McB. McGonigle makes his home in Elkader, and is prominent in the ranks of the Democratic party. By the votes of the people he was elected in 1890 to his present position of trust and honor as Deputy County Clerk of Clayton County. He numbers a host of warm personal friends, and by his energetic and business-like manner convinces all who have the pleasure of meeting him that he is amply qualified to discharge the duties pertaining to his post.

A native of Clayton County, he was born in Monona, September 28, 1870, and though a young man, has already acquired a good reputation as a sagacious and far-sighted man of business and a financier.

The father of our subject, whose Christian name is Charles L., was born in the Keystone State, and in early manhood came to the west, becoming one of the pioneers and prominent in the growth of Clayton County, He is a stanch Democrat, an active worker in the ranks of the party, and at the present time is serving as a representative to the Legislature from this county. His wife, formerly Helen Barnes, was born in Indiana, being a daughter of Isaac Barnes, a native of the Empire State, and one of the early settlers of Clayton County.

The boyhood of him whose name heads this record was passed at his birthplace, where he received the advantages of the good public schools. He has always made the most of his opportunities in an educational way, and by his private reading acquired a good fund of general information.

His father, who has long been a public man, was pointed to the position of Postmaster of Monona in 1884 by President Cleveland, and with him our subject commenced his business life, serving as Deputy Postmaster, a place he occupied for two years. In 1890 he was appointed Deputy County Clerk, to serve under M. P. Dunn, and has proved himself worthy of the honor and trust thus reposed in him. It is needless to say that he, like his father, is an ardent Democrat, for he is widely known as one of the leading young men of locality in the community where he resides.

Being genial and affable in manner, he numbers a large circle of friends and acquaintances, and though still so young, his keen eye to business and energetic disposition commend him highly the shrewd and enterprising citizens of Elkader and surrounding towns. His pleasant face and beaming smile are familiar to all who frequent the courthouse, and he is a universal favorite.

~source: Portrait and Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties;Chicago: Chapman Pub. Co., 1894; pg. 544
-transcribed by Becky Teubner