July 23, 1888

Hosea Maguire of Maguiretown (Washington County), a Democrat who became one of Washington County’s most affluent merchants and landowners and who was elected to the state legislature in the mid-1880s, died. Tax records reveal that his greatest wealth had been achieved in the post–Civil War years. The historic community referred to as Maguiretown or Maguire’s Store was established in the 1840s and existed until the early twentieth century near present-day Elkins (Washington County). Maguire was also the town’s first postmaster.