Joseph N. McGinley, living two and a half miles southeast of Loraine, is the owner of a good tract of land of eighty acres on section 28, Keene township, which he devotes to general farming and stock-raising.  He is a native son of Adams county, his birth having occurred in Camp Point township, February 10, 1854, his parents being William and Margaret (Nevins) McGinley.  His parents were born in Ireland and in early life came to the United States.  The father was employed in Pennsylvania for a number of years and then came to Adams county, establishing his home on a farm in Camp Point township.

Joseph N. McGinley was educated in the public schools of his native township and was reared to farm life, following a plow almost as soon as old enough to reach the plow handles.  He bought a farm of his own in 1881 and has since lived on section 28, Keene township, where his land being rich and arable, responds readily to his cultivation and to the care which he bestows upon the fields.  He is practical and progressive in his methods and his work has been carried forward in an enterprising manner.

On the 27th of November, 1895, Mr. McGinley was married to Miss Luella Sweikert, who was born November 13, 1876, and is a daughter of George and Mary L. T. (Booker) Sweikert, who were residents of Carthage, Illinois, but her father, who is still living, now makes his home in Mendon, Illinois.  Unto Mr. and Mrs. McGinley have been born  four children:  Gracie F., born July 13, 1898;  Joseph M., born March 5, 1900;  Elizabeth E., born May 23, 1903; and William Chester, born November 30, 1904.  Mr. and Mrs. McGinley are well known in the locality where they reside and enjoy the favorable regard of a large circle of friends.  In politics he is a democrat and served as deputy sheriff for eight years.  He was also collector for one year and has been school trustee for several years, while at one time he acted as jailer in Quincy.  He was formerly a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Loraine.

Source: Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois, p. 584; by William H. Collins, Cicero F. Perry, joint author; John Tillson. History of the city of Quincy, Illinois. [from old catalog]. Chicago, S. J. Clarke Pub. Co. 1905.