Source: Meyers, F.W. History of Crawford County, Iowa. 2 vols.
Chicago: S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1911.
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 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 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. McMAHON 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 Emmett and Jacob Barrett. The parents are also 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
him 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 houses 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.
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