Captain Bradley Mahana 1806-1874

MAHANA

Posted By: Gloria J. Henry (email)
Date: 9/29/2002 at 11:57:16

Published in the Iowa Anti-Monopolist, Iowa City, Iowa, Thursday September 10, 1874. Obituaries were also published in the Iowa State Press on September 16th, and the Iowa City Republican on September 16th.

Captain Bradley Mahana, who died at his residence in this city (Iowa City, Iowa) on last Friday morning (September 11, 1874), was born in Hopwood, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, March 1, 1806. Early in life he removed to Waynesburg, PA where he resided until he came to Iowa. He was married to Miss Catherine Seals on September 1, 1827. From 1842 until 1855 he served as captain of the Waynesburg Blues, attached to the Highland Brigade of Pennsylvania. Captain Mahana also served as Brigade Inspector of the 4th Brigade of Pennsylvania. In April 1855 he removed with his family to this city. In 1861, when the three months call for men was made, Captain Mahana responded promptly to the call. His company was the first one raised in the State (of Iowa); but from certain jealousies or some other reason, his company was made Company B instead of Company A as it deserved.
His company was accepted by the Governor and marched at once to the front. When the three months had expired he returned home and immediately formed another company, was elected its captain, which position he held until the close of the war.

After returning from his brief southern campaign, his company was ordered to proceed to Ft. Randall (South Dakota), where he remained almost a year. His company, together with three others were ordered to proceed up the Missouri River and establish a fort which was afterwards known as Ft. Pierre. Here he remained until June 1863. During the winter he heard that a tribe of Indians quite a distance away, had several children which they had captured during the Minnesota Massacre. He desired to liberate the children, and arranged with three Indians to take a number of ponies and other articles to the distant tribe to trade for the little captives. They bargained for and bought one of the children, Malinda Ingals, by giving three ponies for her, but no inducements would tempt them to give up the others.

In June the Captain and his company joined Sulley’s expedition against the Indians, and went to Crow Creek Agency, and thence to the White Stone Hills. His company afterwards returned to the Missouri River and established what is now Ft. Sulley; after which the company proceeded up the river and established Ft. Rice. The expedition then proceeded to Hart Mountains where they corraled the stock and marched five days, when upon the 26th of August, they overtook the Indians, consisting of, it is estimated 7,000 warriors. Previous to the meeting of the two combatants, the Indians had sent word to our boys that they were coming, and that they need not run down their horses, but travel moderately, as they expect to soon meet the whites, kill the soldiers and roast and eat the officers. The Captain, to this startling intelligence, remarked that “they would find tough picking when they came to him.” The killing process was, however, mostly on the other side. The Iowa and Minnesota brigades in which Captain Mahana’s company was one of the advance guards, engaged the Indians, driving them before them, killing 127 of their numbers, camping upon their own campground, burning their property and scaring the balance of the redskins out their existence.

After a long sojourn in the mountainous regions of the Northwest, during which time he experienced dangers and privations of many kinds, he and his gallant comrades returned and were mustered out of service at Sioux City on November 1st 1864, to go on their many ways, ever bearing in mind the sacred ties of dependence and humanity which bound them together, and remembering their leader as a brave and merciful soldier and a true and honest man.

The Captain was a bright zealous, and old Mason, having been made one nearly forty years ago. At one time he was District Deputy Grand Master of Pennsylvania, and was frequently honored with important positions of trust in the various Lodges, Chapters, and Commandries to which he had belonged. He was a worthy brother, and excellent companion and valiant and magnanimous Sir Knight.

He was converted and joined the M. E. Church at an early age and for many years led an exemplary Christian life, most loved and respected by those who knew him best.

He was taken suddenly ill on the 31st of August and quietly and peacefully passed away at 4 o’clock AM on the 11th of September 1874. Although he suffered much during his sickness, yet he was patient and perfectly resigned. The Saviour, whom he loved and trusted in life, was his support in the hour of need. A friend standing at his bedside a short time before he expired asked: “Captain, is all well?” He replied is his peculiar emphatic manner, “Oh! Yes.”

So lived and passed away, Captain B. Mahana, who in life was a kind neighbor, an affectionate husband and father, a brave soldier, a true and worthy Mason, and above all, as we trust, a humble and faithful Christian.

The mortal part of him, who now sleeps in the silent city, was accompanied to its last resting place by a long train of friends, and laid in its narrow home by that beloved brotherhood of light, who believe that this earth is not man’s abiding place, that life is not a bubble cast upon the ocean of eternity to float a moment, and then to sink into nothingness. His immortal part has gone to fill a higher and nobler destiny than that of earth in that bright realm where it matters not, where the rainbow never fades; where the stars will spread out before our immortal vision like the islands that slumber on the bosom of the ocean, and where the beautiful imaginary beings which here flit before us, like shadows, will remain forever with us.

Mahannah Family Ties
 

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