Mahaffey Descendants published 1914, pp. 73-94

CUMBERLAND COUNTY [PENNSYLVANIA], cont.

666.  4JAMES A. MAHAFFEY,2 (Charles.1)

James A. Mahaffey, son of Charles and Mary Allison Mahaffey, was born Aug. 4, 1793; died, 1870; was married to Elizabeth Johnston Wareham, about 1827, who was born April 6, 1806; died Nov. 26, 1848.

James Mahaffey was a farmer, a man beloved by old and young in the community in which he lived. The most strict observance of the Presbyterian faith was practiced in his home. He and his wife worshipped in the old Presbyterian church at Carlisle, [Cumberland Co.], Pa., it being told by one of the sons that when they came home from church the meal was ate that had been prepared the day previous, following which every one sat down and read or passed the day in a quiet manner.

James Mahaffey was a tall, sparely built man, with small, keen, black eyes; a whig in politics, prominent in debating societies; a son said, “Father would attend all the debating societies far and near, would take us little chaps along; we, of course, would fall asleep and fall from the bench in the old school-house, to the floor; then he would say, ‘Boys, I will never take you again,’ but ‘never,’ never came. One of his expressions when addressing a gathering was, ‘I wunder,’ now I guess you all wunder!”

Elizabeth Wareham was of English parentage. Her grandfather, when emigrating to America, left his native land with his wife, a small son and daughter. When the vessel was out for a few days, the wife died suddenly and was buried at sea. After landing, the father followed his wife in death in a short time, thus leaving the orphan boy and girl to be reared in the home of strangers. The girl was reared in the home of the grandfather of James G. Blain. The orphan girl, of course, was the mother of Elizabeth Johnston Wareham, who married James A. Mahaffey, and to them were born a family of eight:

Elizabeth Wareham Mahaffey died when but 42 years of age, leaving this large family to be cared for by her fifteen-year-old daughter. She is buried at Carlisle, Pa. James A. Mahaffey is buried at Newport, [Lawrence or Perry Co.,] Pa.

667.  5JOHN MAHAFFEY,2 (Charles Mahaffey.1)

John Mahaffey, youngest child of Charles and Mary Allison Mahaffey, was born Sept. 25, 1801; died Nov. 2, 1854; was married to Elizabeth ______, who was born March 9, 1803; died Aug. 21, 1881.

John Mahaffey was a farmer. Some time after his marriage he moved from his home township to one farther west in the same county, where he resided for quite a time. Later he removed to the state of West Virginia, where he lived until his death. His descendants are living in that part of the state to-day. His family consisted of the following children:

669.  1JOHN PHILIP MAHAFFIE,3 (James A.,2 Charles Mahaffey.1)

John Philip Mahaffie, eldest child of James A. and Elizabeth Wareham Mahaffey, was born Jan. 22, 1828; married to Susannah Elizabeth Ensminger, who was born Nov. 11, 1832; died Nov. 11, 1908. He died Feb. 19, 1907. Both buried at Renovo, [Clinton Co.], Pa.

John P. Mahaffie led a rather adventurous life; in the year 1849 he left home, joining a wagon train for Missouri. They encountered many hardships, principally savage tribes of Indians, who killed off man and beast. After receiving two arrow wounds, and a load of buck shot, which he carried to his grave, (traveling many miles before he could have the arrow heads removed and the wounds dressed), the few remaining party arrived on foot (their mules all having died from drinking water from an alkali stream) in the coveted “gold fields” of California.

John Mahaffie was soon stricken with rheumatism; his doctors advised him to go to South America, which he did. After spend­ing several years in that country he returned to his native land by way of Cape Horn. While aboard vessel he was stricken with yellow fever, and was quarantined for some time at Lima, Peru. He was quite a linguist, speaking seven languages. He followed the pursuit of a carpenter the greater part of his life. Was a most lovable man; the last several years of his life was spent in blindness. Was consistent in the Lutheran Church, as was his faithful wife, who bore him the following children:

(Note the spelling of the name in this family.)

671.  3MARY ANN MAHAFFEY,3 (James A.,2 Charles Mahaffey.1)

Mary Ann Mahaffey, only daughter of James A. and Elizabeth Wareham Mahaffey, was born March 26, 1833; died Feb. 19, 1865, from diphtheria; was married by the Rev. Hoffman, of Carlisle, Pa., to Daniel Zeigler, a well know vetenary [sic] surgeon, Jan. 27, 1853.

