Newspapers: Mahans of Shippensburg, 1880: Cumberland County, PA

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Susan E Watts.
 wattsnew@juno.com

USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file by non-commercial individuals
               and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices
               and submitter information is included. Any other use,
               including copying files to other sites requires
               permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to
               any other sites. We encourage links to the state and
               county table of contents.
____________________________________________________________


Newspapers: Mahans of Shippensburg, 1880: Cumberland County, PA

 The Shippensburg News, Saturday Morning, Feb. 14, 1880 

The brick house at the Branch, now owned by Rev. Joseph Mahan, was then owned and
occupied by his father, David Mahan, Esq.  When Mr. Mahan purchased this lot, there
was a small log house with a small brick addition on it, and on the upper there,
there was a Tanyard which was worked for a number of years subsequent to the period
to which I refer.  About seventy years ago, he built the brick house now standing on
it, and improved the lot in other respects.  At that time the front part of it was a
swamp.  This he filled up to its present grade, and made the property one of the
most attractive which was then in the place.

Mr. Mahan was one of our leading citizens, and was always amongst the foremost in
the advocacy of any enterprise which had for its object the advancement of the
interest of his native section, as well as of the country at large.  When the
construction of a turnpike road from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh was first spoken of
he became one of its earliest and most earnest advocates, and when its construction
became a reality, he was selected s one of the directors, and continued to hold the
position, and was one of the most active and efficient members of the board for many
years.  When the project of a railroad through the Cumberland Valley was first
discussed, he became deeply interested in it, and was chosen one of its first
directors and continued as such for quite a number of years, giving much of his time
and attention to the advancement of its interests.  His anxiety for the furthrance of
the interests of his native Country did not terminate with the completion of the
Cumberland Valley Railroad.  When the building of the Pennsylvania road to the West
was determined upon, he at once saw the importance of so gigantic an enterprise to
any locality through which it might pass, and at once turned his attention to it,
and did everything in his power to have it constructed through our Valley.  With
this object in view, he accompanied J. Edgar Thompson in his examination of the
mountain passes to the westward of Shippensburg.

The failure of secure the location of the road through this Valley was by no means
attributable to Mr. Mahan.  All that a man could do by argument and persuasion was
done by him to induce the projectors of this great work to build it through our
County, but for some cause his advice was not taken, and the banks of the Juniata
were chosen as the route over which it was to pass.

Mr. Mahan's ancestors were amongst the earliest settlers of this section.  His
grandfather, Archibald Mahan, came into the Valley at a very early period in its
history, and settled in the vicinity of Herron's Branch.  His son David became the
owner of the farm recently owned by Mr. Hugh Craig, and upon which he died.  This
farm was part of the Shippen purchase, but at what time it passed into the hands of
Mr. Mahon (sic) I have not been able to ascertain.  It was upon this farm that Mr.
Hahan (sic), the subject of our present sketch was born, and upon which he resided
until he arrived at manhood.  Mr. M. was of medium height, of florid complexion, was
stoutly built and was slightly inclined to corpulency.  His conversational powers
were above mediocrity, and his manner was winning and persuasive.  These qualities
made him a welcome member of that circle of familiar friends who met to spend a
social hour in turned over the pages of the past, beside the cheerful fire of their
valued friend, Mr. Cochran.  Mr. Mahan had a family of four sons, Joseph and James
were Presbyterian ministers; the remaining two, David and Ormsby, are Physicians. 
Three of his daughters married Presbyterian clergymen.  Three of his sons and four
of his daughters are still living.  Mr. M. died August 19, 1857, in the
seventy-ninth year of his age.