#1-Printed in the February 15, 1905 Blair Courier, Blair, Nebraska

Sunday noon the sad news came to us that John McMahon was dead. We could scarcely believe it, for while we knew he had been sick with pneumonia since the Saturday before, we had understood he was improving. Death occurred at about 10:30 after an illness of but eight days. The funeral was held at 10:00 o’clock Tuesday morning at the Catholic church and on account of the terrible wind and storm but few of his many friends were able to attend. Teams had to be sent back and forth over the road to the cemetery before the hearse could get out there and the snow had to be shoveled out of the grave before the burglar proof vault was lowered to its final resting place. The pall bearers were Geo. B. Riker, C. McMenemy, Jas. Maher, M. Barry, J.H. Dick and Geo. Haller. Mr. McMahon was born June 16, 1866, at North Greece, Monroe Co., N.Y., and came to Nebraska in 1884, settling on a farm about three and one-half miles southwest of Blair. He combined school teaching and farming for a number of years and by hard work and economy was a wealthy man at the age of 39 years. He owned 400 acres of land in this county and 120 up in Burt, besides the old Heinzerling place where he had been living since 1903. He was married to Miss Maggie Foley Sept. 20th, 1890, and besides her, six small children are now left fatherless. John McMahon was probably the most universally well liked man in the county and was in many ways an ideal citizen whom Blair can ill afford to lose. He was recently almost unanimously re-elected president of the Blair Telephone Co. and the loss of his activity and splendid business judgment will be keenly felt by that organization. The entire community joins in extending sympathy to the bereaved wife and children for the loss of such a husband and such a father as was John McMahon.

#2-16 Feb., 1905 - Blair Republican - John McMahon

Blair citizens were deeply shocked to hear of the death of John McMahon last Sunday, Feb. 12, 1905, 10:30 o’clock after only a week’s illness with pneumonia. He was an old resident of Washington county, having lived on a farm near Blair for a good many years. After retiring from farm life, he removed with his family, consisting of a wife and six children, to Blair where he has lived for about two years. He was born at North Grease, Monroe county, New York in 1866, and came to this county in 1884, and was married to Miss Maggie Foley in 1890. Mr. McMahon was president of the Blair Mutual Telephone company, and has been one of the most prominent and highly respected citizens of this county. The funeral services were held Tuesday from the Catholic church, conducted by Rev. Father O’Driscoll. The pallbearers were as follows: J. H. Dick, Geo. B. Riker, J. E. Maher, M. Barry, C. McMenemy and Geo. Haller. The deepest sympathy is extended to Mrs. McMahon and relatives.

#3-20 Feb., 1905 - The Pilot - John McMahon

DEATH OF JOHN

On Sunday morning, February 12th, a gloom was cast over this city when it became known that death had claimed one of her best and most popular citizens in the person of John McMahon. Though we knew that he was very low with pneumonia, we could not believe that one so serviceable to the community and so dear to the home could be taken away, but the wish of the community and the love of his dear ones could not prevent death.

Mr. McMahon was born in North Greece, Monroe county, New York June 16, 1866. He came to Nebraska in 1884 where he settled on a farm about three and one half miles northwest of town. He married Miss Maggie Foley August 20, 1890. In a few years he became very prosperous, with the result that in September, 1906 he purchased the beautiful home on South Street so that his children could get a good education.

Mr. McMahon was elected president of the Independent telephone company of this city last year, and on the beginning of this year was unanimously re-elected to that position. It was owing to his excellent business capacity that the business of the company is in such excellent condition, and on Tuesday during the funeral hours the telephone central was closed as a mark of respect to its esteemed president.

His home was a model Christian home where peace and prosperity reigned.

Mr. McMahon left to mourn his loss, besides his wife and six young children, an aged father and three sisters, Mrs. Joe McGuire of Benson, Mrs. Maney south of town and Miss Lizzie McMahon of Omaha.

Few men in Washington county had such a large circle of friends as had John. To know him meant to admire him; to be his friend meant to love him. Blair can ill afford to lose such man as was John McMahon. He would do honor to any city in which he lived.

The funeral took place on Tuesday morning from the Catholic church and owing to the severe storm, a large number of his many friends were not able to attend. Had it been possible to travel, his funeral would have been one of the largest ever seen in Blair, as he had taught school for a number of years after coming to Nebraska and many of those whom he taught are today holding high positions and the remainder have grown to manhood and womanhood.

The clergy who attended the funeral Tuesday were Rev. Father O’Driscoll, Rev. Father Walsh of Norfolk, Rev. Father O’Sullivan of Fremont and Rev. Father Moriarty of North Bend.

The pallbearers were Messrs. J. E. Maher, J. H. Dick, John J. Malone, Geo. B. Riker, M. J. Barry and Geo. Haller.

The sermon was preached by Rev. Father Walsh, a special friend of the family, and was a high tribute to the memory of the departed one and was full of words of sympathy and consolation to the bereaved.

Interment took place in Holy Cross cemetery where a handsome “Baker steel vault” had been prepared to receive the remains of one whom we loved in life.

Mrs. McMahon and her little ones have the sympathy of the entire community in their hour of trial.

~~~Obituary courtesy of Washington County, Nebraska Genealogical Association; newspaper clippings on file at the Public Library, Blair, Nebraska

FindaGrave # 179913146