"Warner T.McGuinn" (November 23,1859-July 10,1937)

From Goochland County,near Richmond,Virginia,he was one of three sons of Jared and Fannie McGuinn.His older brother the Rev.Robert A.McGuinn was also born in Virginia and moved to Baltimore.A half-brother,the Rev.William Alexander (1852-1919),was pastor of Sharon Baptist Church in Baltimore and first editor of the Baltimore Afro-American.


Warner was educated in public schools in Goochland County,and Baltimore.He graduated from Lincoln University in 1884,studied law at Howard University and graduated from Yale Law in 1887.Noteworthy items from his Yale years include the presidency of the Law Club,a prize in oratory,and the commencement of a friendship with Mark Twain.The famous writer decided to finance Warner studies after meeting him discovering that the student was working to pay his way through school.


Warner began practicing law in Kansas City,Kansas., in 1887,and later edited an African American newspaper there before moving to Baltimore in 1891.Passing the Baltimore in 1892,he established a law practice and was partner in the firm of Cummings & Mcguinn.Beside his legal practice,Warner handled the legal affairs of the Afro-American.After the Republican victories in the 1890's,he was named secretary of the Board of Liquor License Commissions.Between 1890 & 1931,several African American Republicans were elected to the City Council,and Warner,who was first elected in 1919,later served two terms. He served in the First Branch from 1919-1923 and later in the Consolidated Council from 1927-1931.He married Anna L.Wallace,also a Virgina born.Their daughter Alma was born in September 1895.The McGuinn lived at 1911 Division.


He was an early supporter of women's suffrage and equated it with the struggle for civil rights for African Americans.In a paper he read on the subject before the congregation of Bethel A.ME. Church in Baltimore in 1911,he reminded his listners that all adults,rgardless of sex or color,had a right to vote and elect their representatives.Warner successfully argued the celebrated "Baltimore Segregation Case" in 1917 in federal court,which prohibited the further segregation of African Americans into special city areas.Anna died in 1929.Warner died in Philadelphia at Alma's house.