Joseph Albert McGinnies (November 7, 1861County Down,Ireland - 1945) was an American businessman and politician.
He was the son of William McGinnies and Elizabeth Lighthouse McGinnies. William McGinnies emigrated to theUnited States and settled inRipley, New York. After he had arranged a home, his wife came with the rest of the family in 1864 to join him.
At the age of sixteen, Joseph McGinnies began working at the drugstore of Dr. Simons in the village of Ripley, learning the pharmacist's profession, and after five years as a clerk in the store he became its proprietor. He developed the establishment into a prospering general store. Then he began to purchase fruit farms, principally those adaptable togrape-growing. He first had his own small farm to look after, and from time to time he was appointed administrator of estates in the grape belt, becoming one of the most expert grape-growers in the region.
On May 3, 1885, he married Agnes Brockway (1862–1954). They had one daughter, Clara Elizabeth, who studied atSyracuse University, from which she was graduatedBachelor of Arts. In 1919, Clara Elizabeth McGinnies married Park J. Johnson, the postmaster of Ripley.
About 1897, he began organizing the Chautauqua and Erie Grape Growers' Association, based inWestfield, New York, of which he was for many a director, secretary-treasurer and manager. Afterwards, he was chosen a director of the First National Bank of Ripley and of the Dunkirk Trust Company ofDunkirk, New York
He entered politics as aDemocrat and accepted the nomination to run for theNew York State Assembly, but was narrowly defeated. In 1896, he was elected a member of theChautauqua County Board of Supervisors and was re-elected continuously. In 1905, he changed parties, and became aRepublican, but continued to be re-elected to the County Board of Supervisors annually for more than 20 years. From 1906 on, he was Clerk of the Board.
He was a member of theNew York State Assembly (Chautauqua Co., 2nd D.) in1916,1917,1918,1919,1920,1921,1922,1923,1924,1925,1926,1927,1928,1929,1930,1931,1932,1933,1934 and1935; and wasSpeaker from 1925 to 1934.
He was an alternate delegate to the1924 Republican National Convention; and a delegate in1928 and1932.
He was a member of the FirstPresbyterian Church of Ripley.
| New York State Assembly | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | New York State Assembly Chautauqua County, 2nd District 1916–1935 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Speaker of the New York State Assembly 1925–1934 | Succeeded by |