WILLIAM McGLIIGAN, proprietor of one of the fine farms of Maple River township, Cass county, is one of the energetic and well-to-do citizens of his locality. He went to Dakota without means, and by persistent effort and economical methods has placed himself in comfortable circumstances, and is accorded a prominent place among those of his calling.
Our subject was born in county Down, Ireland, August 2, 1837, and was a son of Bernard and Susanna (Allister) McGuigan, both of whom were natives of county Down. His father was a farmer by occupation and remained in his native land until his death, which occurred February 22, 1899. The mother came to the United States in May, 1899, and now resides with our subject. Our subject has six brothers and one sister, all in North Dakota with the exception of one brother now residing in Oregon.
Mr. McGuigan was reared in Ireland and educated there and later followed farming, in his native isle until 1883, when he emigrated to America and went to Cass county direct, where he has since followed agricultural pursuits. He had but one dollar when he arrived there, and is now the fortunate possessor of three quarter-sections of land, all of which is well improved and furnishes a comfortable income. Our subject was married, April 2, 1891, to Miss Maggie Ross, a native of Canada. Mr. and Mrs. McGuigan are the parents of three children, named as follows: James E., Melvin B. and Mildred A. The family are members of the Presbyterian church and are highly respected in the community in which they reside. Mr. McGuigan has filled some of the township offices, and is actively interested in the welfare of his adopted land. Politically he is independent, and is a man of progressive ideas and is deservedly popular with his associates.
Source: Compendium of History and Biography of North Dakota 1900 Page 216