William Maher 1832-1906

MAHER, DONAHUE, COYNE

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 8/27/2010 at 16:42:31

Pioneer Is Called

William Maher Died in Chicago Hospital Saturday Morning

Came to Emmet County in 1855

Submitted to an Operation For Cancer Last Wednesday--Remains Buried at Emmetsburg Yesterday

William Maher, one of the pioneer settlers of Emmet county, died at 3:30 o'clock Saturday morning at the Augustana hospital in Chicago, whence he had gone on Wednesday of last week to submit to an operation for cancer of the neck and throat. He rallied from the effects of the operation and was apparently getting along well, when he became suddenly worse Saturday morning and expired in a short time. His death was probably due to his weakened condition and an affectation of the heart.

The remains were brought back to Estherville Monday morning, being in charge of Edward Donahue, a nephew of the deceased who had accompanied him to Chicago. The funeral services were held at St. Patrick's church at 8:30 o'clock yesterday morning, conducted by Rev. Father J. R. Daly, after which the remains were taken to Emmetsburg for interment in the Catholic cemetery at that place, beside his father, sister and other relatives.

Mr. Maher was the son of John Maher and Bridget Coyne and was born in County Kildare, Ireland, in 1832 and came to America with his parents fifty-five years ago. Fifty-one years ago the family came with the colony of Irish emigrants from Fort Dodge who settled in Palo Alto and Emmet counties and the deceased made his home near Mud lake in what is now High Lake township for ten years, then moving to the Soda Bar neighborhood, south of Emmetsburg, where he lived with his brother Frank and sister Mary. After the death of the latter five years ago the brothers moved to Estherville where they have since resided on East Robert street. He is survived by four brothers and one sister, the latter being Mrs. Ann Donahue of this city. The brothers are John, aged eighty-six, of New York; Frank, aged eighty-three, of this city; Thomas, aged eighty, of High Lake township; James, aged sixty-five, who resides in the state of Oregon. Another brother, Patrick, and a sister, Mary, died several years ago. He was never married.

William Maher was a man of many fine qualities, a member of that band of hardy pioneers who blazed the way for civilization in northern Iowa. He enjoyed an extensive acquaintance and none knew him but to esteem him highly. The many friends will miss his cheery salutation and to the brother who had been his companion for many years and is now left alone in the declining years of his life and to the other relatives is extended the sympathy of the community.

--The Estherville Enterprise (Estherville, Iowa) 3 October 1906

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Passing of Pioneer
William Maher Died in Chicago Saturday Last.
Old Settler of Emmet
Funeral Services Were Held Here Tuesday Morning--
Taken to Emmetsburg for Burial

On Saturday morning at three-thirty o'clock in the Augustana hospital Chicago occurred the death of William Maher, one of the very old settlers of Emmet county and well known among the older inhabitants of this community. For about two years he had ailed from an abnormal growth in the left jaw and which during the last few months had become very painful. On Saturday, a week ago, he decided to go to Chicago to consult with eminent authorities there as to the nature of this disease and to secure relief from it if possible. Accordingly on Monday the 24th last and in company with his nephew he left for that city. An examination revealed the true nature of the disease and which was diagnosed as cancer and that an operation was immediately necessary as the only resource in saving his life. This was done at noon on Wednesday last and which the patient passed in seeming safety and for a day or two seemed to be doing well. Re-action sat in rather suddenly Friday night and early Saturday morning the end was reached.

Deceased was a native of county Kildare, Ireland, and was the fifth child in a family of eight sons and daughters born to John Maher and Bridget Coyne. About 56 years ago the family immigrated to the United States settling for a few years in the New England country and thence took up the westward trail. The subject of this sketch landed in Emmet county and in the locality of Mud Lake fifty-one years ago last July 4th,

During the subsequent ten years he made his home in High Lake township moving to a place in Palo Alto county at the time known as Soda Bar about forty years ago. With his brother Francis, his senior in years, and his sister Mary, now deceased, they took up the burdens of early settlers and began the building of a home. They prospered well and owned a nice tract of land which he sold a few years ago and came to Estherville with his brother, Francis, to be near their sister, Mrs. Donahue and looked after by her.

William Maher was a good man, honest and true with everybody. He always had a good word for everybody and was most solicitous of his friends. He was indeed a rare old gentleman of the old school. The funeral was held from St. Patrick's church Tuesday morning and the burial was made in Emmetsburg's St. Johns Cemetery where the remains of his father, sister and other relatives repose.

Contributed by Ruth Hackett.

Source: Estherville Democrat, Oct. 3, 1906.