Wapello County IA Archives Biographies.....Mahon, Samuel 1840 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 July 3, 2013, 10:21 pm

Source: See Below
Author: S. J. Clarke, Publisher

SAMUEL MAHON.

Among the prominent residents of Ottumwa is Samuel Mahon, a capitalist, whose
business activities have constituted not only a source of gratifying personal
success but also a feature in the general prosperity of the city. A native of
Ireland, he was born at Tyrrells Pass, in County Westmeath, on the 31st of
August, 1840, and traces his ancestry back to Daniel Mahon, who was born in
1730. The line is traced down through Edward Mahon, born in 1765, to John Mahon,
who was born in 1792. He wedded Sarah Ann Keith in the year 1822. In 1849 he
bade adieu to friends and native land and sailed with his family for the new
world, becoming a resident of Xenia, Ohio.

In the public schools Samuel Mahon, who was a lad of about nine years when he
came to America, pursued his education. He remained upon the home farm from 1849
until 1855, at which time he was placed in a store, being thus employed until
1861, save for an interval of four months devoted to teaching in the country
schools. Following the outbreak of the Civil war, however, he regarded his duty
to his country as paramount and responded to the call for troops. He enlisted in
July, 1861, as first lieutenant of the Seventh Iowa Infantry, with which he
served for four years and one month, or until after the close of the war. His
fidelity to duty was acknowledged in his promotion to the captaincy of his
company in June, 1862, and in 1864 he became major on the reorganization of the
Seventh Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry. He served in all of the campaigns under
Grant and Sherman in the west, participating in the battles of Fort Donelson,
Fort Henry, Shiloh, Corinth, Iuka, Chattanooga and Atlanta. He was also with
Sherman on his march to the sea, participating in the capture of Savannah and in
the campaign through the Carolinas. He was in the battles of Bentonville,
Goldsboro, Raleigh and Durham Station, and was present at the surrender of
Johnson. He then proceeded to Washington with his regiment by way of Richmond,
participated in the Grand Review of Sherman's army and in due time was mustered
out. He had had all of the experiences which fall to the lot of the soldier and
returned home with a most creditable military record, having done his full duty
to the Union.

Following the close of the war Mr. Mahon embarked in business, becoming a
partner in the firm of J. H. Merrill & Company. From the beginning the
enterprise prospered and year after year was successfully conducted. In 1900 the
business was incorporated and has since been continued as the J. H. Merrill
Company, Incorporated. Their patronage has grown year by year and theirs is
today one of the most important commercial establishments of this section of the
state. Mr. Mahon has been connected continuously with the business since 1865
and is now president of the J. H. Merrill Company and also of the Morey Clay
Products Company. Extending his efforts into other fields, he has become a
leading figure in financial circles in Iowa, being vice president of the Ottumwa
National Bank, president of the Agency Savings Bank and the Chillicothe Savings
Bank. He brings to his official duties in connection with bank management the
same sound judgment and spirit of enterprise that have always characterized him
in his commercial connections. His high standing in trade circles is indicated
in the fact that he has been honored with the presidency of the Iowa-Nebraska
Wholesale Grocers Association continuously for twenty years.

In Ottumwa on the 9th of July. 1872, Mr. Million was married to Miss Helen
Therese Lang, a daughter of Professor Benjamin L. and Helen Mar (Thrall) Lang,
the former a professor in Kenyon College at Gambier, Ohio, and acting president
of that institution. Mr. and Mrs. Mahon have become the parents of five
children: Edward, a graduate of Harvard University and medical school and now in
the firm with his father; Marion, the wife of Professor William H. Haas, of the
University of Chicago; Margaret; John Keith, in business with his father and who
married Ellen Stoltz; and Samuel, who died in infancy. The religious faith of
the family is that of the Protestant Episcopal church.

In his political belief Mr. Mahon is a republican, having indorsed the
principles of that party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He
belongs to the Wapello Club and the Ottumwa Country Club and in both
organizations is popular. It is a recognized fact that leaders are few. The
great majority of men are content to remain in the position where circumstances
or environment have placed them, lacking the ambition and initiative that would
carry them forward. Mr. Mahon, however, does not belong to that class. From
early manhood he has wisely used his time, talents and opportunities and has
gradually advanced until he stands today among the foremost business men of
Ottumwa, wisely and capably directing important interests and achieving success
by reason of his strong determination and inflexible business integrity.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY IOWA
ILLUSTRATED
VOLUME II
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1914


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