Seminole County FlArchives Biographies.....Mahoney, Francis W. ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/fl/flfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Nancy Rayburn http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00025.html#0006128 July 4, 2014, 6:23 pm Source: Vol. II, pg.18-9 The Lewis Publishing Co., 1923 Author: History of Florida, Past and Present MAHONEY, FRANCIS WILLIAM. A resident of Florida for over thirty-five years, FRANCIS WILLIAM MAHONEY has been in business at Sanford during the greater part of the period, and has one of the largest establishments in the state handling plumbing contracting and plumbing and kindred lines of merchandise. Mr. Mahoney was born at Richmond, Virginia, April 29, 1853, son of FRANCIS and ELLEN (DODD) MAHONEY, both representing old American lines, his father's people coming to Maryland with Lord Baltimore. On the maternal side one branch of the family is the Wilsons. ELLEN DODD was born at Portsmouth, Virginia, and FRANCIS MAHONEY was born at Georgetown, District of Columbia. He was the seventh child of his parents, and when his father died he had no further opportunity to attend school, so his studious disposition led him to acquire a wide range of knowledge through his own efforts. At the age of fourteen the responsibilities of a large family came to rest virtually on his shoulders. He learned the trade of stone mason, and among other employments worked during the construction of Fortress Monroe. He acquired a good knowledge of the Latin and French languages, and was for many years a skillful civil engineer. Much of the time he was in the employ of the Federal Government. One of his early achievements, and one receiving high commendation from a Government expert, was building the foundation of the Government locks at Richmond. When the civil war came on, considering himself a Virginian, he resigned from the Government service and cast in his lot with the Confederacy. He was on the staff of engineers in General Lee's army, and continued until the final surrender. After the war he resumed the work of his profession at Richmond, and continued there until his death in 1879, at the age of sixty- three. His widow died in 1888, aged sixty-eight. They were the parents of six sons and one daughter. FRANCIS W. MAHONEY was reared at Richmond, attended the paid schools, and as a boy began an apprenticeship at the trade of steam and gas fitting and general plumbing. When he was only twenty years of age, due to his unusual skill and proficiency, he was made foreman of the Richmond Gas Works. He held that post seven years. Leaving Virginia, he located at Augusta, Georgia, and from there went to Atlanta, where for five years he was in the plumbing business on his own account, and in 1885 removed to Palatka, Florida. and five months later came to Sanford, which city has been his home since 1886. Throughout this period he has been in the plumbing business and a dealer in general plumbing supplies and machinery under the name of Mahoney Walker Company. Along with the conduct of this successful business he has interested himself in the entire program of upbuilding and development of Sanford. He has never been a candidate for public office, is a democratic voter and a member of the Catholic Church. At Richmond, Virginia, in 1875, Mr. Mahoney married Miss FANNY J. BYRNE. She died December 20 , 1919, the mother of two sons and one daughter. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/fl/seminole/bios/mahoney79bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/flfiles/ File size: 3.8 Kb