Category: People

Richard McMahon (1826-1894) was the first keeper of the Poorhouse. He was living in North Waterloo in the 1851 census. He was married to Diane McMahon (Nee Dekay) ( 1836-1899) in 1857 and they are listed as living together in North Waterloo in the 1861 census. Diane and Richard had a daughter, Ida McMahon, Born November 2, 1863. Ida worked as the second librarian at the Kitchener library for many years. She was married to Richard Cram in 1902, however the marriage did not last long as Richard went on to remarry. Ida McMahon died on May 6, 1936.     Richard was offered the position of Poorhouse Keeper in 1869 at a salary of 400 dollars a year. The letter from Israel Bowman reads:   Mr. Richard McMahon Bridgeport Dear Sir,         I have the honor to inform you that you were this day appointed, to the Office of Keeper to the House of Industry and Refuge, by the Corporation of the County of Waterloo – at an annual salary of three hundred dollars with board and lodging at the expense of the said Corporation –         I enclose herewith the form of declaration you are required to make before myself or any magistrate – the same to be filed in my Office. I am D sir, Your obdt serv Israel D. Bowman County Clerk   His wife, Diane, was...