MAHONY, John Fitzgibbons

Prescott Evening Courier, Prescott, Ariz. Friday, April 26, 1940, page 1, column 4 Death Takes J. F. Mahony Death came to one of the builders of the west, John F. Mahony, 91-year -old former Indian fighter who was one of this district's trail-blazers, at the end of a to-week illness at the Veterans' facility, Whipple, last night. Mr. Mahony, who came to Yavapai as a soldier in the American army when it was engaged in a campaign to free the southwest from the Indian menace in 1866, succumbed to pneumonia. From the standpoint of continuous residency, Mr. Mahony, a native of Middleton, County Cork, Ireland, was Prescott's oldest white resident. The former National Commander of the Veterans of Indian Wars, Mr. Mahony had been active as a member of the the executive committee since 1935. He was born Aug. 14, 1849, one of six children of Maurice and Elizabeth Shepherd Mahony. His boyhood was spent in his native Ireland, where he attended public schools. He displayed mechanical ability and, before leaving for the United States at the age of 14, he mastered the trade of machinist. He joined the United States army the year after arriving in this country and was assigned to Company G, Third U.S. cavalry. He was stationed first at Fort Union, and in 1866 was sent to New Mexico, where he was a soldier in the memorable campaign against the Utes, Comanches and Navajos. He was wounded once in the wars. At the end of his period of service of three years and nine months, he was honorably discharged by special order, at Camp Verde in 1870. Toughened by the vigorous life of the soldier, Mahony volunteered to carry the mail between Camp Verde and Prescott, a job which, at that time, was so dangerous that few men would consider it. Five men were killed on this section of the road while he traveled it; he found the bodies of three in one day, all killed by Indians hidden in the rocks. His own life was once saved by the fact that his mule scented Indians ahead and turned and ran back to the Bowers' ranch, near the present Humboldt. After engaging in the restaurant business at Wickenburg, he returned to Ireland for a visit with friends and relatives in 1876 and again in 1880. He returned with his bride, the former Elizabeth Abbott, from the second visit to the Emerald Isle. Mr. Mahony was offered the position of city engineer and after accepting the post, he was placed in charge of the entire water system. The local meter system was installed under his administration. He was city engineer for nine years and then became superintendent of the quartz mills of the Tonto Basin, and in 1898 assumed the duties of engineer at the Crystal Ice plant. He was engineer at the Pioneers Home later. Following his retirement in 1926 he became active in veteran affairs. He had been elected Arizona commander of the United Indian War Veterans in 1925 and was national commander in 1934 - 1935. He is survived by three daughters, Mrs. William M. Poulson, Mrs. J. D. Kizer and Mrs. J. E. Crose, all of Prescott, four grandchildren, J. D. Kiser, Jr., C. A. Poulson, both of Prescott, W. D. Poulson, Independence, Calif; Miss Ina Ruth Crose, Prescott; and two great-grandchildren, Sadie Kiser, Prescott, and William Russell Poulson, Independence. He was a member of the Odd Fellows and Rebeckah lodges for 50 years. Funeral services will be conducted from the Lester Ruffner Funeral Home Saturday afternoon, at 3:30 o'clock, with the Rev. Richardson, at the Seventh Day Adventist church, and the Odd Fellows lodge officiating. I.O.O.F. rites will be held both at the Home and at the cemetery. Mr. Mahoney will be laid to rest in Mountain View cemetery in a grave beside3 that of his wife.