OBIT: Michael MAHER, 1926, Altoona, Blair County, PA

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MICHAEL MAHER
Veteran Railroad Man Passes Away

Michael Maher, Who Spent Fifty Years in Pennsy Service on Middle 
Division Died at Age 76

  Michael Maher, a veteran railroad man of the Middle division, 
Pennsylvania railroad, retired, died at 6:35 o'clock last evening at 
his residence at 812 Nineteenth street, following an extended illness 
of diseases incident to age.
  Mr. Maher was born in Co. Tiperary, Ireland, March 23, 1850, the son 
of William and Julia Maher, and he came to America with his parents at 
the age of 4.  They located at Cresson and then at Gallitzin, where he 
grew to manhood.  His father died when he was quite young and 
afterwards the family moved to Broad Top, Huntingdon county.
  He worked in the mines in his young manhood and in 1870 he entered 
the employ of the Pennsylvania railroad as a brakeman on the Middle 
division, locating in Huntingdon where he remained until 1888, when he 
became a resident of Altoona, remaining here until his death.
  He followed railroading for many years, or until about fifteen years 
ago when he was severely injured in a wreck.  Upon his recovery he was 
assigned to a position as gateman at the passenger station, having 
charge of the gate at the Twelfth street bridge, where he was employed 
until he attained the age of 70 and retired on April 1, 1920.
  He was a most efficient railroad man, loyal to the company which he 
served and popular among his associates in the service and he left the 
service with a record absolutely without a blemish.  In all the years 
of his service he was never late in reporting for duty; he was never 
disciplined in any way and time and again he was highly commended by 
the officials of the division.
  He was a member of the Middle Division Veteran Employees association 
and until his health failed he invariably attended the reunions and 
delighted to mingle with his old friends with whom he was associated to 
on the road for so many years.
  Mr. Maher was married in Huntingdon on Nov. 4, 1869, to Miss Mary 
Lowe, a daughter of the late Cyrus Lowe, a conductor on the Middle 
division.  She died on Sept. 16, 1903.
  To this union where born nine children.  The oldest, William T. 
Maher, died nine years ago.  The surviving children are as follows: 
Annie, wife of J. C. Sell of 1225 Seventh avenue; Julia M., wife of F. 
B. Loercher of Llyswen; Miss Agnes of Pittsburgh, Clarence A. of 
Llyswen, Mary E., wife of E. T. O'Friel of 812 Nineteenth street; Lena, 
wife of Paul Conrad of 2007 Fourth avenue; Robert L. of Dayton, OH., 
and Joseph L. of 2311 Fifteenth avenue.
  He is also survived by one brother, Martin Maher, residing at Dudley, 
Huntingdon county, and by twenty-one grandchildren.
  He was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic church.  The funeral 
will be held on Monday morning, with services at the church, burial 
following in Calvary cemetery.

Altoona Mirror, Altoona, Pa., Friday, June 25, 1926

MICHAEL MAHER

  Michael Maher whose passing from the earthly sphere, chronicled 
yesterday, brings great sorrow not only to the family circle but to a 
host of friends who knew and respected him, was a type of the rugged 
railroad men of the earlier transportation days of which there are not 
many remaining.
  He began railroading in 1870, which was only twenty years after the 
building of the Pennsylvania railroad as far west as Altoona.  It is an 
occupation that now requires pluck, intelligence and physical stamina, 
these and other qualities were needed in still greater measure in the 
old days.  The hours of labor were much longer than they are now; 
braking was done by hand; cars were loaded without the mechanical 
devices now used and coupling cars by means of the old links and pins 
was always attended with danger.
  Mr. Maher followed the railroad through all the vicissitudes; ever 
giving a most faithful and loyal service, never late for duty, never 
complaining, never seeking the limelight, but always doing his duty by 
the company which he served, his family and his fellow men.
  The marvelous development of our country during this period beginning 
with 1870 was due in large measure to the development of the 
transportation system and it was the service of such men as Mr. Maher 
in the dangerous work of operating the trains that made transportation 
under the old methods possible.  Thus he and all others like him 
deserve the highest eulogies we can pay them.  They are real heroes of 
peace.

Altoona Mirror, Altoona, Pa., Saturday June 26, 1926