John J. McGilvra

John J. McGilvra (July 11, 1827 – December 19, 1903) was a prominent lawyer and judge in late 19th century Seattle, Washington. Rev. Harvey K. Hines, D.D. in An Illustrated History of the State of Washington described him as "the oldest member of the legal profession in Seattle, Washington, both in years and practice" and "the father of the Seattle bar." McGilvra was a prominent early resident of Seattle and the McGilvra family home was on the west shore of Lake Washington in Seattle's Madison Park neighborhood. Thomas E. Peiser photographed it August 2, 1900. It was known as 'Laurel Shade' and served as a shipping terminal for the neighborhood before the extension of Madison Street.

Early life

McGilvra's family was originally of Scottish origin (Clan Macgillivray). His great-grandfather emigrated to the American colonies prior to the American Revolutionary War, and settled in New York State.

McGilvra's parents, John and Margaret (Grant) McGilvra, were natives of New York, and settled after their marriage, in Livingston County, New York. There McGilvra was born July 11, 1827. He was reared on the farm and attended the schools of that county until 1844, when he moved with his parents to Illinois, where he taught school for several winters, and in the summer attended the seminary at Elgin, Illinois. Lillian, and the youngest, Minnie, who died at seven years old. The young children are buried with their parents at Lakeview Cemetery in Seattle. He did not engage in politics except to show his colors in private conversation and at the polls; but, having known President Abraham Lincoln for a number of years, he was appointed by him in 1861 as the United States Attorney for the Territory of Washington. He arrived with his family in Olympia, Washington in June 1861. ), and located its road south of Mount Rainier, through what was known as Packwood He continued to improve his property, and was one of the first contributors to the Madison Street cable road, which he subsidized by giving twenty-one acres of property on Lake Washington for park and terminal facilities.

Legacy McGilvra is the namesake for Seattle's McGilvra Elementary School and McGilvra Boulevard (both near Madison Park).