MEHAFFY, David H.

MEHAFFY, WINSLOW, LEE, THOMPSON

Posted By: Debbie Koch (email)
Date: 10/26/2002 at 22:21:52

Source: Biographical Review of Des Moines County, Iowa, 1905 edition, pages 798-799

David Mehaffy

Among the worthy sons that Ireland has sent to the New World is David Mehaffy. He has never sought prestige of place or political power, but has directed his energies into business channels, wherein his diligence and effort have won him creditable success, and enabled him to provide a comfortable home for his family, in whose welfare his interest is centered. He was born in County Monoghan, Ireland, July 12,1864, and there spent the first eight years of his life. His father, hearing favorable reports concerning America and the advantages offered for business success, severed the ties which bound him to the Green Isle, and crossing the Atlantic, landed in New York City. Mr. Mehaffy brought his family direct to Yellow Springs township, Des Moines County, where he bought one hundred and twenty acres of land in Section 17.
David embraced the educational privileges offered by the district schools in the township which had become his new home. Leaving school days behind him he began to work on his father's farm, where he remained for some years.
March 6, 1889, Mr. Mehaffy was married to Miss Rosetta Thompson, daughter of William and Martha Ellen(Lee)Thompson, who was born in Yellow Springs township May 15, 1871. This home was blessed with six children, all born in Des Moines County but David Winslow, who was born in Minnesota. THey are: Martha Elizabeth Anna, born Jan. 25, 1890; David Winslow, born July 8, 1892; Elsie Esther, born Feb. 17, 1894; Thyrza Independence, born July 4, 1895; Jennie Emma, born; Jan 16, 1901; Robert Branham, born Jan. 29, 1904. Mr. Mehaffy resided in Yellow Springs township, carrying on general farming with great success until 1904, when he moved to his present location, the McDonald farm, in Section 26, in order that his children might attend the schools of Mediapolis.
As a dairyman he and his wife hold the record for making butter in this township, making one thousand five hundred thirty-six pounds from twelve cows in a year. Some of this fine butter was on exhibition at the World's Fair in St. Louis in 1904. Mr. Mehaffy and his brothers are the largest farmers in Des Moines county, farming about six hundred acres of land, and are known throughout the county as the Mehaffy corn raisers. Mr. Mehaffy now divides his time, farming part of it and ditch contracting the other part of it.
He and his estimable wife and children are members of the Methodist church, being active in all its movements. Politically he is a Republican, but has never sought nor desired public office. He is a man of upright character, his Christianity being manifested in his daily life, and no shadow of wrong or evil has ever fallen over his life record.