CAPTAIN BRADLEY MAHANA

Bradley Mahana was born Sep 1, 1806 in Hopwood, Fayette County, PA a son of John and Nancy Mahanna. John was a wagon maker by trade. On Sep 1, 1827 in Waynesburg, Greene County PA, Bradley married Catherine Seals, daughter of Captain James Seals and Sarah Elizabeth Brown. Bradley and Catherine were the parents of eleven children. Refer to the Descendants of John Mahanna for a list of the children.

Bradley Mahana was a man of many talents. He was a painter, a carpenter, a wood carver, an accomplished military leader, and was on the founding Board of Trustees of Waynesburg Presbyterian College. See sign photo below:

Bradley Mahana had a woodworking shop on Greene Street in Waynesburg. He was commissioned to carve a statue of General Nathaniel Greene which was placed at the top of the Greene County Courthouse and was displayed there for 75 years until it was destroyed by fire when the courthouse burned in 1925. See the following article from Westward of ye Laurel Hills 1750-1850 by Helen Vogt.

In November of 1849 the Greene County Grand Jury recommended a new courthouse to be built….. Authorities admired the neighboring colonial style courthouse erected in Fayette County in 1847…… There was a feature of the Fayette County Courthouse that appealed to the Greene County Commissioners and that was the large statue of Lafayette mounted on the cupola. David Blythe, the eccentric artist…., had carved the figure of Lafayette for $125. When the Greene County commissioners asked Blythe for a figure for a similar stature of Nathaniel Greene, the artist, elated by the praise for his first statue, said he would make one for $300. This was just too much so the commissioners told Blythe his price was too high and anyway “We have some good woodcarvers who will ‘do’ General Greene for $100.” They had in mind redheaded Bradley Mahanna (Mahana) who ran a little woodworking shop on Greene Street not far from the old log courthouse.

Working from a sketch made by the German Dominicas Haas, whose original trade was pointing and fitting German clocks brought to this country in the rough to avoid duty, Bradley made the statue from Poplar plank… The statue was carved in Mahanna’s log shop and was nine feet high. In the ca. 1875 photograph of the courthouse, there is a ladder up to the dome on the cupola with a man apparently painting or repairing the wooden figure that stood another fifty years, when the December 24, 1925, Waynesburg Republican reported: “The worst fire in the history of Waynesburg! Took the Hotel Downey….then a strong west wind blew so the cupola of the Courthouse caught fire, which with the wooden statue of General Greene was soon a burning mass and fell to the ground.”

The drawing below of General Nathaniel Greene was by John F. Pauley for the 1926 wooden statue that replaced the one carved by Bradley Mahana.

Bradley Mahana and family moved to Iowa City, Iowa in April 1855 where he became a painting contractor. In 1861, at the start of the Civil War, he formed the first Iowa Company of soldiers. He was presented a sword by the City of Iowa City.


Captain Bradley Mahana	Statute on Cupola	Sign at Waynesburg College

Mahana monument at Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City, IA		Drawing of General Greene	Sword given by City of Iowa City, IA

We see by the Iowa City Republican that Captain B. Mahana, formerly a citizen of this place (Waynesburg), left Iowa City for the site of the war. Before his departure a splendid sword was presented to Captain Mahana on behalf of the citizens, in presence of an immense crowd that had assembled to witness the departure of the soldiers. Below we give the presentation speeches.

Captain Mahana, the pleasant duty has been assigned to me in the name and behalf of the donors, to present to you this beautiful sword, which I now hold in my hand. In this manner the donors desire to manifest to you and the gallant volunteers who have placed themselves under your command, their entire confidence in your courage and patriotism, and in full conviction that it will be employed in your hands to uphold the Constitution and the laws and vindicate the wounded honor of the nation. They present to you as a leader of a gallant band of knights, going forth to do battle in the defense of our country, under the Star Spangled Banner, which our fathers have borne triumphantly through every crisis and who, animated by their courage, inspired by their flexible obedience to the calls of duty, will return, like their ancestors, covered by no scars but those received in honorable battle, and for which an ample recompense has been paid. But this is no time for words. The time for action has arrived; and I have only to add in conclusion that the hopes and prayers of your neighbors and friends now assembled around you, to cheer you with their presence and bid you God speed, will go with you and follow you and your men wherever you may go, not doubting but that the Washington Guards will be true to the name they bear, and give an honorable account of themselves, and under all circumstances. I now, sire, deliver to you this sword.

I beg you to receive my heartfelt thanks. I will endeavor so to use this sword that it shall not be a source of regret to those who have been so generous as to donate it.

See photo of sword above. It is now in the possession of Joyce John Baum, a great great granddaughter of Captain Mahana.

The Rev. O. O. McLean then stepped forward and addressed the Captain in about these words:

Captain Mahana, I bid you farewell in the name of all the churches of God’s people, and this community.

The following article was printed in the Iowa State Press, Iowa City, Iowa on September 16, 1874:

Captain Bradley Mahana, who died at his residence in this city (Iowa City, Iowa) on last Friday morning (September 11, 1874), was born in Hopwood, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, March 1, 1806. Early in life he removed to Waynesburg, PA where he resided until he came to Iowa. He was married to Miss Catherine Seals on September 1, 1827. From 1842 until 1855 he served as captain of the Waynesburg Blues, attached to the Highland Brigade of Pennsylvania. Captain Mahana also served as Brigade Inspector of the 4^th Brigade of Pennsylvania. In April 1855 he removed with his family to this city. In 1861, when the three months call for men was made, Captain Mahana responded promptly to the call. His company was the first one raised in the State (of Iowa); but from certain jealousies or some other reason, his company was made Company B instead of Company A as it deserved.

