Catherine E. Callahan McMahon 1862-1925

MCMAHON, CALLAHAN, PRAY, BEATY

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 10/10/2011 at 20:35:48

Mrs. John McMahon
Mrs. John McMahon, wife of John McMahon, pensioned engineer of the C.R.I. & P., died at 4:30 this morning after a year’s illness of gall stones. She had been confined at the Coleman hospital for thirteen weeks.

Funeral services will probably be held Friday at the Catholic church, though it is not certain since Rev. Conway is out of town today. Burial will be made at Fort Dodge that evening.

Mr. and Mrs. McMahon have lived at Estherville since 1918. She is survived by her husband, son and two daughters.

John R. McMahon, her son, and Mrs. L.C. Pray, her daughter, both live at Fort Dodge. Her other daughter, Mrs. H.C. Beaty lives at Baker, Oregon.

Mrs. McMahon was born in 1862 at Davenport. In 1883 she was married at Grand Junction. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, August 19, 1925)

Death Visits the Home of J.M’Mahon
Wife Passed Away Early Wednesday Morning
Had Been Ill Long Time
A Resident of Estherville For Seven Years – Wife of Rock Island Pensioned Engineer
People in this community were grieved to learn of the death of Mrs. John McMahon on Wednesday morning, August 19th, at 4:30 o’clock. She had been suffering from gall stones for about a year. Thirteen weeks ago she was taken to the Coleman hospital to receive treatment. Everything possible was done to help her regain her health but all the loving care and medical attention given her were of no use. Her earthly cares and trials were ended and she passed quietly on to the world where there is no suffering or hardship. During her illness she suffered much pain and misery but always bore it meekly and thought only of her loved ones. She was a true friend to all who knew here and although she lived here but a few years she made a large number of friend by her happy, cheerful disposition and willingness to sacrifice and help those in need. She was a true comrade and devoted helpmate to her husband and to her children was a counselor and pal in whom they could confide their troubles and from whom they could seek advice knowing that it would always be right. Her absence in the home will be greatly noticed and there is a vacancy that will never be filled.

Catherine E. Callahan, daughter of Thomas and Bridget Callahan, was born at Davenport, Iowa, March 2, 1862. While still a little girl she moved to Marengo with her parents and later lived at Grand Junction, Des Moines and Fort Dodge. She was educated in the schools of these places and after completing her education stayed at home with her parents. On April 11, 1883, she was united in marriage with John McMahon, at Grand Junction, Iowa. Mr. McMahon was an engineer on the Rock Island railroad and they made their home at Grand Junction and Fort Dodge. Four children were born to this happy couple, all but one of whom survive their mother. They were Mrs. L.C. Pray, of Fort Dodge, Mrs. H.C. Beaty, of Baker, Oregon, and John R. McMahon, of Des Moines. Mrs. Beaty had been with her mother for two months but left four weeks ago for her home in Oregon, and was not present at the funeral. In 1918 Mr. and Mrs. McMahon moved to Estherville to make their home. He continued his work as engineer of the Rock Island road until January 1, 1923, when he was pensioned by the company. They built for themselves a comfortable little home on the corner of Ninth and Walnut streets where they were enjoying their declining years when death came and took the wife and mother from this happy home. Funeral services were held Friday morning at 6:00 o’clock at St. Patrick’s church in this city, Rev. C.P. Conway in charge. The body was taken to Fort Dodge and buried in the family lot to rest in peace beside the bodies of her father and mother. The sympathy of a large circle of friends is extended the bereaved relatives and friends in their hours of profound grief and sorrow. (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, August 26, 1925)