Patrick D. McMahon
Patrick D. McMahon, attorney at law and title examiner for the Bank of Denison, has throughout his entire life ably and conscientiously performed the duty nearest at hand and thus has carved out the path of his own advancement.
His life record had its beginning in the town of Kilrush, County Clare, Ireland, on the 25th of March, 1863. He is a member of one of the old families of West Clare, Ireland, there represented for many centuries. His parents, Denis and Kate (O'Dea) McMahon, were also natives of the Emerald isle, in which country the paternal grandfather had followed farming. Both he and his wife reached an advanced age. Their family numbered but two children, Denis and Thomas.
The former became a soldier in the English army. He was reared in County Clare and after his military service was over became civil bill officer in West Clare. He married Kate O'Dea, a daughter of Michael O'Dea, and one of a large family, all now deceased. Mrs. McMahon passed away when only about thirty years of age, while Denis McMahon survived until 1875, reaching the age of forty-eight years. Both were adherents of the Roman Catholic faith.
In their family were five children, three sons and two daughters: John; Patrick D.; Andrew, deceased; Mary, the wife of Michael Frawley, of Ennis, Ireland; and Ella, the wife of P. F. Barrett, of Dunlap, Iowa.
Patrick D. McMahon was reared on the Emerald isle and acquired his education in the Munster Model Agricultural College at Cork, Ireland, after which he became a teacher in the national schools of his native country. He was a young man of about twenty-two years when, in 1885, he came to America, settling first at Ida Grove, Iowa, where he lived until April, 1886. He then removed to Crawford county, taking up his abode at Denison, where he entered the employ of Shaw & Kuehnle in their law, loan and abstract office.
In October, 1888, however, he removed to Charter Oak, Iowa, to take charge of an office for the same firm, and there continued until October, 1905, when he returned to Denison and accepted a position in the farm loan department of the Bank of Denison. Devoting his leisure hours to the mastery of the principles of jurisprudence, he was admitted to the bar in 1893 and has since engaged in the practice of law, also acting as title examiner for the bank. His ability, earnest purpose and close application have enabled him to attain success in his work.
On the 19th of February, 1901, Mr. McMahon was united in marriage to Miss Marie Barrett, a daughter of Martin and Ann (Hart) Barrett, of Dunlap. Iowa. Mrs. Me Mahon was born in Monona county, Iowa. Her mother was a native of Canada and her father of Ireland. Her father was only five years of age when brought to the new world and was reared to manhood in Clinton county, Iowa. For many years he followed general agricultural and mercantile pursuits in Crawford, Monona and Harrison counties, but for over twenty years he and his wife have resided in Dunlap, Iowa.
Their family numbers six sons and two daughters, William, Michael L., Peter F., Jacob F., deceased, Martin, John, Helen and Marie.
The paternal grandfather of Mrs. McMahon was Patrick Barrett, a native of Ireland, who engaged in merchandising during much of his business life. Unto him and his wife were born three children, Michael, Martin and Mary. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. McMahon were both natives of Ireland but died in Clinton county, Iowa. Their family included Peter, John, Edward, Ann, Rose and Mary.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. McMahon has been blessed with two children, Robert Emmet and Jacob Barrett.
The parents are both members of the Catholic church and Mr. McMahon belongs also to the Knights of Columbus, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Modern Woodmen camp. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, which finds in him a stalwart and active supporter. While a resident of Charter Oak he served as mayor of the city, was justice of the peace for seven years and postmaster for nine years. The duties of those positions he discharged with promptness and fidelity and it is characteristic of him that no trust reposed in him has ever been betrayed. He owns a pleasant home in Denison, which he and his family occupy, and aside from this he is much interested in real estate, owning over one thousand acres in Iowa and several bouses and lots in Sioux City.
His realty holdings return to him a gratifying annual income and are constantly increasing in value with the rapid settlement of the districts in which his farms are located and also by reason of the improvements which he places upon his land. In the practice of law, in the conduct of banking interests and in his real-estate operations Mr. McMahon has proved himself a capable business man, far-sighted and sagacious, his enterprise and diligence bringing him gratifying and well merited success.
Source: History of Crawford County, Iowa. Vol. II. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911.