History of Northeast Oklahomea, Volume III
HON. WILLIAM M. DUFFY.
Hon. William M. Duffy, attorney at law in Checotah and now serving his first term as justice of the peace, was born in Callaway county, Missouri, on the 21st of August, 1866, a son of Mathew and Caroline. (Ellis) Duffy. The father was born in Ireland and came to America when a young man, locating in Missouri, where he engaged in farming. He followed agricultural pursuits the remainder of his life and died in 1874, one of the prominent and representative citizens of the community in which he resided. Mrs. Duffy was born in Missouri and her death occurred in 1872.
In the acquirement of an education William M. Duffy attended the common schools of Callaway county, Missouri, and later en-rolled in Westminster College at Fulton, where he remained for two years. He then taught school for four years in Kansas and served as county clerk of Harper county, that state, in 1891, being re-elected in 1893. During that time he studied law and in 1896 was admitted to the bar. In the same year he located in Point' Pleasant, West Virginia, for the practice of his chosen profession and he resided there until 1906, in which year he came to Checotah.
In the intervening years he has built up a large
and lucrative practice, handling'much important litigation before
the courts and he has taken an active part in public life. From
1911 to 1914 he was deputy county cleark of McIntosh county and
he was a member of the state legislature in 1915 and again in
1919. He has served on the town council and is now active in his
first tern as justice of the peace. His candidacy for office has
always been on the democratic ticket.
On the 1st of January, 1890, while a resident of Kansas, was
celebrated the marriage of Mr. Duffy to 'Miss Emma F. Fisher, a
native of West Virginia. They have become parents of two
children: Maude 0., the wife of J. T. Crane, now occupying the
position of cashier of the bank at Woodville, Oklahoma; and
Charles B., who is practicing law at Ponca City, Oklahoma.
Since his admission to the bar Hon. William M. Duffy has remained
a constant student of the profession and along strictly
professional lines he holds membership in the Oklahoma State and
McIntosh County Bar Associations. Fratemally he is identified
with the Modern Woodmen of America and his religious faith is
that of the Christian Science church. He is one of the alert and
enterprising citizens of Checotah, whose aid may always be
counted upon in the furtherance of any movement for general
development and improvement.
History of Muskogee and
Northeastern Oklahoma Book Vol III.
Biography provided by by Pat Short
