Nebraska City News, 28 Jul 1881
Mr. John McGinley, of Dunbar, was in the city yesterday. Mr. McGinley is one of the largest property owners in that city and informed a News reporter that the property had advanced over 200 percent in that town in the last 60 days. In the last year he has sold over fifty lots to eastern parties who are going to build thereon and settle. Mr. McGinley thinks that Dunbar in course of time will be one of the largest towns in the county.

The Nebraska Daily Press, Nebraska City, NE, Wed., 9 Feb 1898, pg. 4
John McGinley, an old pioneer, residing at Douglas, is dead.

Palmyra Items, Palmyra, NE., Friday, 11 Feb 1898, pg. 1
Mr. John McGinley full of days passed away on Monday and was buried in Palmyra Catholic, St. Leo's Cemetery on Wednesday by Rev. F. Sperlein. High Mass was celebrated in St. Martin's C. C. at Douglas.
From the earlies days in this County he has been a prominent figure, respected by all. Notwithstanding the terribly inclement day, the funeral was very largely attended, as was to be expected by reason of the community's great respect for him and sympathy for the family.
"Happy is the death that the rain rains on." If that be true then Mr. McGinley is happy.

Nebraska City Daily News, Nebraska City, NE., Monday, 14 Feb 1898, pg. 2
Uncle John McGinley died the 8th. He was an old resident of this county and once said to us he was here when it was all land that men had to deal with and not much lese to do with to make money. He leaves a wife and quite a large family to mourn his loss. The funeral obsequies were held in the chapel at Douglas and his remains interred at Palmyra.

Portrait and Biographical Album of Otoe and Cass Counties, Nebraska
Chicago; Chapman Brothers
1889

John McGinley In the career of this gentleman is illustrated that of the self-made man, who was thrown early in life upon his own resources, and has by a course of persevering industry attained a good position, socially and financially. He is now the owner of an extensive tract of land, consisting of 680 acres in Hendricks Precinct and 172 in Delaware. His homestead is provided with handsome and substantial buildings and all the farm machinery necessary to the carrying on of agriculture after the most approved methods. Mr. McGinley as a citizen is liberal and public spirited, and uniformly the encourager of those enterprises calculated to advance the welfare of the community, socially, morally and financially.
The subject of our sketch was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1830, and is the son of Patrick and Rosa (Kinnie) McGinley, who were natives of the same country as their son. They emigrated to America in 1866, and coming directly to the West, settled in Delaware Precinct, this county, where the father died the year following at the age of fifty-six years. The mother is still living, and a resident of Hendricks. The parental household included nine children, five of whom are living and residents of Nebraska. John was a young man twenty-two years of age when coming to the United States, having preceded the family a number of years. He sailed from Liverpool and landed in New Orleans, and thence proceeded to Cincinnati by steam boat.
In 1878 our subject purchased 680 acres of land in Hendricks Precinct, this county, and had made all the improvements which have constituted his homestead one of the most valuable in this part of Otoe County. The land is well watered with running streams, and pleasant groves scattered here and there form a grateful shade in summer and protect both man and beast from the blasts of winter. Ten acres are planted to orchards, and numerous other fine fruits add to the comfort and enjoyment of the family.
Mr. McGinley was married in Cincinnati, Ohio, Feb. 14, 1858 to Miss Mary, daughter of James and Ellen (McKinne) Sheridan, who were also natives of Ireland, born in County Donegal. The family started out for American in July, 1855, and the father died on the ocean. The family settled first in Cincinnati, where Mrs. McGinley was reared to womanhood, and remained with her mother until marriage. The latter subsequently made her home with her daughter, and died at Dunbar, June 25, 1883, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. The parental family included nine children, on whom Mrs. McGinley was fifth in order of birth. She was born in County Donegal, Ireland, May 12, 1835, and was nineteen years old when she crossed the Atlantic.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. McGinley, ten in number, were named respectively; Rosanna, Ellen, Lizzie, Mary, James, William, George, Francis, Maggie and Jessie. The are all living at home with the exception of Lizzie, who is the wife of Charles Flynn, a well-to-do farmer of Delaware Precinct. They have one child, a daughter, Jessie. Mr. McGinley has been quite prominent in local affairs; he has served as Road Supervisor for a period of ten years, and is still holding the office. He has also operated considerably as a contractor for the railroads and county bridges. He fulfilled several contracts during the building of the Missouri Pacific. He and his excellent wife were reared in the faith of the Catholic Church, of which they still remain devoted adherents, and attend services both at Palmyra and Nebraska City. Mr. McGinley, politically, is a stanch Democrat, and a warm support of the principles of his party. Mrs. McGinley is a lady greatly esteemed in her community, intelligent, refined, and possessing all the womanly virtues.
When our subject came to this county Nebraska City was a hamlet of a few houses. He was one of the earliest settlers of Delaware Precinct, and has here upon his farm much valuable timber. He is considerably interested in stock, feeding extensively from sixty to 100 head each year, and is breeding mules, having on hand usually about twelve head. A man wide-awake and energetic, he has long been recognized as one of the most important and successful farmers of the county, in whose development and prosperity he has been no unimportant factor. He has watched its growth with the interest which is felt by every intelligent citizen, and in the development of one of its finest farms has added greatly to the value of its landed estate.
Contributor: Debbie McGinley (47175973)