Bio of McGRATH, William Henry (b.1881), Hennepin Co., MN
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EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; 
Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. 
Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); 
volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical
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Vol III, pg 424-427
WILLIAM HENRY McGRATH
William Henry McGrath, attorney at law, has realized from the outset of his
career that advancement at the bar depends not upon outside aid or influence but
upon individual merit and worth and he has never failed to give a thorough
preparation or to qualify in every particular for the strong and forceful
presentation of his cause before the court. Thus he is making steady progress in
his chosen calling and adding to the excellent reputation which has always been
borne by the bench and bar of Minnesota. He was born in Stillwater, this state,
July 6, 1881, and is a son of John and Mary Ann (Kain) McGrath, the father a
native of County Wicklow, Ireland, while the mother was born in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania. It was in the year 1852 that John McGrath came to the United
States, establishing his home in Wayne county, Pennsylvania, near Holmesdale,
where he worked on a farm and afterward became a logging contractor. He was a
veteran of the Civil war and was wounded in the leg at the battle of the
Wilderness, but recovered from his injury and after the war continued his
residence in the Keystone state until 1878, when he sought the opportunities of
the growing Northwest and removed to Stillwater, Minnesota, where he again
engaged in logging. Later he took up his abode at Rush City, Minnesota, and
there his death occurred in 1903. His widow survived him for a number of years,
passing away in 1921, at the advanced age of eighty-four.
In the public schools of his native city William Henry McGrath pursued his early
education, but afterward was graduated from the high school at Waverly, Iowa,
with the class of 1899. Ambitious to enjoy the best educational opportunities
obtainable, he then entered the University of Minnesota and completed his course
by graduation from the College of Science, Literature and Arts with the class of
1904. This constituted the broad foundation upon which he built the
superstructure of professional knowledge. He was graduated from the St. Paul
College of Law with the class of 1906 and in the same year was admitted to the
bar. He then began practice at Pine City, Minnesota, in 1907, after having spent
a year in editing a newspaper at Waverly, Iowa He remained in the active
practice of law at Pine City for two years and served as assistant county
attorney of Pine county by appointment for a period of two years. He then opened
a law office in Stillwater, Minnesota, where he remained in active practice
until 1915, when he came to Minneapolis, where he has since followed his
profession, rapidly winning recognition as a strong and forceful lawyer. While a
resident of Stillwater he was a candidate for county attorney, becoming the
first democratic candidate for the office of that county during a period of
twelve years. He made a very notable race, winning the support of many of
opposite political faith, but was defeated. Since taking up his abode in
Minneapolis he has given strict and undivided attention to his law practice and
his devotion to his clients' interests has become proverbial. He is a member of
the Hennepin County Bar Association and also of the State Bar Association.
On the 6th of July, 1922, Mr. McGrath was married to Miss Carry Ellen Lynch of
Minneapolis. Mr. McGrath is a member of the Phi Gamma Delta, a Greek letter
fraternity, and is also identified with the Knights of Columbus. He belongs to
the Minneapolis Athletic Club and to the Minneapolis Golf Club. The major part
of his time, however, is concentrated upon his law practice, which has
constantly grown in volume and importance. He has been connected with much
important litigation, among the many notable cases of which he has had charge
being those that have been brought about by the forest fires in the counties of
Aitkin, Carlton and Pine, where he and J. P. Devaney, a Minneapolis lawyer, were
employed by the residents of these counties to represent their interests in the
case against the railroad administration, then operating the railroads. The
contention was that sparks from the locomotives set fire to the forests, causing
much destruction of property, and after a long drawn out litigation through the
different courts the case was decided in behalf of his clients, resulting in the
payment to these people of approximately twenty million dollars. This
established the law in the state, the supreme court ruling in favor of the
plaintiffs. This litigation was one of the most noted cases heard in the
Northwest.
During the war with Germany Mr. McGrath underwent an operation at Rochester,
Minnesota, in order that he might enlist. He was accepted at Minneapolis, but
rejected at Camp Taylor. He then attempted to enlist in the infantry, but the
delay defeated his purpose as the war ended before he could get into the army.
In all matters of citizenship he maintains a progressive stand and his influence
has been a potent force on the side not only of law and order but of progress
and improvement.