From Dublin to Drummond- Mahon Family Reunion — The Series –Part 2

Some of the Family Stories

The Rivermen– Two Lost

Charles and Robert Mahon, sons of James and Mary (Boshart) Mahon, were lost to the river in 1902. I can’t imagine the grief their parents felt burying two sons.

Item # 4 Page 189&190 # S 5 & 6 Charles & Robert Mahon

April 18th 1902 –We the undersigned blessed the bodies of Charles, aged about thirty-five years, and Robert age about thirty years, sons of James Mahon & Mary Bosart, who were drowned on the fifteenth day of this same month in the Madawaska near the York branch, three miles form Combermere. The bodies were afterwards interred in the cemetery of St. Marys’ at Brudenell in the presence of John Mahon and John McDonald. Francis L. French, P.P.– Lots of Mahon notations CLICK here

Memories of that Tragic Day

Many years ago (I shudder to think of how many years have gone by), I asked my grandmother Barbara Alice Mahon (Kelly) about Charlie & Bob Mahon’s passing as I had noted that they had both perished on the same date. My grandmother told me that they had both drown in the river coming back from a dance at “the Pammer” (Palmer Rapids) and their bodies were found the next day.

Recently, I found notes from another source that described their drowning as a result of driving logs on the river. The date of their passing was April 15th, 1902. I discussed this detail with my father Roger W Mahon and we concluded that my grandmother’s version seemed to have more merit as most of the river would probably still be frozen over on that date and too early to be driving logs. The brothers may have tried to take a shortcut home and misjudged the thickness of the ice.

A terrible tragedy nonetheless.

Sláinte!

Brenda

Dublin to Drummond 200th Mahon Family Reunion A huge thank you to Brenda, who reviewed family documents and the general consensus is the lads were making their way home from a dance at Palmer Rapids and mis-stepped onto the ice. A tragedy no less.

If you wish to learn more about the river men, please read Linda’s posting… Click here..

Genealogy

Dublin to Drummond 200th Mahon Family Reunion

James Mahon and Mary Boshart

James was the eldest son of James Mahon and Ellen Troy. Born in Ireland in the early 1800’s he, along with 7 siblings and their parents arrived in Canada in 1819.

James continued the family tradition of masonry in Perth and area. He and Mary married in Perth and eventually had eleven children. They moved to Renfrew County in the late 1850’s where he continued working with stone.

While we can’t identify their children by name in the photo we do know who they are:

Mary who married Thomas Neville, then John Black McDonald;

John Jacob married Mary Steep, then Mary Ann Hudder (twenty children! between Mary and Mary Ann);

James Joseph who married Caroline Watt (ten children) and settled in Tisdale, Sask;

William who married Flora Ann McDonald (twelve children) and moved to Iron City, Michigan. On a previous post we talked about the Spanish River Train Accident where Flora and son Charles met their demise;

Ellen who married Ronald McDonald. Yes, Ronald McDonald was a relative

Catherine;

Thomas who married Mary McDonald;

Elizabeth passed at the age of 9;

Charles who perished driving logs on the Madawaska River in 1902 alongside his brother Robert;

Richard who married Margaret Smith (eight children);

and Robert who perished driving logs on the Madawaska River in 1902 alongside his brother Charles.

While we recognise twenty children of John Jacob and Mary and Mary Ann, there were six of their children who left this earth due to the diphtheria plague in 1892. They were John age 6 years, Nov. 2; Edward age 4 years, Nov. 9; Mary age 10 years, Nov. 8; Ellen age 6 years, Nov. 7; Annie age 1 year, Nov. 8; Margaret age 6 months Nov. 12, 1892. RIP

James Mahon

The Ottawa Journal
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
12 Jul 1949, Tue • Page 2

The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
15 Jul 1947, Tue • Page 2

15 Seconds of Mahon Laughter and Joy August 2019 Mahon Family Reunion

Thomas J Mahon –The Hunting Jacket

Combermere, Ontario 1900-1997

Yvonne Mahon told me about her father’s (Thomas J Mahon) leather hunting coat that was on display at the registration desk at the Mahon Family Reunion. After he passed away in 1997 they thought the jacket that he used trapping hunting and fishing was lost. However to the families joy the jacket was found in his workshop inside a bag. Because it had been in the cold outside workshop for a long time mice had gotten to it and it was in need of some loving care. Yvonne’s daughter said during one summer she took that jacket outside and sat under the umbrella and repaired it tear by tear. Thomas was from Combermere which is a village located along the Madawaska River in south-eastern Ontario.

Dublin to Drummond 200th Mahon Family Reunion

The Farm

Dublin to Drummond 200th Mahon Family Reunion

This is my family. My mother (Dorothy), her siblings and my grandparents William Mahon and Laura Kehoe. William was the son of James William Mahon and Julia O’Meara; James William the son of John Mahon and Catherine Walsh and John being the son of James Mahon and Ellen Troy who ventured from Ireland. William was born in 1898 on the farm and there he remained for his 65 years. He married Laura in 1919 and they raised a family of nine children on the homestead off of what is now named Mahon Road.

Sunday past my cousin Les, Diane and I found the gate and followed the lane to our mothers home. Edged by a split rail fence on one side, it was long and hilly yet still used. When we reached the site I stood in silence staring at the area, vacant but for grass chest high and a huge swath of orange day-lilies with blooms smiling upwards into the brilliant sunshine.

I listened to Les describe the once thriving farm. Over here was the house, over there the hen house, and over there the cow pen. His recollection was vivid; as if it were yesterday when he last drove the lane. Now it’s a field but just not a field, for it is filled with memories of family, our heritage and that is why as long as we remember a person, they will always remain alive in our hearts.

You might ponder why have I written this homage to my family, it is because it outlines the essence of family. Their trials and tribulations making a living in the wilderness. They survived and even though mum said they walked 5 miles uphill to school in bare-feet, she was close. Maybbbbbbbbeee 4 miles but at least they knew the importance of an education and carried on.

The Mahon life revolved around working gardens and fields, logging, mining, masonry, tending to farm creatures and simply, to just surviving. But there was also time for enjoyment. Never doubt they didn’t know how to have fun. We have seen many photos of our families that include at least one member with a fiddle in his hand. That’s celebrating life. And that is what we mean to do with our reunion. To celebrate the life of Mahon.

The Family Bible

A family Bible is a Bible handed down through a family, with each successive generation recording information about the family’s history inside it. Typically, this information consists of births, deaths, baptisms, confirmations and marriages. Other items, such as letters, newspaper cuttings and photographs, might also be placed inside a Family Bible. They are often used now as sources for genealogical research.

Dublin to Drummond 200th Mahon Family Reunion

John and Bridget (Loughney) Mahon’s family bible was graciously allowed to be photographed today. Thank you Sharon for sharing this cherished treasure with the family.