From a 1909 Nance County, Nebraska, newspaper clipping file, transcribed by Linda Berney:

Michael Flaherty died Wednesday morning, May 5th, 1909 at his beautiful home on the Skeedee, after an illness of about two years....Father Flaherty of Chicago, a brother of the deceased, officiating in the solemn high mass...

Mr. Flaherty was born September 29, 1846 on a farm near Peru, Illinois, where he lived until he came to St. Edward on February 17, 1902.

On April 25, 1870 he was married to Miss Mary G. Fitzgerald. To this union were born eleven children, two of whom died in infancy. Those living are James Edward of Ladd, Illinois; Mrs. Mary Scanlon, Frank P., Julia, Kathryn, Elenor, William, Joseph, and Cecelia. He also has two brothers, Rev. J. J. Flaherty of Chicago; Daniel Flaherty of Ladd, Illinois, and a sister, Mrs. Ellen Hurley of Ladd, Illinois.

Mr. Flaherty has made many friends while here. He has been identified with the Independent Telephone company and the Farmers Elevator company, besides acting as executor of the Cahill estate for the past twenty years. - St. Edward Sun.
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Thanks to Find A Grave contributor #47016781 for data and links.

Michael had what would have been a sixth grade education when his father died in 1859 and he took over the big job of raising the family. When he married Mary Genevieve Fitzgerald 25 Apr 1869, they kept his mother, his sisters and brothers until they married, her father Garrett Fitzgerald, until he died in 1880, and her brother, John Fitzgerald, until he died of tuberculosis in 1893.
Michael farmed and was road commissioner. In 1902, hoping to provide a better future for his family, the Flahertys followed the Dan Cahills to St. Edward, Nebraska.
They settled in the Skeedee community south of St. Edward. They purchased the C.A. Bulla farm, five and one half miles south and one half mile west of St. Edward.

Kiernan Family History, Cecelia Kiernan

St. Edward Centennial Book, 1971
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