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 enrolled 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 reelected 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 clerk 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 term 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 O., 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. Fraternally 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.