Description

Formal portrait of Don Maguire that is undated, but is proably between 1880-1894.  This portrait was taken later in his life long after his trading days were over.  Photo courtesy of Utah State Historical Society.  This photo was used in the Days Past article titled, Don Maguire’s New Years’ Adventure in Prescott, 1879 - Part 2, by Nancy Burgess on January 2, 2023.

Dominick "Don" Maguire (1852-1893) was born in Vermont, the youngest son of a merchant trading family. Don’s father, John, was a merchant trader who originally traveled and traded all over New England and New York, then into Kentucky, Illinois and Iowa, and made a considerable fortune in the 1870s. John then took his family west to Ogden, Utah.

After traveling the world, Don organized three major trading trips to the Southwest and Mexico between 1876 and 1879. He made three trading expeditions through Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah and Mexico. He determined that the trading opportunities were ripe in the mining districts of the Arizona Territory, which were typically undersupplied. It was not without danger and Maguire did not go alone. He hired experienced, “good, trusty and worthy men.” He required his men to be constantly well armed and alert, to keep to themselves, not talk to the locals, not explain their purposes and be loyal to him. In exchange, he offered good pay, the best food to procure, the best accommodations available, good horses, side excursions, and vacations.