Family History

This page will be dedicated to the Mahonys and Hickeys from the mid-1800s through the mid-1900s. It will include letters, photos, biographies, accomplishments, and obituaries. There was little reseach done here as most of these items have been in our possession for many years and passed down from generation to generation.

This first entry is a brief family history written by Ray Mahony, Jr. around 1990. Clearly he wanted to share and hopefully preserve this information for his children and future generations.

This entry is not about a blood relative but is someone who had a huge influence on Dennis Mahony’s success in America. He was a friend and mentor to Dennis and gave him the opportunity to advance himself when Irish immigrants were not always welcome.

Family photo of the Mahony family around 1900.
Pictured: Lititia Finn Mahony, Dennis W Mahony
Children (L to R): Eleanor Lititia, Abraham Lincoln, Arthur Sawyer, Raymund Leonard, Sarah (Sadie) Curran

Dennis Wallace Mahony 1861 to 1913

Dennis Mahony Biography

Dennis Mahony wass Postmaster of the Passaic Post Office in the early 1900s through his death in 1913. He is pictured in the front row 3rd from left.

This article appeared in the Passaic daily News on December 1, 1913 just aa few days after Dennis’s death. The article is lengthy and a little challenging to read but it is well wroth the effort.

Here is a related article on Dennis’s wife Lititia who was selected to complete the remained of his term as Postmaster which ended in 1914.

Arthur Sawyer Mahony 1892-1933

Arthur Sawyer Mahony Biography
Art’s 1914 senior picture at Bucknell

This article appeared in the NY Times in the fall of 1912.
In 1920 Eleanor Lititia Mahony, youngest child of Lititia and Dennis, married Paul Lymon Troast. Paul was a close friend with Eleanor’s brother Art. Paul and Art founded Mahony-Troast Construction Company in 1927. Art passed away in 1933 but Paul kept the name Mahony in honor of his wife and his friend.

You can see Paul Troast had a long and successful career.

Below are the key dates of Paul and Eleanor’s marriage and children.

Name: Paul Lyman Troast.
Born: Tuesday, November 19, 1895 in Saddle River Township, NJ, USA.
Deceased: Friday, July 21, 1972 in Clifton, NJ, USA at 76 years of age.
Parents: Jacob Aaron Troast and Catharine (Kitty) Lyman.

Married in 1920 in Yonkers, NY, USA with:
Name: Eleanor Letticia Mahony.
Born: Saturday, August 10, 1895 in NJ, USA.
Deceased: in 1965 at 69 years of age.
Parents: Dennis Wallace Mahony and Lettica Finn.

They had 4 children:

1. Name: Paul Lyman Troast Jr.
Born: 1921.
Married with:
Name: Helen Dunn.
Born: in 1920.

2. Name: Kathleen Joan Troast.
Born: 1924.
She married twice:
A. Name: Trygve Sletteland.
B. Name: Duncan Pitney.

3. Name: Arthur Lincoln Troast.
Born: 1928.
Married with:
Name: Geraldine Norton.

4. Name: John Gilpin Troast.
Born: ** ** **** in Passaic, NJ, USA.
Married with:
Name: Eileen Murphy.
Born: ** ** *** in Passaic, NJ, USA.

>Obituary for Lititia Finn Mahony 1861 to 1949 A strong and religious woman.

Article on Dennis Mahony marking 50 years since his passing

Hickey Family pictured taken in the early 1900s. From left to right: Frederick Hickey, Frances (Fanny), Dorothy (Dickie), Katherine (Kit), Charles (Chick), Marion, Alice, Russell, Alice Gregory Hickey.