Biographies
For
Muscatine County Iowa
1889



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 412

GEORGE D. MAGOON, a pioneer settler of Muscatine, is a native of Ware Hampshire Co., Mass., born Feb. 11, 1825. His parents were Isaac and Hannah ( Shaw ) Magoon, a very old family who traced their ancestry back to Isaac Magoon, who emigrated from the North of Ireland to America in the year 1727, and settled at Ware Mass., and was the founder of this branch of the Magoon family in America. The parents of our subject had born unto them a family of ten children, four sons and six daughters, viz : Isaac A., who died in Warsaw, Ill., in 1839 ; Selencia married Abrial Fry in 1840, and died in Muscatine in 1858 ; Maria, who became the wife of Andrew J. Fimple, now deceased, one of the early settlers of Muscatine, is now living at Muscatine ; Eliza married William Gordon, of Muscatine, and died in August, 1872 ; Henry, died in infancy in Ware, Mass.; Mary, who became Mrs. George Martin, died in California in 1873 ; George, our subject, is the next in order of birth ; Charles, who died at Muscatine in 1841 ; Jane is the wife of Richard Cadle, and resides in Colorado ; and Augusta, Mrs. Martin, the youngest, is a widow, and resides at Rock Island, Ill.

In 1827 Isaac Magoon left his native State, moving to Ohio, where he worked at his trade in many places, and ten years later, in 1837, removed to Illinois, locating at Warsaw, Hancock County, where they resided until 1840, at which time they removed to Iowa, amd settled at Muscatine, where he resided until his death, which occurred in December, 1846. His wife survived him many years, dying Oct. 12, 1871, at the age of eighty-two years.

George D. Magoon received his early education near Mt. Vernon, Ohio, attending school in an old log school-house, which was in a very delapidated condition, the apertures being "large enough to throw a hat through." After removing to Warsaw, Illinois, he attended a public school, and was also instructed at a private school, his education being completed in an old log school-house in Muscatine, located on Third street, between Sycamore and Cedar. His father was a machinist and millwright, and George had access to his tools, often in his youth amusing himself by making sleds and wagons for his fellow-playmates. Thus at an early age he learned the use and manner of handling the different tools, and in 1847, after attaining his majority, chose the carpenter's trade as the occupation he wished to follow through life. His first contract was the erection of the building in which the Daily News is now published. In 1859 the gold excitement drew him to California, where he remained for four years, during which time he worked for about a year in the mines, making several thousand dollars. He then went to Sacramento, where he erected several elegant buildings, his last contract being a house, 24x60 feet, three stories in height, which he finished in thirty days from the time he began the work. Returning to Muscatine in 1854, he resumed his former occupation, and since that time has built many of the most elegant and important buildings in the city. Under his supervision was erected the German Catholic Church, the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the Presbyterian Church, also the Second and Third Ward school buildings, the Union and freight depots, the Hotel Webster and the Herwig Building. The residence of Capt. Clark, which cost $75,000, that of P. M. Musser on Second street, the Webster residence and that of Judge Richman, together with many others, are the handiwork of Mr. Magoon. His work is always entirely satisfactory to his employers, he giving attention to the smallest details, nothing being left undone or in a half completed manner.

When the late war broke out Mr. Magoon responded to his country's call, enlisting in 1861, in the 11th Iowa Infantry, and was commissioned as First Lieutenant, serving in the capacity until he took charge of the detached service two years before the close of the war. This was called the pioneer corps, and did effective work. Lieut, Magoon found his trade to be quite useful, and was appointed to build breastworks and magazines. He finished the Fort of Atlanta the evening before the battle, and his force was on the grounds during the engagement, some of them being captured. While his company was guarding the train, it was attacked by Forrest's and Van Dorn's cavalry, when there ensued the hardest battle in which our subject was engaged. After three years of active service on Southern battle-fields, he was mustered out of the service at Chatanooga, Dec.6, 1864, and returned to his home.

At Muscatine, on Sept. 27, 1860. Mr. Magoon was united in marriage with Miss Joanna Kincaid, a native of Indiana, born in Tippecanoe County, Feb. 11, 1839, and a daughter of Col. and Lavias ( Steenbergen ) Kincaid. Mrs. Magoon's father served as Colonel in the old Greybeard Regiment. Mrs. Kincaid was the niece of Gov. Lucas. who was Governor of Ohio, and Territorial Governor of Iowa. They were the parents of five children, who are yet living : Joanna, wife of our subject ; Maggie, wife of J. H. Bishop, wholesale grocer of Muscatine ; Charles S., who resides on the old homestead in Bloomington Township ; William M., who is living in Muscatine, wedded Agnes Gordon, and died in 1884 ; Warren E., the youngest, wedded Miss Mary Sheldon, Sept. 2, 1888, and is a resident of Kansas. The father of this family departed this life in 1876, in the sixty-fourth year of his age. His wife is still living, and resides at Muscatine, at the age of sixty-eight years.

By the union of Mr. and Mrs. Magoon two children have been born : Anna, in December, 1861, died the following year; Eddie, born Dec, 26, 1864, resides with his parents in Muscatine. Socially, Mr. Magoon is the only surviving charter member of Hawkeye Lodge No. 30, A.F.& A.M., and has been a member of the De Molay Commandery No. 1,K.T., for about thirty years. He belongs to the independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is a member of Shelby Norman Post No. 231, G.A.R., and in 1886 was present at the National Encampment of that organization at San Francisco. Mr. Magoon is a stanch Republican, and has been a supporter of that party since it was first organized., but has never been aspirant for public distinction. He is one of the oldest settlers now living at Muscatine, and for nearly half a century has been identified with the developement and prosperity of the place, and has done his part to encourage every deserving public enterprise. He is a successful business man, and has acquired a comfortable competency upon which to spend the evening of his life. Mr. and Mrs. Magoon are members of the Presbyterian Church, and enjoy the comfidence and respect of the community generally.


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