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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chautauqua County, New York published by John M. Gresham & Co. in 1891.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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JOHN MAHONEY, father of the senior partner of the old and reliable firm of Mahoney Brothers, now Mahoney Brothers & Burland, is a native of the Emerald Isle, where he was born in July, 1833. His parents were Thomas and Mary (Neville) Mahoney, who were representative people of the Irish race. His grandfather, John Mahoney, Sr., never came to America nor did his son Thomas, the latter dying while our subject was yet young — leaving five children: John, James, Edward, Thomas and Kate. In 1853 John and James came to America and located at Jamestown and have lived here ever since. At a later date they brought over their two brothers and sister, all of whom now reside in this city. Shortly after his arrival John Mahoney bought a five acre tract of land and built the home where he now lives.

He married Margaret Finnell, a daughter of John Finnell, of Ireland. Their union has been blessed with eight children: John T., married Ella Quigley, daughter of Andrew Quigley, who is a resident of Jamestown. He is the senior member of the firm, Mahoney Bro’s & Burland, contractors and builders, and dealers in quarry stone and building supplies. This long established company is without a superior in their line in western New York. The work they have completed stands a proud monument to their skill. N. W. Gokey’s residence, built by them, is said to be without an equal in this section of the country — the Gilford block is without doubt the finest in the city and many others are all specimens of their ability to perform which has taken the services of seventy men all summer; Thomas, a twin brother of John T., is also a partner in the firm; James, is engaged in the furniture business at Reading, Pa., the establishment being one of the largest in the city; Dana is foreman for the Wright Fire Proof Tile company, of Chicago; Edward is employed as a mason by his brothers; David works in a foundry; Richard is engaged in the furniture store belonging to his brother James; and Julia. John Mahoney is the father of a remarkable family. Every son is a successful man and several of them are at the head of their respective lines of business. It would be a difficult task to find a parallel. The father of such a family must be a man of will and decision and the mother possessed of extraordinary love and intelligence.

Mr. Mahoney is a democrat politically as are all the male members of his family, and all are members of the Catholic church.

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This family biography is one of 658 biographies included in Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chautauqua County, New York published in 1891. 

View additional Chautauqua County, New York family biographies here: Chautauqua County, New York Biographies

View a map of 1897 Chautauqua County, New York here: Chautauqua County, New York Map

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