John Walsh was just 45 when he was killed in a firefighting accident January 18, 1893 in Evansville, Ind.
Walsh had come to the United States years before from his native Ireland. It's unclear exactly when, given his common name.
He was born November 17, 1847 in Tipperary, Ireland. His parents were Robert and Kate (Derigen) Walsh, according to his death certificate. It doesn't appear they joined him in the United States.
John married Bridget O'Rourke on April 14, 1877 in Evansville. They had at least eight children with one, Bridget, dying as an infant. It's possible John had a previous child, Mollie. The 1880 Census lists a John and Bridget Welsh in Evansville with a 7-year-old Mollie, and young sons Robert and Paul. It lists the father, John, as being from Iowa, however, so it's unclear if it's the correct family, though the wife Bridget and sons Robert and Paul of the right ages would be a remarkable coincidence. My research hasn't uncovered what may have happened to Mollie.
According to Evansville city directories, John worked as a city express deliveryman at least from 1883-90 and then joined the Evansville Fire Department. John became a firefighter in about 1891, joining Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1, not long after the the Evansville Fire Department became a fully paid, career department in 1888. He died while responding to a fire when the Hook and Ladder rig he was driving was in an accident. Accounts differ on what happened. Contemporary newspaper accounts indicate Walsh's rig was trying to avoid colliding with a farmer and his team of horses at Pennsylvania Street and Third Avenue. The number of contemporary reports seem more reliable than a later book on the history of Evansville firefighters, which indicates the accident was at Indiana Street and Second Avenue with Walsh's rig colliding with a Steamer rig from the same Hose House No. 3 where John was stationed. The Hook and Ladder rig fell on John, he was left unconscious and later died.
Obituary
Jan. 20, 1893, Evansville Journal:
The funeral of the late fireman, John Walsh, will take place from the Church of the Assumption Saturday afternoon at 3 o'clock. The entire department will turn out in parade. The funeral cortege will proceed down Seventh Street to Main, thence down to First, out to Fulton Avenue, down Fulton to Franklin Street and out to the bridget.
Mr. Walsh at the time of his death was 45 years, 2 months and 1 day old.
Sister: Alice (Walsh) Kiely #57858709
Brother: Patrick Walsh #5785843
Walsh had come to the United States years before from his native Ireland. It's unclear exactly when, given his common name.
He was born November 17, 1847 in Tipperary, Ireland. His parents were Robert and Kate (Derigen) Walsh, according to his death certificate. It doesn't appear they joined him in the United States.
John married Bridget O'Rourke on April 14, 1877 in Evansville. They had at least eight children with one, Bridget, dying as an infant. It's possible John had a previous child, Mollie. The 1880 Census lists a John and Bridget Welsh in Evansville with a 7-year-old Mollie, and young sons Robert and Paul. It lists the father, John, as being from Iowa, however, so it's unclear if it's the correct family, though the wife Bridget and sons Robert and Paul of the right ages would be a remarkable coincidence. My research hasn't uncovered what may have happened to Mollie.
According to Evansville city directories, John worked as a city express deliveryman at least from 1883-90 and then joined the Evansville Fire Department. John became a firefighter in about 1891, joining Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1, not long after the the Evansville Fire Department became a fully paid, career department in 1888. He died while responding to a fire when the Hook and Ladder rig he was driving was in an accident. Accounts differ on what happened. Contemporary newspaper accounts indicate Walsh's rig was trying to avoid colliding with a farmer and his team of horses at Pennsylvania Street and Third Avenue. The number of contemporary reports seem more reliable than a later book on the history of Evansville firefighters, which indicates the accident was at Indiana Street and Second Avenue with Walsh's rig colliding with a Steamer rig from the same Hose House No. 3 where John was stationed. The Hook and Ladder rig fell on John, he was left unconscious and later died.
Obituary
Jan. 20, 1893, Evansville Journal:
The funeral of the late fireman, John Walsh, will take place from the Church of the Assumption Saturday afternoon at 3 o'clock. The entire department will turn out in parade. The funeral cortege will proceed down Seventh Street to Main, thence down to First, out to Fulton Avenue, down Fulton to Franklin Street and out to the bridget.
Mr. Walsh at the time of his death was 45 years, 2 months and 1 day old.
Sister: Alice (Walsh) Kiely #57858709
Brother: Patrick Walsh #5785843
John Walsh was just 45 when he was killed in a firefighting accident January 18, 1893 in Evansville, Ind.
