DR. O.L. MAHONEY
History of Arizona, 1896

Dr. O.L.Mahoney, the efficient superintendent of the county 
hospital at Phoenix, was born March 7, 1839 in Jefferson 
County, Tennessee, being the eldest of a family of ten 
children born to the marriage of Dr. James W. and Amanda 
M. (Turnley) Mahoney, who were also natives of Tennessee. 
His great grandfather was one of the colonies' defenders 
during the struggle for independence from Great Britain and 
his maternal grandfather was a soldier of the war of 1812, 
participating in the battle of New Orleans under General 
Andrew Jackson.

Dr. James W. Mahoney practiced medicine many years in his 
native state, moving, afterwards to Arkansas.  His death 
occurred at Pine Bluff after a long and honorable life.

The immediate subject of this sketch, Dr. O.L. Mahoney, 
received a liberal education and began the study of medicine 
when yet in his teens. In 1861 he became a member of Company 
C. Ninth Arkansas Volunteer Infantry.  During the time of his 
enlistment Dr. Mahoney was in active field service and witnessed 
some of the most hotly contested battles of the war, among them 
being Belmont, Corinth, Shiloh, Prairie Landing, Little Rock and 
Arkansas Post.  The literary education of Dr. Mahoney was 
acquired at Pine Bluff, White Sulphur Springs and at St. John's 
College at Little Rock, his professional learning was from the 
Medical College of Ohio from which he was graduated in 1867.  
Prior to this time, however, he had practiced medicine. His 
first location was at Murphysboro, Illinois, but after a 
residence there of but a few months he attached himself to 
an emigrant train that was conveying many cattle to the great 
West.  With this protection from depredating bands of Indians 
he got as far west as Maricopa Wells, where he parted from the 
caravan and from which point he pushed on to Wickenburg, then 
having a population of about 350 and being one of the most 
important points in the Territory.  After a residence at this 
place of about one year he returned to Murphysboro, Illinois, 
where he was actively engaged in medical practice until May 
1883 when he located permanently at Phoenix. In 1837 he was 
selected to remove the Arizona insane patients from the 
asylum at Stockton, California to the new asylum at Phoenix 
and served as the first superintendent. In 1883 he was 
appointed superintendent of the county hospital, served 
four years, and was re-appointed to the position in 1891 
and is still serving in that capacity.  Dr. Mahoney is among 
the well known men of the Territory, has filled various 
positions of honor and trust with signal ability and 
satisfaction to all concerned and is a member of the Odd 
fellows and Ancient Order of United workman.  

In 1870 he married Miss Virginia Rasson, a lady of high 
attainments, a graduate of the Women's College, Chicago who 
was born in Tennessee.

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