Her mother dying when she was but fifteen years of age, brought the cares of a mother upon her shoulders at a very early age, which she assumed until she married; the home of her father was then broken up and the smaller children were separated, which accounts for so little knowledge of the early ancestry, the older members of the family all being dead, the younger ones can not recall.

Mary Ann Mahaffey was a very kind, Christian woman, even though children were not born to her they were always in her home. Her younger brother and a niece of her husband, shared its comforts, and the care of a mother. She died at an early age, and is buried in Carlisle, Pa. Her husband surviving her many years and marrying the second time.

672.  4THOMAS MAHAFFEY,3 (James A.,2 Charles Mahaffey.1)

Thomas Mahaffey, third son of James A. and Elizabeth Wareham Mahaffey, was born July 23, 1835; died Jan. 2, 1856. Was a carpenter by trade.

He left home, securing work at Harrisburg, [Dauphin Co.,] Pa. Displaying talent for the violin, he became a noted violinist; accepting a position in a museum in New Orleans at a fine salary, was taken ill there, thinking of home and friends, no doubt, he started homeward, getting as far north as St. Louis, where he died; was buried by a friend and his effects sent home, among which was his beloved violin. This famous instrument is still in the possession of his brother Stuart, whose grand­son Stuart Lowry, of Salt Lake City, will no doubt inherit, as he, too, displays much talent for this sweet-toned instrument.

673.  5JAMES ANDREW MAHAFFIE,3 (James A.,2 Charles Mahaffey.1)

James Andrew Mahaffie, fifth child of James A. and Elizabeth Wareham Mahaffey, was born Oct. 5, 1838; died July 30, 1913; was married Oct. 15, 1865, to Maria Catherine Whitcomb, of Boiling Springs, [Cumberland Co.], Pa. They were married at Gettysburg, [Adams Co.], Pa.

James Mahaffie followed the pursuits of a huckster the most of his life, his early manhood being spent on the farm. Shortly after his marriage he located in Harrisburg, [Dauphin Co.], Pa., where he resided the balance of his life and reared the following family:

(Note spelling of the name.)

674.  6STUART WAREHAM MAHAFFEY,3 (James A.,2 Charles Mahaffey.1)

Stuart Wareham Mahaffey, fifth son of James A. and Elizabeth Wareham Mahaffey, was born June 22, 1841; was married Feb. 22, 1868, by the Rev. Adam Hollinger, to Susannah Harbold, daughter of George and Mary Trimmer Harbold, born Feb. 12, 1846; died Feb. 13, 1886.

Stuart W. Mahaffey spent his boyhood on the farm; later . . .

[Note: Pages 78-81 are missing from my copy of this book.]

[Page 82] — She [Bethsheba Mahaffey, daughter of John and Elizabeth ______ Mahaffey] was married to Theodore McCune, and resided in Centreville, Cumberland Co., Pa., near the place where she spent the greater part of her life. After her death, Theodore McCune married the second time. To this union no issue.

Theodore McCune and Bethsheba Mahaffey had one child, a daughter:

Conclusion.

An apology old Cumberland
I fear you owe the Clan,
Since from your branch a poetess
Inflicts her verse on man.
Yet each has sent its talent forth,
To fill their sphere in life;
Professions of all sorts we find
Beside the humble wife.
So now we trust the Clan will bear
With patience what you give.
The talent of this poetess
Though small, perhaps may live
To speak of how old Cumberland
Shared in this work, so dear;
Perpetuated to the Clan,
And filled its humble sphere.

M.E.M.C.

PERRY COUNTY [PENNSYLVANIA]

739.  GUY MEHAFFIE, progenitor of the Perry Co. Mehaffies, and his wife, Margaret, or “Peggy” Hamilton, were natives of Ireland. The date of their emigration is not known, nor have we any history to confirm the fact that they were married previous to their coming to America. In reading the history of the early settlers of Cumberland county, we find numerous families by the name of Hamilton, who were of Scotch-Irish descent, same as the Mahaffey family, both originally coming from Scotland and settling in Ireland in the earlier centuries. Possibly, Guy Mehaffie married after his emigration to America.

They settled along the banks of Shermans Creek, Perry Co., (then a part of Cumberland County), which in those days was a dense forest. The Indians roved at will, making the days fearful and the nights hideous with their war whoops.