Walsh had come to the United States years before from his native Ireland. It's unclear exactly when, given his common name.
He was born November 17, 1847 in Tipperary, Ireland. His parents were Robert and Kate (Derigen) Walsh, according to his death certificate. It doesn't appear they joined him in the United States.
John married Bridget O'Rourke on April 14, 1877 in Evansville. They had at least eight children with one, Bridget, dying as an infant. It's possible John had a previous child, Mollie. The 1880 Census lists a John and Bridget Welsh in Evansville with a 7-year-old Mollie, and young sons Robert and Paul. It lists the father, John, as being from Iowa, however, so it's unclear if it's the correct family, though the wife Bridget and sons Robert and Paul of the right ages would be a remarkable coincidence. My research hasn't uncovered what may have happened to Mollie.
According to Evansville city directories, John worked as a city express deliveryman at least from 1883-90 and then joined the Evansville Fire Department. John became a firefighter in about 1891, joining Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1, not long after the the Evansville Fire Department became a fully paid, career department in 1888. He died while responding to a fire when the Hook and Ladder rig he was driving was in an accident. Accounts differ on what happened. Contemporary newspaper accounts indicate Walsh's rig was trying to avoid colliding with a farmer and his team of horses at Pennsylvania Street and Third Avenue. The number of contemporary reports seem more reliable than a later book on the history of Evansville firefighters, which indicates the accident was at Indiana Street and Second Avenue with Walsh's rig colliding with a Steamer rig from the same Hose House No. 3 where John was stationed. The Hook and Ladder rig fell on John, he was left unconscious and later died.
Obituary
Jan. 20, 1893, Evansville Journal:
The funeral of the late fireman, John Walsh, will take place from the Church of the Assumption Saturday afternoon at 3 o'clock. The entire department will turn out in parade. The funeral cortege will proceed down Seventh Street to Main, thence down to First, out to Fulton Avenue, down Fulton to Franklin Street and out to the bridget.
Mr. Walsh at the time of his death was 45 years, 2 months and 1 day old.
Sister: Alice (Walsh) Kiely #57858709
Brother: Patrick Walsh #5785843
Walsh had come to the United States years before from his native Ireland. It's unclear exactly when, given his common name.
He was born November 17, 1847 in Tipperary, Ireland. His parents were Robert and Kate (Derigen) Walsh, according to his death certificate. It doesn't appear they joined him in the United States.
John married Bridget O'Rourke on April 14, 1877 in Evansville. They had at least eight children with one, Bridget, dying as an infant. It's possible John had a previous child, Mollie. The 1880 Census lists a John and Bridget Welsh in Evansville with a 7-year-old Mollie, and young sons Robert and Paul. It lists the father, John, as being from Iowa, however, so it's unclear if it's the correct family, though the wife Bridget and sons Robert and Paul of the right ages would be a remarkable coincidence. My research hasn't uncovered what may have happened to Mollie.
According to Evansville city directories, John worked as a city express deliveryman at least from 1883-90 and then joined the Evansville Fire Department. John became a firefighter in about 1891, joining Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1, not long after the the Evansville Fire Department became a fully paid, career department in 1888. He died while responding to a fire when the Hook and Ladder rig he was driving was in an accident. Accounts differ on what happened. Contemporary newspaper accounts indicate Walsh's rig was trying to avoid colliding with a farmer and his team of horses at Pennsylvania Street and Third Avenue. The number of contemporary reports seem more reliable than a later book on the history of Evansville firefighters, which indicates the accident was at Indiana Street and Second Avenue with Walsh's rig colliding with a Steamer rig from the same Hose House No. 3 where John was stationed. The Hook and Ladder rig fell on John, he was left unconscious and later died.
Obituary
Jan. 20, 1893, Evansville Journal:
The funeral of the late fireman, John Walsh, will take place from the Church of the Assumption Saturday afternoon at 3 o'clock. The entire department will turn out in parade. The funeral cortege will proceed down Seventh Street to Main, thence down to First, out to Fulton Avenue, down Fulton to Franklin Street and out to the bridget.
Mr. Walsh at the time of his death was 45 years, 2 months and 1 day old.
Sister: Alice (Walsh) Kiely #57858709
Brother: Patrick Walsh #5785843
Family Members
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