated in household of Davidson McGuire in Jefferson County at age 17. Farmer.
• August 1, 1851, age about 18: John & James are assaulted by Moses and Alphonzo Johnson in Shelby County. Takes them to court in Shelby County.
• October 1852, about age 19: Received by baptism into Hebron Church, Leeds, AL.
• January 24, 1854, probably aged 20 or 21: Marries Britta Ann Green in Jefferson County two days after Charles McGuire marries Sarah Ann Hurst
• December 1854, aged 21 or 22: Cited for swearing in the records of Hebron Church, Leeds, AL.
• January 1855, aged 22 or 23: Excluded from Hebron Church, Leeds, AL, because he doesn't respond after his brother-in-law talks to him about the swearing. No record so far of his rejoining or finding another church.
• May 4, 1857, age 24 or 25: Ellen Nora McGuire born
• Oct. 22, 1858, age 25 or 26: Mary Drucilla McGuire born
• June 21, 1860, age 27: Enumerated in the 1860 US Census for AL at Elyton P.O., Cahaba Valley, Jefferson County, AL. J. L. McGuire is listed in the Cahaba Valley with his wife Britana, 26, daughter Ellin, 5 and daughter Mary, 3. He is 27, a farmer, born in AL, has $50, and cannot read.
• June 30, 1860, age 27: Stephen Arnold Douglas born
• 1860 - 1863, age 27 - 30: Unknown baby girl born
• Feb., 1 1863, age 29 or 30: Enlists in Confederate Army at Cedar Grove, Alabama, as a hospital guard. Company C, Alabama 18th. His brother Charles is in the same group.
• May 19, 1864, age 30 or 31: Captured at Cassville, Georgia. Taken to Nashville, TN, and then on to Louisville, KY.
• May 25, 1864, age 30 or 31: Transferred to Rock Island, Illinois. He was placed in the prison hospital where he died of pneumonia.
• July 17, 1864, age 31: Dies at Rock Island prison of "pleury pneumonia." Buried in Confederate Cemetery Lot #1321.
I am reserving comments and opinions about his character and actions for a later post. More anon.
Copyright July 2010 by AlRoots.blogspot.com
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