There were but few settlers at that time, the log cabins being several miles apart. In the year 1755 we read of the murder of the “Woolcomer” family, who were the nearest neighbor of our subject. They were eating their evening meal, consisting of mush and milk, when an Indian appeared in the doorway; being asked to partake of the meal he replied he “came for scalps” not food, a young son twelve years of age made his escape through a back window, giving the alarm to the nearest fort; when the soldiers arrived the next morning they found the entire family murdered. Thus we date the settling of Guy Mahaffie in Perry Co. from the date of this incident, he probably locating here several years previous.

Guy Mehaffie was a weaver by trade, and he and his wife were God-fearing people. Under adverse circumstances, they reared the following family of three children:

We might add to the above data concerning the last mentioned child Ruth Mehaffie, who married John Murphy, that a grand-daughter is living in Carlisle, [Cumberland Co.,] Pa., by name of Ruth Murphy Glass, and possibly many more direct descendants of this third child of our subject.

Second Generation

740.  1MARGARET MEHAFFIE,2 (Guy Mehaffie.1)

Margaret Mehaffie, daughter of Guy and Margaret Hamilton Mehaffie, was born 1755, died Oct. 15, 1830, she was married some time in the ’70’s of 1700, to John Smiley, who was born in 1742, and died in 1840. John Smiley was the son of Thomas Smiley, who is buried at the Meeting House Springs graveyard, near Carlisle, Pa. Thomas Smiley had five sons and one daughter. George, Samuel and John settled within one mile of each other near Shermansdale, Pa., [now known as Shermans Dale, Perry Co., PA] by the Shermans Creek. Thomas settled in the western part of the state near Pittsburgh, and William settled west of the Tuscarora moun­tains. The daughter, Sallie, married a Mr. Sharron, and lived in the western part of the state.

John and Margaret Mehaffie Smiley reared a large family, he dividing his farms between his two sons, William and John. The land granted to William is where Shermansdale is now located, and the farms to the north and east embrace the holdings of John, which all told, contained 250 acres.

The children born to John and Margaret Mehaffie Smiley were:

John and Margaret Mehaffie Smiley, who now lie buried in the “Old Presbyterian Graveyard,” near the present Zorger farm, have the tomb stones marking their graves, which were placed there by their grandchildren about 1876.

741.  2THOMAS MEHAFFIE,2 (Guy Mehaffie.1)

Thomas Mehaffie, only son of Guy and Margaret Hamilton Mehaffie, was born June 5, 1766, died Dec. 20, 1853. He married Catherine Colvin, of Jersey Shore, Pa., who was born 1769, and died Sept. 15, 1848. They belonged to the Quaker church.

We are told that Thomas was a very large man, as was also his wife. He was a very quiet and of a kindly nature, and highly respected in the locality in which he lived.

The writer was told by a grandson that he could recall him, when a small child and taken to see his grandfather, as sit­ting in a large arm chair with a tall cane in his hands, when told who the child was he patted him on the head saying, “Is this one of Hamilton’s boys?”

Being of a very lenient disposition, he would frequently remark to his boys during the mother’s absence, “Laddies! Laddies! when your mother comes home, she will come ‘doon’ on you like a ‘flax Brake,’” so evidently the mother was the sterner parent.

Thomas Mehaffie lived on the old homestead of his father, which was also nearby the farm where his sister Margaret Mehaffie Smiley lived. To Thomas and “Kitty” Colvin were eight children born:

Third Generation

743.  1ELIZABETH SMILEY,3 (Margaret Smiley,2 Guy Mehaffie.1)

Elizabeth Smiley, eldest child of John and Margaret Mehaffie Smiley, was married twice, first to Benjamin Cunningham, to whom she bore two children:

Elizabeth Cunningham next married Benjamin McCord and to them were born four children:

744.  2MARY SMILEY,3 (Margaret Smiley,2 Guy Mehaffie.1)

Mary Smiley, second child of John and Margaret Mehaffie Smiley, was married to James McKee, of New Bloomfield, [Perry Co.,] Pa. They reared a family of the following children:

745.  3MARGARET SMILEY,3 (Margaret Smiley,2 Guy Mehaffie.1)

Margaret Smiley, third child of John and Margaret Mehaffie Smiley, married Mathew McBride, and they had born four sons:

746.  4WILLIAM SMILEY,3 (Margaret Smiley,2 Guy Mehaffie.1)

William Smiley, fourth child and eldest son of John and Margaret Mehaffie Smiley, was born July 8, 1783, died Aug. 16, 1863, was married to Ann Wilson 1819, of Cumberland Co., who was born June 16, 1790, and died Oct. 9, 1866, both buried in the Presbyterian cemetery at Shermansdale, [Perry Co.], Pa.

