Published in the Pilot July 21, 1926

The community was greatly shocked last Friday morning to learn of the death of James E. Maher at 1 o’clock that morning of acute heart trouble. He had an attack the night before but it wasn’t thought serious as he had been about town as usual every day. The funeral service was conducted by Father Beyersdorfer at St. Francis Catholic Church at 10 o’clock Monday morning and was very largely attended, for he had many loyal and devoted friends among his acquaintances in the county. He had been a member of the Blair Volunteer Fire Department since the department was organized and a delegation of fireman acted as an escort for the casket from the house to the church and back to city hall. Mr. Maher was born at Cuming City October 27th, 1858 so was nearing his 68th birthday. When Blair was started in 1869 his family moved here and this had been his home ever since, about 57 years. His father conducted what was known as the Maher Hotel for many years, later he started a general store in which J. E. became a partner, running the store for several years after his father’s death. Still later Mr. Maher went into stock buying and feeding business that occupied his attention for some 20 years. In recent years he has looked after his farms and was secretary of the Grange and Farmers Mutual Insurance Co. of Washington and Burt counties. For 24 consecutive years he served as a member of the school board and for 11 years as a member of the county board, 10 years as chairman. This record of public service shows something of the esteem in which he was held as a citizen. The large attendance at the funeral service shows how much he was beloved by his friends and neighbors. He is survived by his widow, four sons. Wm. J., Robert M. and James of Blair, and Roland of St. Louis, also three daughters, Mrs. Reed O’Hanlon, Charlotte, and Margaret, of this city. Two sisters survive him, Mrs. Robert Heaton, of Wahoo, and Mrs. Frederick Cunningham, of Longview, Washington.

Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clipping on file at the Blair Public Library.