The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1915-11-27
DEATH OF HON. H. o. MAHER.
An Old Citizen of Donaldsonville and
Prominent Customs Official Passes
Away in New Orleans.

Hon. Henry O. Maher, Weigher OF
customs in the United States civil
service at New Orleans. died at his
residence in that cider IS Tuesday
last. the 23rd inst, IWe2:15 o'clock.
after an illness of many weeks, and
the news Of his passing was received
with universal regret in this COM
munity. of which he was an old and
much esteemed citizen. He was a
native of the parish of St. Bernard,
born August Is, 1845, hence his age
at death was 70 years, 3 months and
s days Shortly after the federal
troops occupied New Orleans during
the civil war, young Maher, then a
STRIPPING of II, enlisted in the First
Louisiana Cavalry and served until
the close of the conflict between the
states, when he was transferred to
the Seventh United States Cavalry,
a regiment of the regular army, IN
which he remained until the end of
his period of enlistment, seeing ser
vice on the western plains and attain
inc the rank of orderly sergeant OF
his company.
Upon being discharged from the
army he settled at Donaldsonvllle,
and this continued to be his home and
legal domicile for the remainder OF
his life. He took an active interest
in politics and public affairs and held
a number of positions of honor and
trust in the town and parish, includ-
ing town constable, alderman, mayor,
parish judge and chief deputy sher-
if. all of which he filled with de-
gree of efficiency, integrity and fear
lessness that won him the respect and
regard even Of his political opponents.
He was one of the founders of
Phoenix Fire Company, No. l, and
for some years its president, and was
i member also of several local lodges
of fraternal orders During the yell
low fever epidemic of 1878 he served
as secretary of the Ascension branch
of the Howard Relief Association
with such untiring zeal and fidelity
that a handsome gold badge was pre-
sented to him by his associates in the
noble work of relieving the wide
spread suffering and distress caused
by that memorable visitation.
Judge Maher, as he was generally
called, served for a couple of years
as chief Weigher in the United States
customs service at New Orleans when
the late Gen. A. S. Badger was coll
lector of the port, but the federal
service did not attract him at that
time and he resigned to return to
0onaldsonville. In the latter part
of 1903, when the late Hon. Henry
Mccall was collector Of customs,
Judge Maher was reinstated in the
customs service as an Inspector, and
m April, 1904, was restored to his
former place as chief of the customs
weighers, holding the Office until
death
Soon after becoming a resident of
this community Judge Maher married
Miss Mary Desbress Of Donaldson
vile, who passed away about eigh-
tsen years ago, leaving her husband
] Vsd six sons, Henry o. Jr., John M,
sSharles G., Edward, George B. and
Arthur Maher, all of whom grew to
stalwart manhood, forming, with their
father, a group of seven citizens and
qualified vq4~a4aa eldest son,
Henry o. lNsTARa.E,,sed some eight
wears ago, But hisA4e brothers sur
vive, John NJ. being resident of this
parish and the othdsfour residing in
New Orleans.
The remains Of Judge Maher were
brought to this city Tuesday evening
over the Texas & Pacific railway and
conveyed to the lodge room in the
Elks' Home, Whereathey reposed I'M
I'll the hour Of the snerai, Wednes-
day afternoon. alistic services
were cond liIs - + IA "a home by the
officers and2 the Donald
sonville Lodge No. 1853, B. P. O. E.,
and la1ee eortege Of relatives and
friends followed the body to the
Catholic church and cemetery, where
20 solemn services for the dead were
Il lducted by Rev. Father Chauvin.