Maurice Keliher Biography


	This biography appears on page 1642 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	MAURICE KELIHER, one of the prominent and enterprising stock 
growers and highly esteemed residents of Pennington county, was born on 
July 20, 1849, at Bangor, Maine, and while he was yet a child the family 
moved to near Harvard, Illinois, where the father took up land and 
engaged in farming. The old homestead now belongs to Mr. Keliher and is 
one of his most cherished possessions. On it he was reared to the age of 
eighteen, and near it in the little country schoolhouse he received his 
education. In 1867 he left the scenes and associations of his childhood 
and youth, and moved to Denver, Colorado, then a small place in a new 
country, but with the promise of its mighty growth and enterprise 
already showing plainly. After a short residence there he went to 
Montana and for a short time was engaged in freighting in that state, 
after which he returned to Denver and again followed freighting in 
partnership with his brother Michael, who was afterward killed by 
outlaws in Texas. They had a number of bull-teams and carried on an 
extensive and profitable business, freighting between Denver and the 
Indian reservations and also between that town and Cheyenne. In 1877 Mr. 
Keliher went east to visit his parents and on his return to Cheyenne was 
married. He remained in that city until the fall of 1878. At that time 
freighting became unprofitable owing to the completion of the railroad, 
and Mr. Keliher determined to come to the Black Hills and turn his 
attention to raising cattle. He brought cattle with him and, locating on 
Spring creek, gave his whole time and energy to building up and 
expanding his business. To this enterprise he has adhered steadfastly 
ever since, and has made a decided success of it, becoming one of the 
most extensive stock growers in this part of the country, and producing 
stock of high grades. His home is at Rapid City where he has a handsome 
residence of modern style and furnished with every consideration for the 
comfort and enjoyment of its inmates. 

	On November 24, 1877, Mr. Keliher was married, at Cheyenne, 
Wyoming, to Miss Eleanora Walsh, a native of Ireland who came to the 
United States with her parents in her childhood. They have five 
children, Frank, Eleanora, Margaret, Morse and Miriam. Mr. Keliher 
belongs to the Masonic order and the United Workmen, holding his 
membership in both at Rapid City. In politics he is an unwavering and 
active Republican, but has always declined public office.