The Shadow
HEADSTONE — Sara Rice Pryor Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy joined with Carpenter’s Battery of the Sons of the Confederate Veterans to dedicate a headstone at Crown Hill Cemetery in Clifton Forge.
The stone was dedicated to Confederate veteran Henry Mahaney.
HEADSTONE — Sara Rice Pryor Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy joined with Carpenter’s Battery of the Sons of the Confederate Veterans to dedicate a headstone at Crown Hill Cemetery in Clifton Forge.
The stone was dedicated to Confederate veteran Henry Mahaney.
•
•
CLIFTON FORGE — The Sara Rice Pryor Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy and Carpe-nter’s Battery Camp 1927, Sons of Confederate Veterans, joined together August 23 at Crown Hill Cemetery in Clifton Forge with the descendants of Henry Mahaney and Sophia Schaefer to dedicate a new headstone for the couple, as well as an Iron Cross for Henry’s service in the Confederacy.
The welcome was offered by Steven Lee Mahaney, who said that the hardest part was locating the grave because the original stones there only read “Mother and Father”. Kevin Riddle read the obituary of Henry Mahaney, while Cheryl Schneider read Sophie’s death record.
Steven Mahaney gave a historical background of the first Mahaneys in America, while Cynthia Mahaney presented a descendant’s reading of Henry and Sophia’s family down to the generations that were present.
Steven then read Henry’s Confederate service record.
Leah Perez, president of the Sara Rice Pryor Chapter, along with Bill Siple, Commander of Carpenter’s Battery, then presented the program for the dedication of the Iron Cross for Henry’s Confederacy service. Prayer was led by Ronnie Thomas, Carpenter’s Battery chaplain.
After the singing of “Dixie”, James Warren Mananey played “Taps”.
After the dedication, everyone was invited to meet at Jack Mason’s Tavern for lunch and an informal get together at the Red Lantern Inn.
Obituary Of
Henry Mahaney
Mr. Henry Mahaney, one of our oldest and best known citizens passed away on Tuesday last, April 11, 1899, aged 82 years, 10 months and 19 days. Mr. Mahaney was stricken only a short time prior to his death, and his advanced age made recovery doubtful from the start.
The deceased was born in Fayette County, Pa. near the line between Virginia (now West Virginia) and Pa., and at the early age of 16, began the life of a stage driver.
In this exciting and, in those days, profitable employment he continued for several years, when he met, at Clarksburg, W.Va., Miss Sophia Catherine Schaefer, to whom he was married on the 16th day of Nov., 1843.
After his marriage he became a hotel keeper and opened a hotel at Pruntytown, Taylor County and in connection therewith ran a stage line to Clarksburg. When the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was built, Mr. Mahaney became a contractor and builder, in which business he continued until the B&O road was completed. He then bought a hotel from his brother, David Mahaney, at Fetterman and ran that institution until the war between the states broke out, when he came South and became butcher for Stonewall Jackson, under whom he served until after the 2nd Battle of Manassas.
In 1863 he was captured by the U.S. Army and was taken to Camp Chase where he lay in prison for quite a while. In 1865 after the close of the war he was appointed superintendent of the Staunton and Parkersburg turnpike by Governor Pierpont, and controlled that business until 1876.
He remained in Augusta County, Va. farming and buying cattle, until the year 1880 when he removed to this place and was one of the first settlers here after the town was started (Clifton Forge, Va.)
The funeral took place at the M.E. Church, South, yesterday (Thursday) afternoon and was conducted by the Rev. J.A. Barker, assisted by the Rev. V.W. Wheeler, after which the remains were laid away in the cemetery on the hill by the side of his departed wife.
This kindly old man was much liked in our town and will be much missed by our people.
He was kind and generous to a fault, always sympathizing and aiding the unfortunate when possible. His health was good up to a short time ago, and he was quite active for one of his age — moving about the streets in a manner that would lead one to believe him to be not over 60 years old.
The sympathy of many friends goes out to the bereaved family.