His company was accepted by the Governor and marched at once to the front. When the three months had expired he returned home and immediately formed another company, was elected its captain, which position he held until the close of the war.

After returning from his brief southern campaign, his company was ordered to proceed to Ft. Randall (South Dakota), where he remained almost a year. His company, together with three others were ordered to proceed up the Missouri River and establish a fort which was afterwards known as Ft. Pierre. Here he remained until June 1863. During the winter he heard that a tribe of Indians quite a distance away, had several children which they had captured during the Minnesota Massacre. He desired to liberate the children, and arranged with three Indians to take a number of ponies and other articles to the distant tribe to trade for the little captives. They bargained for and bought one of the children, Malinda Ingals, by giving three ponies for her, but no inducements would tempt them to give up the others.

In June the Captain and his company joined Sulley’s expedition against the Indians, and went to Crow Creek Agency, and thence to the White Stone Hills. His company afterwards returned to the Missouri River and established what is now Ft. Sulley; after which the company proceeded up the river and established Ft. Rice. The expedition then proceeded to Hart Mountains where they corraled the stock and marched five days, when upon the 26^th of August, they overtook the Indians, consisting of, it is estimated 7,000 warriors. Previous to the meeting of the two combatants, the Indians had sent word to our boys that they were coming, and that they need not run down their horses, but travel moderately, as they expect to soon meet the whites, kill the soldiers and roast and eat the officers. The Captain, to this startling intelligence, remarked that “they would find tough picking when they came to him.” The killing process was, however, mostly on the other side. The Iowa and Minnesota brigades in which Captain Mahana’s company was one of the advance guards, engaged the Indians, driving them before them, killing 127 of their numbers, camping upon their own campground, burning their property and scaring the balance of the redskins out their existence.

After a long sojourn in the mountainous regions of the Northwest, during which time he experienced dangers and privations of many kinds, he and his gallant comrades returned and were mustered out of service at Sioux City on November 1^st 1864, to go on their many ways, ever bearing in mind the sacred ties of dependence and humanity which bound them together, and remembering their leader as a brave and merciful soldier and a true and honest man.

The Captain was a bright zealous, and old Mason, having been made one nearly forty years ago. At one time he was District Deputy Grand Master of Pennsylvania, and was frequently honored with important positions of trust in the various Lodges, Chapters, and Commandries to which he had belonged. He was a worthy brother, and excellent companion and valiant and magnanimous Sir Knight.

He was converted and joined the M. E. Church at an early age and for many years led an exemplary Christian life, most loved and respected by those who knew him best.

He was taken suddenly ill on the 31^st of August and quietly and peacefully passed away at 4 o’clock AM on the 11^th of September 1874. Although he suffered much during his sickness, yet he was patient and perfectly resigned. The Saviour, whom he loved and trusted in life, was his support in the hour of need. A friend standing at his bedside a short time before he expired asked: “Captain, is all well?” He replied is his peculiar emphatic manner, “Oh! Yes.”

The mortal part of him, who now sleeps in the silent city, was accompanied to its last resting place by a long train of friends, and laid in its narrow home by that beloved brotherhood of light, who believe that this earth is not man’s abiding place, that life is not a bubble cast upon the ocean of eternity to float a moment, and then to sink into nothingness. His immortal part has gone to fill a higher and nobler destiny than that of earth in that bright realm where it matters not, where the rainbow never fades; where the stars will spread out before our immortal vision like the islands that slumber on the bosom of the ocean, and where the beautiful imaginary beings which here flit before us, like shadows, will remain forever with us.

CAPTAIN BRADLEY MAHANA, was born March 1, 1806 in Hopwood, Fayette County, PA; died September 11, 1874 in Iowa City, Iowa. He was married September 1, 1827 to Miss Catherine Seals of Waynesburg, PA. This union was blessed with the following children: Amanda M., wife of John D. Patterson of Greene County PA; John O., a dry goods merchant and President of Western Mutual Aid Association at Des Moines, IA; James S., a merchant in Iowa City; Harriett, a young lady who died at Waynesburg, PA; Sada V., wife of M. R. Luse, boot and shoe merchant of Iowa City; Richard, who lives in Beatrice, NE; William D., who lives in Davenport, IA, an express messenger on the CRI&P Railroad; Bradley B., a merchant, living in Iowa City, and partner with James in the Paint store; Frank, a painter living in Iowa City, Kitty, age fifteen who died in Iowa City. (Note: A daughter, Nancy, named for Bradley’s mother, was born 10 Dec 1833 and died 23 Jul 1834.)

Captain Mahana resided in Waynesburg, PA from 1827 to 1855 and settled in Iowa City in April 1855. He was a democrat in politics. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Iowa City. He was fond of military life. He was commissioned Captain of the Washington Blues and was attached to the Highland Brigade of Pennsylvania by Governor D. R. Porter in 1842. He was again commissioned in 1849 by Governor W. F. Johnson and again by Governor Bigelow in 1854. He was Brigade Inspector of the State of Pennsylvania for fourteen years. His long military service under the militia organization of Pennsylvania qualified him with the tact, skill, and military experience needed in his duties in the late civil war. When the war for the preservation of the Union was necessary, he was among the first to offer his sword and service in defense of the Federal union and the stars and stripes. He was Captain of a volunteer company in Iowa City. His services were accepted by the Governor and he marched to the front under the “75,000” call, and was in Company B, First Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry.

At the expiration of the enlistment, he came back to Iowa City and raised another company, and was elected its captain; and was assigned to Company B fourteenth regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry; then became Company B, forty first Infantry; and May 14, 1863, was transferred to and became Company L, seventh regiment Iowa Volunteer Cavalry; was discharged November 30, 1864.