Ann Wilson came of distinguished ancestry, her father being one of the early settlers of the Cumberland Valley.

William Smiley was a farmer, and lived on one of the original John Smiley farms, which was patented by Thomas Smiley, progenitor of Smileys, to his son John.

William and Ann Wilson Smiley had a family of seven children:

747.  5RUTH SMILEY,3 (Margaret Smiley,2 Guy Mehaffie.1)

Ruth Smiley, fifth child of John and Margaret Mehaffie Smiley, married Jesse Kirkpatrick, and removed to Waterman, [DeKalb Co.], Ill., about forty years ago [ca. 1874], where their son Hiram still resides, as well as descendants of the family, their family consisted of:

[Note: Pages 88-89 are missing from my copy of this book.]

[Page 90] —

750.  8NANCY AGNES SMILEY,3 (Margaret Smiley,2 Guy Mehaffie.1)

Nancy Agnes Mehaffie, seventh child of John and Margaret Mehaffie Smiley, was born Sept. 1, 1799, died March 5, 1876, is buried in the Lutheran cemetery, about one mile northeast of Dellville, Perry Co., Pa. She married John McKenzie, Sept. 14, 1824, at Carlisle, Pa., by the Rev. Duffield.

John McKenzie came from a celebrated ancestry, his great grandfather, and two children, John and Mary, embarked for the United States at Inverness, Scotland, in May, 1775, and landed in Philadelphia in October of the same year. They took up their abode near Harrisburg, [Dauphin Co.], Pa. His great grandfather engaged in the defence of his adopted country, and was captured by the British and never heard of again.

His grandfather took up a home near Duncannon, [Perry Co.], Pa. and bought enough land to make a farm of 300 acres. He built a house and blacksmith shop and cleared his land at leisure.

He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and died at the age of 40 years. His son John who married Nancy Smiley, lived on the old homestead, and here they reared their family of the following children:

751.  9MARTHA SMILEY,3 (Margaret Smiley,2 Guy Mehaffie.1)

Martha Smiley, ninth, and youngest child of John and Margaret Mehaffie Smiley, was married to James Smiley, and to them was born four [sic] children:

752.  1MARGARET MEHAFFIE,3 (Thomas,2 Guy Mehaffie.1)

Margaret Mehaffie, eldest daughter of Thomas and Kitty Colvin Mehaffie, born Jan. 18, 1791, married to Thomas Sutch, who was born 1784. He died Jan. 21, 1857, and his wife Aug. 22, 1851, to them were born six children:

753.  2ANDREW MEHAFFIE,3 (Thomas,2 Guy Mehaffie.1)

Andrew Mehaffie, son of Thomas and “Kitty” Colvin Mehaffie, was married to Sarah Messimer.

They lived near New Bloomfield, close by the place of his birth. A very kind man, respected by all who knew him, followed the occupation of a day laborer. Died when about fifty years of age, followed by his wife who died when about sixty-six. The family records being lost no exact dates can be established. The following large family were born to this marriage:

754.  3JOHN MEHAFFIE,3 (Thomas,2 Guy Mehaffie.1)

John Mehaffie, second son of Thomas and Kitty Colvin Mehaffie, was born Dec. 25, 1795, died June 27, 1869, was married Feb. 15, 1824, to Sarah Sterritt McCroskey, who was born Jan. 6, 1800, died March 26, 1875. John Mehaffie was a very jovial man, and with his wife and family lived all their lives within sight of the farm where he was born. Was a man noted for his generosity, and for his kindly disposition.

By faith, Presbyterian, worshipping at “White church,” was a farmer all his life, seven children blessed this union:

755.  4THOMAS MEHAFFIE,3 (Thomas,2 Guy Mehaffie.1)

Thomas Mehaffie, third son of Thomas and Kitty Colvin Mehaffie, was born Jan. 16, 1797, died Oct. 22, 1869, he married Elizabeth Murphy who was born 1802, and died March 9, 1850, following her death he married Mary Robison, who was born Feb. 1, 1821, died Jan. 1, 1906, aged 85 years, Thomas Mehaffie’s widow later married Corl.

He was a school teacher and also engaged in the grocery business. Was a man noted for his “Irish wit,” and in his younger days was a riding boss, in making highways through the mountains, and was reputed for his tricky disposition.

There were no children born to either marriage.

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