McGrath, William J. (MD) 1871-1946

MCGRATH, PARTRIDGE, RYAN, DALY, DOYLE, KELLY, RILEY EGAN

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 6/13/2024 at 19:39:56

Dr. W.J. McGrath, 74, local physician and surgeon, died of a heart attack early Monday morning in Warren, Ill., where he and Mrs. McGrath had gone Sunday to visit his sister, Mrs. P.J. Daly.

Funeral services were held at the home at 9:30 Wednesday morning and at St. Joseph's Catholic church at 10 a.m. The Rev. Father E.A. Fitzgerald officiated at the Requiem High Mass, assisted by the Rev. Vern Peters of McGregor. The Rev. E.A. Fitzgerald delivered the sermon. The Knights of Columbus marched in a body at the church.

Dr. McGrath had practiced in Elkader more than 50 years. He was president of the Clayton County Medical association for a number of years and held the same office in the Cedar Valley Medical association. In 1944 he was elected a vice-president of the state association.

During the entire period of World War II he served as physician on the Clayton county local draft board. Only last week he received a special medal and certificate of merit for this service. He also served in the same capacity during World War I.

The doctor was active in civic affairs and at the time of his death was president of the Central State Bank and Trust company. He was a member of St. Joseph's church and of the Knights of Columbus. In June last year the community honored his 50 years of service with a picnic attended by approximately 700 persons.

William Joseph McGrath was born at Wiota, Wis., on Oct. 17, 1871. The son of James and Mary Ryan McGrath, he received his early education in the Wiota schools and later attended the University of Valparaiso in Indiana, and was graduated from Rush medical school.

He came to Elkader in May 1895, and engaged in practice. On Jan. 12, 1898, he was married to Miss Helen Adelia Partridge of Argyle, Wis.

Surviving him are his wife; one son Malcolm; three grandchildren, Michael, Patricia and Terence of Madison, Wis.; four sisters, Mrs. A.H. Doyle, Huron, S.D.; Mrs. P.J. Daly, Warren, Ill.; Mrs. Joseph Kelly, Richland Center, Wis., and Mrs. W.J. Riley, Darlington, Wis.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, J.F. McGrath, Sayre, Okla., and John McGrath, Darlington, Wis.; and one sister, Mrs. John Egan, Butte, Mont.

~Clayton County Register, Thursday afternoon, April 11, 1946; pg 1