Maher, William H.

MAHER, FINERTY, BUTLER, BASING

Posted By: Roseanna Zehner
Date: 7/23/2006 at 19:30:39

MAHER, WILLIAM H.

William H. Maher is the oldest resident settler of Midland Township, and is noted as one of the most extensive farmers in his neighborhood. He is a recognized power in local affairs.

Mr. Maher was born in Waushara County, Wisconsin March 31, 1869, being the eighth member of a family of nine children born to John and Ann (Finerty) Maher; both are living and have their home in Ellsworth, Minnesota. They were natives respectively of counties Tipperary and Galway, Ireland, and were emigrants to this country when quite young. They were married in Massachusetts. The father settled in Wisconsin at an early date, and was a pioneer in the county where our subject was born. There he was engaged in clearing a rough and stony farm, when he heard of the vast level prairies of northwestern Iowa through relatives, where farms could be obtained almost for the fencing. In 1882 he came to Lyon County and bought land in Midland Township in the spring of that year.

William H. Maher was then but a lad of thirteen years of age, yet he recalls the fact that his father made a payment of eight hundred and fifty dollars on the land, exhausting all his resources, and leaving only his horses and farm implements. At the end of his first season, after his threshing, he had the misfortune to lose by fire all his grain and barns. Taking this heavy loss, coupled with the large indebtedness on the place, young William was compelled to assist his father from an early age, and this fact operated to deprive him of the schooling he should have had, a fact that Mr. Maher very much regrets. This is a part of the expense the pioneers often paid for securing land in its native sod, when they left old and established communities to seek homes on the frontier. The first home of the Maher family was on section 35, now known as the Boomgarden place.

In 1892 William H. Maher was married and made his home in Ellsworth, farming the land where he now lives. The advance in farm values has made the family well off, and they are now independent in township affairs, beginning from the time that Liberal, Grant, Elgin and Midland Townships were united in one organization. In 1885 when Midland Township was organized it was Democratic, which it has been to the present time. Mr. Maher belongs to the Catholic Order of Foresters, and is a member of the Catholic Church. He is now serving his second term as town clerk.

Mr. Maher was married to Miss Elizabeth Butler in 1892. She is a daughter of Kern and Mary (Basing) Butler. She taught school in Minnesota, and was a lady of more than usual attainments. A sister of Mr. Maher taught the first school in Midland Township. She came to this section before the rest of the family, and made her own place in the community.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Maher are Mary; Ann; William; Irene; Gertrude; John and Kern. James Maher, brother of William H., was auditor of the Iowa, Minnesota & Dakota Grain Company in the early days.

Mr. Maher began feeding cattle for the market four years ago and two years ago in company with the neighbors sent trainload consignments to England.

Source: Compendium of History Reminiscence and Biography of Lyon County, Iowa. Published under the Auspices of the Pioneer Association of Lyon County. Geo. Monlun, Pres.; Hon. E. C. Roach Sec’y; and Col. F. M. Thompson, Historian. Geo. A. Ogle & CO., Published, Engravers and Book Manufacturers. Chicago, 1904-1905

Transcribed by Roseanna Zehner, Darlene Jacoby and Diane Johnson