Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 687
THEODORE MAHONEY

Theodore MAHONEY, a representative farmer of Taylor Township, residing on section 8, came to Harrison County in company with his father in the spring of 1852. They settled in Magnolia Township. His father and Judge Jonas CHATBURN operated a mill in company, near the village of Magnolia. Our subject remained at home with his father until the spring of 1855, working in the mill and on the farm. We next find him at work in a sawmill in Pottawattamie County for a man named GARNER, with whom he remained two years, at the end of which time he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Raglan Township. After two years he disposed of this place and bought a water-power gristmill on the Soldier River in Taylor Township, which he operated until the spring of 1887, when the mill was burned. The farm he now lives upon he bought in January, 1871, at first buying forty acres of improved land, for which he paid $50 per acre. When he bought the place there was a one-story and a half house and a small barn upon it. In 1882 he built a two-story frame house 28x30 feet. This building was destroyed by fire June 20, 1890, and in the autumn of that year built his present residence, which is a two-story frame structure, with an ell and various additions, the whole affording ample room. In 1885 he built a barn 30x42 feet, with sixteen-foot posts, besides numerous other outbuildings. His landed estate amounts to four hundred acres, the same being considered one of the best farms in Harrison County.

Our subject was born in Cecil County, Md., February 29, 1836. He is the son of Stephen and Margaret MAHONEY, both natives of Maryland. The mother died in February, 1850, and the same year the father with the family came to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, remaining until the spring of 1852, and then came to Harrison County. The father had been here in 1851 and entered land. Our subject was married in Harrison County, Iowa, March 28, 1864 to Miss Emily WAKEFIELD, the daughter of William and Sarah (GARNER) WAKEFIELD. By this union seven children were born--Theodore E., James W., deceased, M. Herbert, Jesse W., Stephen G., William, deceased, and Walter died in infancy.

Emily (WAKEFIELD) MAHONEY, was born in Illinois in 1853, and when fie years of age accompanied her parents to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, and one year later to Harrison County.

When Mr. MAHONEY first came to the county, his nearest trading point and post-office was Council Bluffs, and nearly all of the teams in the county consisted of oxen. Politically our subject is identified with the Republican party and has held numerous local offices. He is now one of the successful farmers of his township, usually keeping one hundred head of cattle, and from fifty to sixty head of horses and mules.

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