Robert Mahaffey and Mary McGee

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Husband Robert Mahaffey ^{1 2 3}

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           Born: 4 May 1815 - Williamsport, Lycoming Co, PA 4
     Christened: 
           Died: 1900 2
         Buried: 

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         Father: William Mahaffey (Abt 1776-1859) 2 4
         Mother: Nancy Bennett (      -      ) 4

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       Marriage: 

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   Other Spouse: Mary C. Johnson (1826-      ) 5

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Wife Mary McGee ^{2 6}

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            AKA: Mary [Unk] 3
           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: Bef 1898
         Buried: 

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         Father: James McGee, Sr. (1790-1854) 7
         Mother: Mary Barnhart (Abt 1792-1872) 8 9

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Children

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1 M William Mahaffey ^{2 5}

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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2 M James Mahaffey ^{2 5}

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           Born: 4 Nov 1843 - Mahaffey, Clearfield Co, PA 2
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Jane Thompson (      -1898) 10
           Marr: 1872 10

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3 F Mary Mahaffey ^{2 11}

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: John Byers (      -      ) 2 12
           Marr: 19 Oct 1847 5

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General Notes: Husband - Robert Mahaffey

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He was born in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, and was a young man when he accompanied his father to Clearfield County. He engaged 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 were attracted to his neighborhood, a village resulted and was in his honor. He continued to live at Mahaffey until the close of his long and busy life.

The old family homestead 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 were very valuable.

He was a lad of fourteen when he came with his father and brothers to Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. He was active in the work of farming and lumbering, and his industry and close application soon demonstrated the possession of those qualities which are found in the successful business man. After his father's return to Lycoming County, he operated a rented sawmill, and in this way got a start in life. For six years he followed lumbering, and then went to the West, locating at a point on the Illinois river below Peoria, Illinois. He took a contract to build bridges in Fulton County, doing all the work from the time the trees were cut until the bridge was completed.
After about a year, Mr. Mahaffey returned to Clearfield County and purchased a tract of land on the river, a short distance below his later home, and another tract not far away, the two aggregating 417 acres. He at once began clearing and lumbering, and improved a good farm, whereon he made his home for a quarter of a century. He built a sawmill, and shipped square timber down the river. His home was a stopping place for all river men, and at times was thronged with raftmen. Frequently they prepared supper and breakfast for one hundred persons, and all the floor space was occupied by sleepers. In later years, Mr. Mahaffey and Mr. John Cummins opened a store at New Washington, continuing the partnership for ten years, when Mahaffey removed his share of the goods to Ostend, where he carried on a store for four years. In 1868 he erected a store building in Mahaffey, and at that point was a successful merchant for some time. About 1867 he erected a commodious and pleasant residence, which was situated on a beautiful building site overlooking the town. About 1886 Mr. Mahaffey sold a tract of land, on which a tannery was constructed, and same year platted a portion of his land and began selling town lots. Mahaffey became a thriving village of three hundred homes, with some good brick business houses and four railroads. Mr. Mahaffey owned a good many residences which he rented, and was the owner of a four-story hotel, the "Mahaffey House," which was supplied with modern conveniences and improvements, and was kept by his daughter, Mrs. Lizzie Ferguson. He also owned a fine gristmill, splendidly equipped, and a sawmill plant. His realty holdings, in addition to his city property, comprised about three thousand acres of farm and timber lands, and he superintended the management of his lumbering interests, although he took no active part in the work. His extensive business enterprises furnished employment to large forces of men.

1 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 555, 584, 729.

2 Roland D. Swoope, Jr., 20th Century History of Clearfield County, Pa., and Representative Citizens (Chicago, IL: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., 1911), Pg 757.

3 John W. Jordan, LL.D, A Century and a Half of Pittsburg and Her People, Vol. IV (New York: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1908), Pg 225.

4 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 584.

5 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 585.

6 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 555, 585, 729.

7 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 555, 728.

8 John Blair Linn, History of Centre and Clinton Counties, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co., 1883), Pg 263.

9 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 555, 729.

10 Roland D. Swoope, Jr., 20th Century History of Clearfield County, Pa., and Representative Citizens (Chicago, IL: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., 1911), Pg 758.

11 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 585, 711.

12 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 711.