George W. McGuire, Civil War

GEORGE W. MCGUIRE 1833-1881 11th Missouri Infantry, Company A (Private)

George W. McGuire was born about 1833 in Brown County, OH. The McGuire family probably moved to Lawrence County between 1838 and 1840. In 1850, George was living in Lawrence County with his parents, William and Debora (Worstell) McGuire. In 1860 George was a farm laborer living with and working for Henry Vandament.

On July 18, 1861, George and his brother Thomas both enlisted in Company A of the 11th

Missouri Infantry as Privates. Although his age probably was 28, George said he was 22 years

old. He gave his occupation as a cooper. He was recorded as being in the hospital at

Farmington, MS in late July of 1861. The hospital muster roll of Keokuk USA General Hospital

in August, 1862, reports him as being attached to the hospital as a patient since July 10, 1862. In

December of 1863, George was transferred to LaGrange Invalid Corps. The roll for the 11th

Missouri Infantry for August, 1865 says George was then sick with chronic Diarrhea and was

transferred to 1st Battalion. Notes were made that he had been in the Battles of Fredericktown

and New Madrid Island, and in the sieges of Corinth and Vicksburg.

George married Mary Catherine Bell on August 13, 1865 in Lawrence County. She was

the daughter of James and Hannah (Crockett) Bell of Lawrence County. In 1870

George and Mary were living in Arlington, Phelps County, MO but by 1880 they had returned to Lawrence County where George continued to work as a cooper in Lukin Township. George died July 14, 1881 and was buried in Bell Cemetery in Lawrence County.

Many years ago the tombstone at Bell cemetery for George had fallen over and dirt had covered it through the seasons, until it was no longer visible. Located in the process of restoring the cemetery, the tombstone has now been cleaned and reset, once again honoring this forgotten soldier.