BIO: James MAHAFFEY, Clearfield County, PA
 
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From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania,
and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr.,
Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 757 & 758.
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  JAMES MAHAFFEY, proprietor of the Hotel Windsor, situated on the corner of 
Market and Third streets, Clearfield, Pa., is a representative citizen of 
Clearfield county, of which he formerly was sheriff.  He belongs to one of the 
old settled county families and was born November 4, 1843, at the village of 
Mahaffey, which was named in honor of his father, in Clearfield county, Pa.  His 
parents were Robert and Mary (McGee) Mahaffey.
  Robert Mahaffey was born in Lycoming county, Pa., and was a young man when he 
accompanied his father, William Mahaffey, to Clearfield county.  The latter was 
a pioneer of the best class, energetic and enterprising, and made the earliest 
improvements at what is now Burnside, Clearfield county.  He was a farmer and 
lumberman during his active years and lived to be an octogenarian.  His eight 
children, bearing the following names, are all deceased:  William, Robert, 
James, John, Thomas, Moses, Hannah and Jane.  Robert Mahaffey equaled his father 
in enterprise.  He engaged also in lumbering and later cleared up a large farm 
in Bell township and also conducted a general store and in addition, operated a 
mill.  His various enterprises prospered and each one assisted in the developing 
of the other and ere long many settlers had been attracted to his neighborhood, 
a village resulted and in his honor was named for the man of energy and 
progress, who had had the foresight to select this certain section of the 
wilderness as his place of investment.  Robert Mahaffey continued to live at 
Mahaffey until the close of a long and busy life, his death occurring in 1900, 
at the age of eighty-six years.
  Robert Mahaffey was married first to Mary McGee, who was survived by three 
children:  William; James; and Mary, who became the wife of John Byers.  Robert 
Mahaffey was married a second time, to Catherine Johnston, who resides at 
Mahaffey.  Seven children were born to the later marriage, namely:  Robert F. 
Emery, who is deceased; Elizabeth, who is the widow of George M. Ferguson, who 
formerly was register and recorder in Clearfield county; Nancy Jane, who is the 
wife of George W. Jose, of La Jose, Clearfield county; Alice, who is the wife of 
Frank K. Patterson, of Pittsburg; Elsie, who is the wife of Bert Galatley, of 
Pittsburg; and Harry B., who resides with his mother on the old home place.  The 
old homestead at the present time is owned by Robert F. Mahaffey and Harry B. 
Mahaffey.  It was one of the first farms in Clearfield county cleared from the 
forest and is situated at the mouth of Chest Creek, on the Susquehanna river, 
the town site of Mahaffey.  Valuable veins of coal and fire clay underlay the 
homestead and the surrounding property, all of which is very valuable.
  James Mahaffey attended the public schools of Mahaffey and in 1864 became a 
student in the Iron City College, Pittsburg, where he remained one year.  When 
he turned his attention to business he found it practicable and profitable for 
him to engage in lumbering and he continued in this industry until 1905.  For 
many years he also owned a valuable farm in Bell township, which he improved 
with handsome buildings, but later disposed of it.  In 1879 he was elected 
sheriff of Clearfield county, on the Democratic ticket and served with marked 
efficiency until 1883, retiring from office with the good will of all his fellow 
citizens with the exception of those who, in his official capacity, he had been 
forced to treat as law-breakers.  He had many experiences in the line of public 
duty but discharged his often troublesome obligations with fidelity and without 
any flavor of sensationalism.  In 1884, Sheriff Mahaffey built the Windsor 
Hotel, a brick structure containing forty-five sleeping apartments and equipped 
throughout with all modern conveniences.  He is a model host and his friends and 
patrons are in every part of the county.  His table is supplied directly from 
his own truck farm, lying on the edge of Clearfield, and the traveling public is 
very appreciative of these luxuries.  Mr. Mahaffey owns considerable real estate 
in the east end of Clearfield, which he has greatly improved, and also owns 
realty at Mahaffey and at Chicago, Ill., and at Long Island, N. Y.
  Mr. Mahaffey was married in 1872, to Miss Jane Thompson, who died July 3, 
1898.  Seven children survived, namely:  James Guy, who married Agnes Hunter; 
Robert Paul; Malcolm A., who married Lorilla Gaylor; Eugene, who married Bertha 
Flood; Charles, who married Goldie Reed; Daisy, who is the wife of Chester 
Heller; and Huston P.  Albert and Walter died young.  Mr. Mahaffey is a Thirty-
second degree Mason and belongs also to the Odd Fellows, the Elks and the Moose.