DrMcGuire.pdfDavie County Public Library
Eminent Physician of Davie: Dr. James McGuire 1829-1909
By Gordon Tomlinson
One of the most outstanding physicians of the early days in Davie County was Dr. James
McGuire.
Dr. McGuire was born near Mocksville on April 29, 1829 of Scotch-Irish ancestry. He
worked on the farm and attended, during the winter months, such schools as were
available in the area. However, the greater part of his time was of necessity devoted to
labor on the farm.
As a young man he attended Clegg Academy in Mocksville and then taught school for a
time. After this he read medicine under Dr. J.F. Martin, the leading physician of his day
in Davie County and prepared himself to enter the University of New York where he
graduated in medicine in 1857.
On the completion of his medical education he formed a co-partnership with Dr. J.F.
Martin, his preceptor, and remained with him until 1860. From 1860 to 1870 he
continued alone the practice of medicine at Mocksville and County Line.
In 1870 he moved with his family to Jersey County, Illinois, where he practiced medicine
for a brief period, returning to Mocksville on account of the health of his wife.
Soon after his return to Mocksville, he entered into partnership with Dr. Dewitt C.
Clement. Following the death of Dr. Clement, Dr. McGuire practiced medicine alone in
this area until 1881 when he was joined by Dr. F.P. Tucker. This partnership continued
for three years.
In 1896 he was joined by Dr. M.D. Kimbrough and they practiced medicine together for
four years.
Dr. McGuire was contemporaneous with the following physicians of the county: Dr. John
Anderson, Dr. Richard Anderson, Dr. Berry Rose, Dr. Scott Jones, Dr. W.L. Brown, Dr.
J.W. Wiseman, Dr. A.W. Wiseman, and Dr. S.W. Little.
It was said that Dr. McGuire as a physician kept his library replenished with new books.
He read much of the time and kept pace with improvements in methods of treatment.
However, he was said to have been very careful and adopted only such means as stood
the test of experience. Though seldom operating as a surgeon, he served as a consultant to
Dr. Kimbrough and other surgeons of the area.
Dr. McGuire held the office of county physician and county superintendent of health for
twenty years or more. During one period of this service smallpox broke out at different
points of the county at the same time. By prompt diagnosis, strict quarantine, and the use
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of the latest preventative measures, the disease was stamped out with only one death and
the minimum expenditure of public money.
Originally a Whig in politics he represented his county in the House of Representatives of
the Legislature for one session. He was opposed to secession and disunion, and in the
chaotic political affair after the war, he maintained an independent position for some
years but finally joined the Republican party. He was elected county treasurer in 1882
and held this office continuously for sixteen years.
Dr. McGuire was tall and commanding in stature, and in further words of his
contemporary and friend, Dr. F.P. Tucker:
“There was combined in him ruggedness of mind and body with refinement of
manner and softness of speech. He was the old-fashioned country gentleman. Yet,
when driven into defense, he could demolish an opponent with a torrent of the
King’s most vigorous English. Reserved and reticent in promiscuous assembly, to
intimate friends he illustrated the highest form of social companionship. He was
absolute truthful, with convictions firmly grounded and practically unchangeable,
he despised trickery and double dealing of every form, and commanded respect,
confidence and influence through sheer force and integrity of his character. He
was the peer, at least within his sphere, of the men of his generation.”
Dr. McGuire was married to Jane E. Eccles, daughter of John W. Eccles of Davie
County. Of this union, there were born five children, three dying in infancy, and a
daughter, later in life. James Jr., the late husband of Mrs. Hattie McGuire of Mocksville
was the only one of the children to survive and rear a family.
Dr. McGuire died after a protracted illness on August 21, 1909 and was buried in the
Joppa Graveyard. The funeral was conducted jointly by pastors of the Methodist, Baptist
and Presbyterian churches.
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