My Genealogy Hound

Timothy P. Mooney, a merchant of O’Day, Mo., was born in County Galway, Ireland, on February 2, 1833. He is a son of John and Mary (Timothy) Mooney, both also natives of County Galway, Ireland. John Mooney was born in 1792, and was a farmer by occupation. His death occurred in 1862. His wife was born in 1813, and bore to their marriage eight children, four of whom, Timothy P., John, Anna (Mrs. John Martin, of St. Louis) and Bridget (Mrs. John Devanay, of Saline, Mo.), are living. Mrs. Mooney died in 1858. Timothy P. received his education in the schools of Ireland. Haying a desire to see more of the world and to better his condition he left his native country and sailed for America, landing at Boston on May 4, 1851. Remaining in Boston a short time he proceeded to Brattleboro, Vt., where he worked on a farm a few months in order to replenish his pocket-book, after which he went to New York City and thence to New Jersey, entering the employ of the New Jersey Central Railroad Company as bookkeeper. In 1853 he started for the West, and arriving at Cambridge, Ohio, he clerked for a time in a hotel, when he went to Cincinnati, and from there to Madison, Ind., where he took a contract to build a part of the O. & M. Railroad. At the completion of his contract he located in Jefferson County, Mo., opening a general merchandise store at Blackwell Station. In 1857 he removed his stock of goods to Mexico, Mo., but later he sold his stock and entered the grocery business. In the fall of 1862 he sold his stock of groceries and again engaged in general merchandising. In 1867 he removed to Barry County and resumed merchandising at Washburn. He also built a hotel, which he managed until 1887. His health failing him, in 1871 he retired from merchandising, and until 1878 was dealing in stock, buying and shipping cattle from Texas to St. Louis and the Eastern States. He then resumed the mercantile business in partnership with Robert Houston, but in 1881 purchased the latter’s interest, and has since conducted the business alone, having removed his building and stock to O’Day in 1887. He still resides in Washburn. On May 25, 1865, he was united in marriage with Mary B. Sims, a native of Audrain County, Mo., born in 1845, and to them have been born one child, Florence V., now the wife of Clay Gregory, of Audrain County, Mo. The family are communicants of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Mooney is a Democrat and a member of the A. F. & A. M.