Chaffee County CO Archives Biographies.....Mahon, Hugh July 16, 1831 - ?
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Judy Crook jlcrook@rof.net February 28, 2006, 2:43 pm

Author: Progressive Men of Western Colorado

   Hugh Mahon, of Chaffee county, one of the most enterprising and progressive
ranch and cattle men of this part of the state, and for many years an active and
effective worker in the cause of the Democratic party in Colorado, whose fine
ranch on Cottonwood creek, one mile west of Buena Vista, is one of the best in
that valley, is a native of Ireland, born July 16, 1831, in Kings county. He
remained in his native land until he reached the age of sixteen, then came to
the United States.  Meeting with an accident soon after his arrival in this
country, the greater part of his first year was passed in a hospital.  After his
recovery he went to New Orleans, and two years later located at Kansas City,
Missouri, where he did grading and other work under contract with the railroads,
remaining in this business nine years and having a number of contracts during
the Civil war.  Here he also had a brick yard from which he carried on an active
and extensive trade.  In the spring of 1863 he moved to California gulch, this
state, which was then a new mining country, but busy with placer mining only. 
He took his turn at mining, and buying a herd of Jersey cattle, also conducted a
dairy. At the end of five years he came into the Arkansas valley, and after
looking it over, located on his present ranch and started the industry he now
conducts in raising cattle and horses. In addition to this he passed some years
freighting between the city of Denver and Cache creek and California gulch.  He
has never abandoned his interest in the mining industry, however, and still owns
a number of claims in promising properties.  His ranch, which is his chief
business concern, is one of the best in the valley and is managed with every
consideration for securing the most desirable returns for the labor and care
expended on it.  Politically Mr. Mahon is a stanch Democrat and has always taken
an active part in the affairs of his party.  In the early days of his residence
in this section it was all Lake county, and large as the domain was he
campaigned all over it many times in the interest of his political faith. In
1863, the year of his arrival at California gulch, he was elected county
treasurer, serving one term. Afterwards he was elected county coroner, and
served one term as county road overseer.  During his service as coroner there
were two strong factions fighting for supremacy in Lake county and he was kept
busy with his official duties, as there were many deaths on account of the feuds
and consequent strife.  He has also served many years on the district school
board and was deputy sheriff of the county.  He is a man of active public-spirit
and breadth of view in reference to public progress and the general weal, and
has aided the development of his section at all times and by all proper means at
his command.  In April, 1860, he was married at Kansas City, Missouri, to Miss
Mary Whalen, a native of Ireland.  They had fourteen children, only two of whom
are living.  She died in 1883, and in July of that year Mr. Mahon married a
second wife, Miss Ellen Shine, also born in Ireland.  They have had three
children, two of whom are living.       

Additional Comments:
From Progressive Men of Western Colorado.  Chicago:  A.W. Bowen & Co., 1905

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/chaffee/bios/mahon204gbs.txt

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