11-26-01

Few family lineages go back as far as the Mohon Family of Aubrey as documented in the old newspapers I have available in my collection. This family has been in Aubrey about as long as history is recorded.

The information I have was published in an old Aubrey Argus that was printed on April 27, 1928 when Charles W. Burch was the editor and proprietor. His office and printing shop was located in the Magnolia Building which is located at the corner of Main and Elm Street. The newspaper was published every Friday and was entered as a second class matter on February 18, 1927 at the Post Office at Aubrey, Texas in an act of March 3, 1879.

Mr. James Alexander Mohon was born on September 17, 1841 at Anniston, Alabama. He came to Onega in Texas sometime before 1869. His family of nine children lived in Onega during their early childhood.

James Thomas (James Alexander’s son) was born September 5, 1867, and he died on October 27, 1947. He was an early day blacksmith owner and operator. He is the grandfather to Ida Mae, J.T., Carrol, Bud, Cecil,and Bill (and many others that I can’t recall at this moment) Mohon.

But the point that I want to make is that there are seven generations of Mohon natives in Aubrey from James Alexander Mohon. Many of his descendants still live in and around Aubrey.

This is a large family of descendants in the making of the community. They have been involved in law enforcement, farming and many other enterprises. Their contribution to the livelihood of the citizens of this village from its early beginnings have been a part of the growth of the area.

I can recall as a very young boy, the banging and pounding of the hot metal being formed into many different farm and home implements at the Mohon Blacksmith shop. As a youngster, I spent many hours holding my distance from the hot splattering of the red molten metal scattering in all directions, but soon a wagon axle or buggy axle could be seen taking shape, as well as the sharpening of plows used in the farming.

I would watch as Mr. Mohon formed the metal into whatever object he was intending into the finished product. He would heat it up into a bright red piece of metal and in just a few seconds, he would hold the hot object under water until it was cool enough to touch. I can recall the importance of the hot metal going into the vat of water, and as it was cooled it became a hardened and easily sharpened plow, knife, hoe, wheel or some other sort of tool. The case hardening was a special art that required the knowledge of just how hot to heat the object and estimate the temperature of the metal and when it went into the water to be quickly cooled it acquired the exact tempered metal and shape. This same process was repeated until the tool was formed exactly as Mr. Mohon wanted.

Every single day some member or descendant of the James Alexander Mohon family still patronizes the business in Aubrey. It is the same loyalty that keeps business going and growing.

We can never give enough credit to the people that made up the blacksmith trade. This was one of the most important parts of the daily living and an absolute necessity to area citizens.

I was recently talking to Ida Mae as she is up on the family history. She recalls the ancestors mentioning that their lineage went back to the Black Dutch.

I want to print an old obituary instead of a photo the week of James Alexander Mohon. The obituary lists the survivors as they were upon his death. I would like to add to this information at a later date.

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