Col. William T. McGurrin, of the firm of Sproul & McGurrin, contractors for plumbing and heating, is a native of Grand Rapids and was born February 16, 1857, a son of Manis and Ellen (Malone) McGurrin, who were respectively born in the counties of Mayo and Kilkenny, Ireland, came to Grand Rapids in their early adult years, and were married in this city in November, 1850. The father was a building contractor and died September 5, 1894, at the age of eighty-three years, the mother following him to the grave six days later, aged sixty-five.

The children born to the above named parents were ten in number, of whom one died young. Of those who reached maturity, John, the eldest, was a mechanic and constructor, by calling, and died at the age of thirty-six years; William T., the second born, is the subject of this sketch; George is a plumbing contractor at Duluth, Minn.; Frank has been a resident of Salt Lake City, Utah, for the past twelve years as a reporter for the federal court; Ellen J. is married to Dr. J. L. Burkhart, city physician of Grand Rapids; Charles H. is a reporter of the circuit court at Kalamazoo, has a record of being the most rapid stenographer in the world, and has visited various cities in Europe for professional exhibition. (Frank, of Salt Lake City, held the same honor.) Manis, the seventh born of this family, is a soldier in the United States army. Previous to his joining the army, he was a contracting plumber in Chicago, and at his first enlistment left his business in charge of others; he went to the front as sergeant in a company in the First Illinois cavalry, and after serving out his term returned to Chicago, sold out his business, and enlisted in the Twentieth United States Infantry, and is now serving at Manila. Frederick C., next to the youngest of the family, was formerly assistant stenographer to his brother Frank, and is now an attorney at Salt Lake City; Edward, the youngest child, is also an attorney and is in partnership with his brother, Frederick C., and both graduates from the law department of the university of Michigan. With the exception of Frederick and Manis, all the family are married.

William T. McGurrin was educated primarily in the parochial schools of Grand Rapids and then took a course in the city high school. For two years he clerked in Calkins Bros’. Grocery store, but left one evening, and the next morning found him an apprentice at the plumber’s trade with Thomas Smith & Co., with whom he served two years, and then began business with his present partner, Robert Sproul, in March, 1876, the firm of Sproul & McGurrin being now the oldest in this line in the city as continuous partners.

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From 1875 until 1877 Mr. McGurrin was a member of the Centennial Guards, an independent military organization, and was second lieutenant of his company. In September, 1877, he enlisted in the Michigan National Guards, and served in every capacity in the Second regiment, from private to colonel. In 1893, by reason of political complications or trouble in the regiment, he failed of re-election, and retired as lieutenant-colonel, and in 1894 returned to his old company, B., at the solicitations of its members, to assume command, in recognition of his former efficiency as a disciplinarian and financier. In due course of time he straightened out the financial troubles in which the company had become involved, discharged twenty-seven men, and recruited the company to its full limit. In 1895 he was re-elected colonel of his regiment by practically a unanimous vote, and again elected in 1898. Soon after this event the regiment was ordered into camp by Gov. Pingree, Col. McGurrin receiving the following telegram from the adjutant-general of the state;

Col. W.T. McGurrin—Have your command ready to move in heavy marching order to the Island Lake not later than Tuesday, April 26. Every available rifle, blanket and overcoat must be taken. Do not bring stores or provisions, except rations en route. The men will find use for private blankets for a few days. If short of overcoats, men not supplied may wear citizens’ overcoats. Extra overcoats and blankets will be issued at camp. Route wired later by quartermaster-general. Mounted officers may bring horses. All captains notified, except those in your own town. Notify your field and staff.

By command of the governor.

E. M. Irish,

3:37 P. M. Adjt.-Gen’l.

The regiment was now designated as the Thirty-second, that being the next consecutive number after the Civil war enlistment. It was mustered into the service of the United States at Island Lake, May 13, and on the 19^th of the same month it started for Tampa. Fla., arriving there on the 22^nd. It was there assigned to the Second brigade, First division, Seventh corps, and Col. McGurrin placed in command of the Second brigade. June 8^th the regiment was assigned to the provisional division, of the Fifth army corps, and Col. McGurrin returned to the command of his regiment proper. It was the intention to send this division to Santiago de Cuba with Gen. Shafter. Horses were loaded and provisions and ammunition issued, but the transports failed to arrive, and Gen. Shafter, having received peremptory orders to sail for Santiago, put to sea, leaving the provisional division behind. This was a mortifying disappointment to Col. McGurrin and his men, but the colonel remained with his command continuously, with the exception of two days’ leave of absence, until July 19, when the regiment left Tampa and went to Fernandina, Fla., whence, August 25, it moved on to Huntsville, Ala., and thence returned to Island Lake, Mich., arriving September 22, and on the 24^th the colonel gave the men a verbal furlough of thirty days, with directions to hold themselves in readiness to return at a moment’s notice. Mustering out began on the 27^th of October, the four Grand Rapids companies being the first. Col. McGurrin accompanied the mustering officers to the rendezvous of each company and the work was ended about November 15, 1898. December 27, the colonel received from Maj.-Gen. Guy F. Henry the following complimentary communication:

Col. William T. McGurrin commanded a regiment—the Thirty-second Michigan volunteers—and a brigade in my division at Tampa. He was a most energetic and capable officer and had a fine command.

The boys were given a grand ovation on their return to Grand Rapids, and for the time being the "city was theirs." Patriotism and appreciation were everywhere apparent, and after the enthusiasm had subsided Col. McGurrin resumed his business relations with his partner, and from a soldier was transformed into a quiet business man of his native city.

Col. McGurrin was united in matrimony, in Grand Rapids, May 5, 1881, with Miss Katherine E. Ryan, a native of Croton, Mich., and a daughter of Jeremiah Ryan, one of the wealthy and influential business men of the city, but she passed away in October, 1895. Three sons and one daughter came to bless this marriage, viz: William Gregory, a youth of seventeen years and now attending school; Mary Irene, aged thirteen years; Edgar Francis, aged eleven, and Gerald, aged eight.

Politically the colonel has always been a democrat, but has never been aggressive nor ambitious of public office. In religion a Catholic, he and family attend St. Andrew’s cathedral, and he is very liberal in his contributions to the support of the church. Fraternally he is a member of Daisy lodge, No. 48, B. P. O. E.; division No. 1, Kent county A. O. H.; C. M. B. A.; Knights of Columbus, and Knights of St. John; also the Grand Rapids battalion, a military organization, of which he is the resident of the civil board.

He was supreme commander of the Knights of St. John for the United States and Canada for the years 1891 and 1892, serving two terms; he was vice-president from Michigan of the National Plumbers’ association for several terms, and president of the state association. The colonel has also been prominent on several occasions in representing his state abroad at military celebrations, among which may be mentioned the national encampment of the National Guards, at Washington, D. C., in 1886, being major of the Second regiment Michigan National Guards and holding a position on the staff of Gen. C. C. Augur; was lieutenant-colonel, or second in command, at the world’s fair dedicatory exercises, and was at Yorktown, Va., in 1881, on the anniversary of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis.

With his past vast and varied experience and present prominence and usefulness as a citizen and business man, Col. McGurrin may well be classed among those who constitute the very vitality of the progressive city of Grand Rapids.