Peter McMahon

MCMAHON, GILLESPIE

Posted By: Diane (email)
Date: 3/24/2002 at 23:18:56

Peter McMahon, one of the pioneers of Butler county, was born in Ireland, June 29, 1823. In 1840 he left his native land for America. On landing at New York, he engaged in a livery stable on Brower street. In 1841 he moved to Pennsylvania, and was there employed on the Reading Railroad four years, when he went to the north branch of the Susquehanna Canal, where he worked that following winter. He was then engaged in farming in Schuylkill county a few months, when he moved to Canada, where he was employed in a quarry, getting out stone for the Welland Canal. He soon returned to Pennsylvania, and there worked on the Erie Canal.
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On September 22, 1845, he married Miss Hannah Gillespie, a native of Allegheny county. That same year he bought a farm in Pamatoning township, where they lived until 1855, when they started west to seek a home. They came to Butler county, Iowa, taking government land on section 4, township 90, north range 17, west, now known as Monroe township. He there built a log house. In 1866 he built another of logs, and, in 1875, attached a large frame house to them. They have had fifteen children, ten of whom are now living – John S., Mary A., Thomas F., Peter F., Francis G., Edward, Joseph, Margaret, Stephen E., and Andrew P. Mr. McMahon is generally called Uncle Peter. He was the first treasurer of the school board.
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Source: History of Butler and Bremer Counties, Iowa
Union Publishing Co., Springfield, IL, 1883
Pages 640-641