Orange County, Florida

Orange County FLGenWeb: Biographies: Fred Harold Maguire

Source: "History of Florida: Past and Present, Historical and Biographical," Volume 2, Harry Gardner Cutler, Lewis publishing Company, 1923, Florida.

Fred Harold Maguire

Fred Harold Maguire came from college to take charge of his father's fruit and truck farms at Ocoee, and as one of the firm of Maguire Brothers is still prominently identified with that important industry of Orange County. He is also president of a bank at Ocoee, and has numerous interests that justify the prominence his name enjoys in that part of the state.

Mr. Maguire was born at Princeton, Georgia, December 5, 1886, son of David Oscar and Margaret (Francis) Maguire. His mother resides at Ocoee and was born at Athens, Georgia, June 30, 1858. His father was born in Rockdale County, Georgia, October 16, 1850, and died at Ocoee, November 13, 1913. His parents came to Florida in 1884, first living at Crown Point, and in 1893 removed to Ocoee where David O. Maguire developed a large body of land for the production of citrus and truck crops. He was also a leader in local politics and affairs, and when the populist party was a factor in Florida politics, he was one of its leaders, being candidate on the ticket for State Senate in 1890 and 1894 and was very nearly elected in the latter year. After the populists fused with the democrats in 1896 he resumed his affiliations with the latter party. The children of David O. Maguire and wife were: Dr. T. C. Maguire of Plant City; Charles Hugh, who died at Jacksonville in 1912 at the age of twenty-nine; Fred Harold; Raymer F., an Orlando attorney; Lillian Irma, who graduated from the Florida State College for Women with the A. B. degree in 1918, received her Master of Arts degree from Columbia University in 1922, and is a teacher in the Lakeland High School.

The paternal grandfather of Fred H. Maguire was Thomas Maguire, a native of Ireland, who came to America when about thirty years of age, and married a Miss Anderson, and for many years was a planter in Georgia. The maternal grandfather of F. H. Maguire was James Francis, a native of England.

Fred H. Maguire grew up at Ocoee from the time he was about seven years of age, attended public schools there, later entered the University of Florida, and from there transferred to the University of Georgia. During his junior year he left college to look after his father's truck and citrus fruit interests, and subsequently formed the firm of Maguire Brothers at Ocoee. This ranks among the largest firms of truck growers in the state. They are now cultivating 230 acres, and in 1922 they shipped 196 carloads of truck. They also own citrus groves. F. H. Maguire is a member of the Maguire-Hawthorne Packing Company, fruit packers and shippers, and has been president of the Bank of Ocoee since its organization in 1919. He is a democrat in politics and a member of the Baptist Church.

In 1922 Mr. Maguire married Miss Letitia Dee Walker, daughter of James K. and Connie Walker of Oakland, Florida.