Born in Juniata County, Pa., on the 11th day of February, 1836, a son of Bartimeus and Catherine (McDonald) McGonigle. In 1839 the family immigrated to Linn County, and located near Center Point, being among the pioneers of that place. The subject of this memoir was reared on his father's farm and received a liberal education. At the age of twenty-four he commenced teaching school, which he followed a number of years. In June, 1864, he married Helen Barnes, a daughter of Isaac and Harriet (Churchill) Barnes. In the spring of 1867, Mr. McGonigle embarked in the mercantile business in company with Silas Egbort, which occupation he followed until 1876, when he was elected County Recorder. Mr. McGonigle has sixty-five acres of beautiful land adjoining Monona, valued at $60 per acre. He was elected to represent Clayton County in the Twenty-fourth, 1894, Iowa General Assembly in the lower House.