William J. Maher

One of the best known of the younger attorneys of Washington County is William J. Maher, of Blair, an honored native son who has always tried to measure up to the standard of correct manhood and this locality is proud to number him among its progressive and representative men, having always maintained his home here. In all the relations of life he has proved true to every trust reposed in him and no one is worthier of the high esteem in which he is held. William J. Maher was born in Blair, Washington County, Nebraska, on October 25, 1894, and is the son of James E. and Grace A. (Hayes) Maher, both of whom also are natives of Washington County and are now living in Blair. James E. Maher was born in October 27, 1858, and is the son of William and Catherine (Walsh) Maher, both of whom were natives of Ireland. The father was born in 1824 and died on May 7, 1888, and the mother who was born in 1824, died in 1891. William and Catherine Maher were married at Davenport, Iowa, where they first settled after coming to this country, and in that city he ran a hotel for two years. In 1858 he came to Washington County, Nebraska, and homesteaded a farm, on which he lived for about six years, at the end of that time moving into Blair, where they spent the remainder of their lives. They were members of the Roman Catholic Church and in politics he was a democrat. He served as a member of the City Council and also on the School Board for several years in Blair. Of the six children born to them, four are living, namely: Mrs. R. A. Heaton of Wahoo, Nebraska; James E., father of William J., of this sketch; Mary, the widow of J. T. Powers, living at Muskogee, Oklahoma; Lizzie, the wife of Fred Cunningham of Muskogee. James E. Maher was educated in the public schools of Blair and on attaining mature years he engaged in the mercantile business, which occupied his efforts for a number of years. He was successful in business and in 1897 retired from the mercantile business and now gives his attention to his farms, several of which he owns in this locality. In 1890 he was married to Grace Hayes, who was born and reared in Blair, the daughter of Patrick Hayes, who was born in Ireland and came to Blair in 1869, when the town was first started. He ran a lumber yard here for a number of years and was successful in his business affairs. To James E. and Grace Maher were born seven children, namely: Ruth, the wife of Reed O’Hanlon of Blair, William J., of this sketch; Roland, who is a student in the law department of Georgetown University at Washington, D.C.; Robert who graduated from the Blair High School in the spring of 1920; Charlotte, who is attending St. Mary’s Academy, Notre Dame, Indiana; James and Margaret. The family are identified with the Catholic Church and in politics James E. Maher is a democrat. He has taken an active part in public affairs and served for eleven years as a member of the Board of County Commissions and twenty-four years as a member of the School Board. William J. Maher attended the public schools of Blair, followed by a year’s attendance at the University of Nebraska, and then was a student in Creighton College, where he was graduated in 1916, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. Immediately thereafter he formed a law partnership with Clark O’Hanlon and has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession continuously since. As a lawyer he has won the reputation of a safe and sound practitioner, and by a straightforward, honorable course he has built up a good legal business, being considered one of the leaders of the Washington County bar. In 1915 Mr. Maher was married to Winifred Donahue, who was born in Omaha, Nebraska, and they have one child, John Joseph. They are members of the Catholic Church and Mr. Maher is a member of the Knights of Columbus. He is also a member of the Gamma Eta Gamma, a college law fraternity. In every respect he merits the high esteem in which he is universally held, for he is a man of public spirit, professional ability and exemplary character.

Source: History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska And Their People, Volumes I & II, pages 777-778, Ed. Rev. William H. Buss, Fremont, Thomas T. Osterman, Blair. The American Historical Society, Chicago, 1921.