John Maher

MAHER, CALLAHAN

Posted By: Anne Hermann (email)
Date: 5/5/2010 at 07:35:30

History of Jackson County, Iowa, James W. Ellis, 1910

JOHN MAHER.

The farming and stock-raising interests of Jackson county find a worthy and successful representative in John Maher, who is the owner of a productive tract of land comprising two hundred and eighty-eight acres on sections 2 and 3, Fairfield township. He was born in County Kilkenny, Ireland, on the 1st of May, 1866, his parents being Robert and Katherine Maher, likewise natives of the Emerald isle. The father has passed away but the mother still survives and is yet a resident of County Kilkenny.
In May, 1881, when a lad of fifteen, John Maher crossed the Atlantic to the new world and came direct to Jackson county, Iowa. Finding immediate employment a necessity, he went to work as a farm hand for L. Powers, whom he served in that capacity for a period of twelve years. At the end of that time, by dint of unremitting industry and close economy, he had accumulated sufficient capital to enable him to become a landowner and in 1893 he bought his present farm of two hundred and eighty-eight acres on sections 2 and 3, Fairfield township. In addition to cultivating the various cereals best adapted to soil and climate he also devotes considerable attention to the raising of stock, and in both branches of his business has met with gratifying success. In his farming operations he has always followed practical and progressive methods and his place in all its equipments presents an attractive appearance. The prosperity which he now enjoys is all the more creditable by reason of the fact that it is due entirely to his own well directed labor and indefatigable energy, for he arrived in this country empty handed and in fact had been obliged to borrow his passage money. After taking up his abode in the United States he attended school for three winter seasons.
In 1898 Mr. Maher was united in marriage to Miss Helena B. Callahan, her father being John Callahan, an early settler of Clinton county. They now have five children, namely: Julia K.. Rose Mary, Helena B., Robert Joseph and John Edward, all of whom are at home.
Mr. Maher gives his political allegiance to the men and measures of the democracy and has acted in the capacity of road supervisor for four years. Fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America at Spragueville, and both he and his wife are faithful communicants of the Catholic church at Preston. They have an extensive circle of friends throughout the community and are highly esteemed for their many excellent traits of character. Mr. Maher has never had occasion to regret his determination to seek a home in the new world. Coming to Iowa in early life, he availed himself of the opportunities here offered, and as the years have passed he has steadily worked his way upward until his orderly progression has gained him rank with the substantial and respected residents of this county