James W. Maney
Encyclopedia
James W. Maney was an American
engineer
and railroad contractor
during the late 19th and early 20th century. He was an early resident of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
, helped to shape its development, and lived there most of his life. He built railroads throughout the West, invented a widely used earth-moving tool, and lived in a now-historic home.
. Both parents were Irish
and had immigrated from County Kerry, Ireland. The family later moved to Iowa
, where James grew up on a farm.
. By age 22 he had become a railroad contractor, which became his lifelong career. At the age of 22 he built three miles on the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad
in the state of Nebraska
. His next contract was in South Dakota
. When Oklahoma
was opened for settlement in 1889, Maney built the second railroad into the state. Within months of the opening of the territory, he settled in the area which would become Oklahoma City. By 1900 he was reputed to be "the largest railroad contractor in Oklahoma."
In addition to building railroads, he went into the mill and grain business, and bought large tracts of land in both rural Oklahoma and Oklahoma City. He also owned a controlling interest in the Jordan Valley Irrigation District in Oregon
and helped develop that land for agricultural purposes.
He was instrumental in the development and growth of Oklahoma City. He worked closely with Henry Overholser
and Anton Classen. He built a Victorian
mansion in downtown Oklahoma City, where he and his family resided until his death in 1945. The house was later used as the location of the offices for the Oklahoma Gazette
and is now a bed and breakfast
.
The Maney Historic District in Oklahoma City is named for him and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. His former house is described as the oldest and most architecturally unique house in the historic district.
He is known for his invention of an earth-moving tool called the Baker-Maney scraper, built by the Baker Manufacturing Company of Springfield, Illinois
. The original model is in the Smithsonian Institution
.
Maney joined the Knights of Columbus
, at the time a new society, and became Oklahoma's very first Grand Knight.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
engineer
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
and railroad contractor
General contractor
A general contractor is responsible for the day-to-day oversight of a construction site, management of vendors and trades, and communication of information to involved parties throughout the course of a building project.-Description:...
during the late 19th and early 20th century. He was an early resident of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
, helped to shape its development, and lived there most of his life. He built railroads throughout the West, invented a widely used earth-moving tool, and lived in a now-historic home.
Early life
On January 3, 1862 James William Maney was born to Michael Maney and Johanna Hartnet Maney in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. Both parents were Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
and had immigrated from County Kerry, Ireland. The family later moved to Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, where James grew up on a farm.
Career
At age 17, Maney began working for the Union Pacific RailroadUnion Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
. By age 22 he had become a railroad contractor, which became his lifelong career. At the age of 22 he built three miles on the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad
Burlington and Missouri River Railroad
The Burlington and Missouri River Railroad was an American railroad company incorporated in Iowa in 1852, with headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska. It was developed to build a railroad across the state of Iowa and began operations in 1856...
in the state of Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
. His next contract was in South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
. When Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
was opened for settlement in 1889, Maney built the second railroad into the state. Within months of the opening of the territory, he settled in the area which would become Oklahoma City. By 1900 he was reputed to be "the largest railroad contractor in Oklahoma."
In addition to building railroads, he went into the mill and grain business, and bought large tracts of land in both rural Oklahoma and Oklahoma City. He also owned a controlling interest in the Jordan Valley Irrigation District in Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
and helped develop that land for agricultural purposes.
He was instrumental in the development and growth of Oklahoma City. He worked closely with Henry Overholser
Henry Overholser
Henry Overholser was an Oklahoma businessman, county commissioner, and important contributor to the development of Oklahoma City. He was the first to erect two-story buildings in the city, both of which were torn down in 1907...
and Anton Classen. He built a Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
mansion in downtown Oklahoma City, where he and his family resided until his death in 1945. The house was later used as the location of the offices for the Oklahoma Gazette
Oklahoma Gazette
The Oklahoma Gazette is a weekly multi-award-winning independent paper distributed throughout Oklahoma City. It covers statewide news dealing with topics such as theater, music, and sports...
and is now a bed and breakfast
Bed and breakfast
A bed and breakfast is a small lodging establishment that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast, but usually does not offer other meals. Since the 1980s, the meaning of the term has also extended to include accommodations that are also known as "self-catering" establishments...
.
The Maney Historic District in Oklahoma City is named for him and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. His former house is described as the oldest and most architecturally unique house in the historic district.
He is known for his invention of an earth-moving tool called the Baker-Maney scraper, built by the Baker Manufacturing Company of Springfield, Illinois
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
. The original model is in the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
.
Maney joined the Knights of Columbus
Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in the United States in 1882, it is named in honor of Christopher Columbus....
, at the time a new society, and became Oklahoma's very first Grand Knight.