JAMES MAHONEY - MARY kELLY - CATHERINE TWOHIG EDEN, WI

Personal History

   Mr. Mahoney came from Ireland in 1844. He worked in New York for Sam Steele, a rich industrialist, until he had enough saved to pay for his transportation from Ireland and his way to Wisconsin. Upon arriving in Wisconsin, he pre-empted the farm know as the Pioneer farm of 144 acres from the government. It is located three-quarters of a mile west of where the Village of Eden now stands.
   In 1870 he purchased Brook farm consisting of 107 acres adjoining the Village of Eden. He erected a modern farm home on this farm and took up residence in 1900. After coming to Eden in 1846 he found it very difficult to earn money with which to pay for and improve the land. The grants of land from the government cost $1.65 per acre, but they also needed money for machinery and supplies, so he worked in Wisconsin during the spring and summer and when the grain was threshed returned to New York asew York as a coachman for his old boss, Mr. Steele, at nine dollars a month. That was considered very high wages. He did this for seven years. In 1855 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Kelly, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Patrick Kelly, early pioneers of the Town of Byron. Eight children were born to them and Mrs. Mahoney was taken sick and died. In 1873 he was united in marriage to Miss Catharine Twohig, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. B. Twohig, pioneer residents of the Town of Osceola, and a teacher in the public schools of the county. Four children were born of this union.
   The names of James Mahoney’s children are: Patrick Mahoney, Mrs. Ann Mahoney Buckley, Mrs. Margaret Mahoney Cunningham, James Mahoney, Michael Mahoney, Mrs. Mary Mahoney Killilea, Daniel Mahoney, Mrs. Elizabeth Mahoney Carr, Mrs. Nora Mahoney Flood, Steven Mahoney, Mrs. Katheryn Mahoney O’Brien, and William F. Mahoney.
   Mrs. William Carr, Mrs. George Flood, Mrs. John O’Brien and William Mahoney are the four surviving of the immediate family. There are also 26 grandchildren, 49 great-grandchildren and 9 great-great-grandchildren.
   The Mahoney home was a meeting place for years for the younger set whose principle pleasures at that time were kitchen dances, the music furnished by violin, flute, organ, or piano. He always gave liberally of time and money for those in need and for civic improvement and educational needs. He provided means for seven of the members of his family to become county school teachers.
   Mr Mahoney joined St. John’s Church in Byron when the parish was organized, helped to build the church that was started in 1846 and attended services there until 1867.
   In 1867 he joined St. James in South Eden which was nearer his home and gave liberally of labor and money to help build that church.
   In 1888 he helped organize and work for subscriptions of money to help build St. Mary’s Church in Eden Village. He died at the age of 89 at his farm home in the Village of Eden on June 16, 1914, after a few days of illness.
   Mrs. James Mahoney died December 5, 1916, at Eden. They are buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery near the Village.

1914 May
Campbellsport News, May, 1914
DEATH OFJAS. MAHONEYWAS CALLED TO THE GREAT BEYOND SUNDAY MORNING IN VILLAGE OF EDEN

James Mahoney, one of the pioneer residents of the town of Eden, died Sunday morning at 6:45 o'clock at his home in the village of Eden. He had been in excellent health until last Thursday when the first symptoms of his illness appeared. He was confined to his bed Friday and Saturday. Mr. Mahoney was born in County Cork, Ireland, ninety years ago and came to this country in 1844, settling first in New York state. Two years later he came to Wisconsin and made his home continuously from that time on. His widow and twelve children survive him. The children are Mrs. T. Buckley and M. J. Mahoney of Chicago, James H. Mahoney of Nashua, Ia., Mrs. J. T. Cunningham of Empire, S. B. Mahoney of Fond du Lac, Mrs. John Killilia, Mrs. John O'Brien, Mrs. George Flood, Mrs. Wm. Carr, De. E. Mahoney, Patrick H. Mahoney and Wm. F. Mahoney of Eden. The deceased was one of the best known and and most highly respected residence of the county. It was his boast that he had never sued a person, had never been sued, and has never even acted as a witness in a law suit nor had any legal paper of any nature whatsoever served upon him.

MRS CATHERINE TWOHIG MAHONEY BORN JULY 30, 1842 DIED DEC 5, 1916 BURIED AT ST MARYS CEMETERY EDEN, WI
1916-Campbellsport News, May 4, 1916
PROMINENT EDEN MAN DIESAFTER SHORT ILLNESS--DEATH OF MISS PINE
The death of Patrick H. Mahoney, one of the most prominent residents of Eden, occured at St. Agnes hospital at Fond du Lac, at 3:25 o'clock last Friday morning, following a comparatively short but severe illness. Four weeks ago Mr. Mahoney was engaged in loading some boxes of paint on a wagon at Eden station. As he was carrying one of the boxes, the corner of it struck him in the side, causing apparently only a slight bruise. An abscess however, developed and Mr. Mahoney was taken to the hospital, where he could have every possible medical assistance. On April 4th an operation was performed and for a time his condition was not such as to be alarming, but later on complications set in and he gradually weakened, the end coming at an early hour on Friday morning. Mr. Mahoney's death came as a great shock to a large circle of acquaintances and friends. He was a man who made friends easily and who had the faculty of keeping them, it being said that he was without an enemy. He was born in the town of Eden and was 59 years of age. He had made Eden his home practically all his life. Besides a devoted wife, he leaves to mourn, a stepmother, five brothers, James H., of Nashua, Is.; M. J., of Chicago; Daniel E. and William F., of Eden; and Stephen B. Mahoney of Fond du Lac; also six sisters, Mrs. Timothy Buckley, Chicago; Mrs. J. F. Cunningham, Empire; Mrs. John Killillia, Mrs. George Flood, Mrs. John O'Brien and Mrs. William Carr of Eden. The remains were taken to his late residence just north of Eden and the funeral services were held Monday morning at ten o'clock from the St. Mary's Catholic church at Eden, the Rev. Father McFarland officiating. Interment was held in St. Mary's cemetery. The funeral was very largely attended, many being unable to get into the church. Many beautiful floral offerings were sent by friends and relatives from near and far. The pall bearers were: Michael Castello, Edward Kelly, Timothy Sammons, Valentine Hillebrand, James Smith and E. J. Hayes. St. Mary's Court, Catholic Order of Foresters, of which Mr. Mahoney was a member, attended the funeral in a body. Besides the hundreds of relatives and friends that came to attend the funeral, the following sisters and brothers came from out-of-town, M. J. Mahoney, Mrs. Timothy Buckley of Chicago; J. H. Mahoney of Nashua. Iowa; and Stephen Mahoney of Fond du Lac.