Maher, Patrick Joseph 1858 - 1928

MAHER, CLEARY, IVORY, ALLEN, MCSHANE, ZAPF, HENRY, WELCH, FITZPATRICK, QUINN, SIEGEL, BOLAND

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 8/5/2021 at 20:31:25

Clayton County Register, 03 Jan. 1929. Front Page.

Patrick Joseph Maher, son of Michael and Catherine Cleary Maher, was born in Queen's county, Ireland, on Aug. 5, 1858, and died in Elkader, Iowa, on Dec. 28, 1928, after a brief illness.

His father was a check-weaver so had to spend a great deal of his time in England, as the mills were closed in Ireland. At the age of twenty-one, the subject of this sketch emigrated to America, going to Philadelphia where he lived with cousins for several years.

In about 1884 he came to Strawberry Point, Iowa, later going to Minneapolis, Minn., where he lived for several years. In October, 1888, he was united in marriage with Katie C. Ivory, daughter of James and Catherine Ivory of Strawberry Point. Nine children blessed this union, two preceding him in death, Alice, who died in infancy, and Genevieve, Sister Mary Concepta, who died in November, 1918.

In March, 1899, he moved to Elkader, from his farm in Cox Creek township to the home where he lived until his death.

On January 28, 1905, a great blow fell upon him in the death of his beloved wife, Katie. After her death he took up the tremendous task of rearing and educating his eight motherless children. He lived to see them settled in life, keeping for them the same solicitous affection he gave them when they were young and has left them a (next several words blurred) which will enable them to live up to the high ideals he had for them.

He was a life-long member of the Catholic church and had a deep and abiding love for the church and was well versed in the tenets of his religion. He was active in the work of the Men's Catholic Order of Foresters and the Knights of Columbus, ever having the good of these organizations at heart.

He leaves to mourn his passing seven sorrowing children all of whom were present at the funeral. They are: Mrs. S. H. Allen, Chicago, Ill.; Mrs. B. J. McShane, Lincoln, Nebr.; Ivory J. Maher, Tulsa, Okla.; Mrs. C. A. Zapf of Volga, Iowa; Paul G. and Joseph A., of Houston, Texas, and Luella M., who made her home with her father. Also four grandchildren, Alice Marie Zapf, and Jack, Catherine and James McShane, and a host of relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held at St. Joseph's church, Elkader, on Dec. 31, 1928, with Requiem High Mass celebrated by Rev. J. P. Taken, after which he spoke words of consolation to the mourning children and to his brother lodge-members.

The choir very fittingly rendered "One Sweetly Solemn Thought" at the Offertory and "When the Work is Done."

The pall-bearers were Chris Larson, D. E. Gleason, J. K. Molumby, F. J. Uriell, C. F. Murphy and E. C. Fitzpatrick. The K. of C. and Foresters marched in a body to the church and to St. Joseph cemetery, where interment took place.

The relatives attending from out of town were: S. H. Allen, B. J. McShane and C. A. Zapf, Mr. and Mrs. D. J. Ivory and family, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Henry and family, Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Ivory, J. A. Welch, Mr. and Mrs. M. Fitzpatrick, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Quinn, Mrs. Helen Siegel, Mr. and Mrs. Will Boland, Lawrence Boland.