PIERCE & BRIDGET MAHER.

As announced in a printed document sealed in the cornerstone, the [SS. Peter and Paul Catholic] church "is erected to the greater honor and glory of God by the generosity of Pierce Maher, and his wife, Bridget Maher. The cornerstone on this occasion was delivered by Rev. J. F. Nugent, of Des Moines."

The Pierce and Bridget Maher mentioned above were both natives of Ireland, and spent their early married life in Pennsylvania. They became residents of Cass county in 1858, and the following decade Mr. Maher spent as a hard-working, economical farmer of Brighton township; a soldier of the Union engaged in the trying service of border warfare, and a careful investor of his earnings in agricultural and city real estate. He died in Pasadena, Cal., whither he had gone for the benefit of his health, February 27, 1893, and his wife passed away in Atlantic, February 26, 1894. The death and will of Mr. Maher disclosed for the first time the munificence of his gift to the church, of which he and his wife were such devoted, but unobtrusive members. The property which he left it made possible the present beautiful edifice, and during the year that his wife survived him she also gave her earthly all to the church.

From "Compendium and History of Cass County, Iowa." Chicago: Henry and Taylor & Co., 1906, pg. 242.