MAHANNAH, Fred

MAHANNAH, MEEKER, SWANEY, MCKINSTRY

Posted By: Jennifer Gunderson (email)
Date: 3/13/2021 at 23:29:10

Of the various professions and pursuits to which men devote their time and energies, not one is of more vital importance than that which deals with the education of the child. Iowa is particularly fortunate in having among her educators men who have attained the front rank in their professional labors, noteworthy among the number being Fred Mahannah, county superintendent of the schools of Cerro Gordo county. A man of broad intellectuality, energetic and progressive, he is an enthusiastic worker and has greatly advanced the status of the schools under his control since assuming his present position. A native born citizen of Iowa, his birth occurred August 18, 1874, at North English Iowa county.

His father, E. C. Mahannah, was born in 1834 in Ohio, and was there brought up and educated. Coming with his family to Iowa at a comparatively early day, he settled at North English, where he bought land and was actively engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, in 1900. His wife, whose maiden name was Matilda Meeker, was born in 1845 in New York state, and is now living at North English, Iowa. Nine children were born to them, six of whom are living, as follows: Wilford, of Fargo, North Dakota; Elmer, of Harper, Kansas; Wirtie, wife of A. McKinstry of North English, Iowa; Fred, with whom this sketch is chiefly concerned; Lew, of Keswick, Iowa; and Albert twin brother of Lew, of North English.

Acquiring the rudiments of his future education in the district schools, Fred Mahannah completed the full course of study in the North English high school with the class of 1893, and five years later was graduated from Cornell College. Beginning his professional career in the country, he taught one term in a district school, receiving twenty dollars a month for his services and gaining in the meantime experience of great value. He was subsequently assistant principal at the North English high school two years, from there coming—in the fall of 1901—to Cerro Gordo county to accept a position as principal of the Rockwell schools. Meeting with excellent success in that capacity, Mr. Mahannah was connected with the Rockwell schools five full years, retiring from the principalship in the fall of 1906 to assume his present position as county superintendent of schools, an office to which he was re-elected in 1908, and again in the fall of 1910 he was re-elected for a third term. At the fifty-sixth annual session of the Iowa State Teachers’ Association held in Des Moines in November, 1910, Mr. Mahannah was elected president for the ensuing year and was also appointed as a member of a Special Legislative Committee for the State Association.

Mr. Mahannah is a man of strong individuality, brilliant in intellect and power, extremely earnest in purpose, and is popular alike with the pupils, the teaching force of the county, and with the patrons and friends of the public schools within his jurisdiction.

Mr. Mahannah married, July 10, 1901, Edith Gertrude Swaney who was born in Kellogg, Iowa, February 10, 1878. Mrs. Mahannah is a woman of culture and talent, a graduate of Grinnell College in the class of 1899, and now serving as deputy county superintendent of the Cerro Gordo county schools.

Politically Mr. Mahannah is a staunch Republican. Fraternally he belongs to Wilcox Camp, No. 709, M. W. A. and to Cerro Gordo Lodge, No. 70, K. of P.

Source: WHEELER, J. H. History of Cerro Gordo County, Iowa. Vol. II. Lewis Publ. Co. Chicago. 1910. Transcribed by Jennifer Gunderson (Mar 2021)