#33 TRAGIC TIMES

 

                                                                  MICHAEL WALSH

Michael was born in Guelph Township on October 15, 1858 to Michael Walsh and Elizabeth Moran. He was the middle child of six sons and two daughters. Two younger brothers-William and Frank- became doctors. (Frank was educated at Bellevue Hospital Medical College in New York. I am not sure where William was trained.) His other brothers and two sisters farmed. Michael worked on the family farm.

In 1873, when Michael was 14, his older brother, James, aged 17, and his father, Michael (1825-1873) died. 

                                    side by side death registers for son, James, & father Michael

In 1887, just starting his medical career in Arthur, Ontario, brother William, aged 27, contracted typhoid fever and died. His mother, Elizabeth passed in 1895, aged 59. Michael had been living with his mother on the family farm; the farm was willed to his two sisters.  Michael bought two different farms along Victoria Road, Guelph Township, before purchasing a 97 acre farm just south of the Guelph-Hamilton Highway.

                                                                       Elizabeth

On January 11, 1905 at age 46, bachelor Michael married in St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Elora. His bride, Elizabeth Sullivan, aged 31, was his first cousin. Their mothers, Catherine Walsh and Alice Sullivan, were Moran sisters. A son, Francis, was born that November. Two daughters, Alice and Florence were born in 1907 and 1910.

                                                                    Alice & Frankie

                                                    Alice, Florence and Maud, the horse

The year 1911 must have given Michael much pride and contentment. He owned his land, he had a healthy family with a son to inherit the farm, and Elizabeth was again expecting. 

                                                                Walsh farmhouse

Identical twin girls were born on Tuesday, January 2, 1912; they were named Ellen Agnes and Mary Josephine after their paternal aunts. Then tragedy! Four days after giving birth, Elizabeth, aged 38, died of septicemia. Infection, unfortunately, was the most common reason that women died after childbirth and it seemed to occur in women who had a normal, healthy labour. Who knows the complications of delivering twins, even in hospital and under the medical supervision of her brother-in-law, Dr. Frank Walsh. Elizabeth's fever began within two days of delivery and the infection of the womb quickly led to blood poisoning.

Michael’s siblings stepped in. It was decided that Alice would live with her uncle Dr. Frank Walsh in downtown Guelph and Florence would live with her Uncle John and Aunt Mary on the Walsh homestead. Frankie and the twins would stay on the farm with their father and a 50ish year old housekeeper, Mary St. Marie, would look after household tasks. (There was a family rumour that Elizabeth’s sister, Nellie Sullivan, was interested in marrying Michael but that was kiboshed by the siblings.)

Then, less than a year and a half later, another mind-numbing tragedy. How much more heartbreak can a man endure? 

                                                                        Frankie

WALSH, FRANCIS JOSEPH “FRANKIE”….Accidentally by a team running away, on Thursday evening about 6, May 22, 1913, in his 7^th year. Only son of Michael Walsh of Brock Road, one mile south of the Ontario Agricultural College.  A sad accident caused the end of a bright young life, when the boy climbed into a wagon driven by Mr. Walsh’s hired man, calling to his father, “Daddy, I will get the cows for you.” The horses must have been frightened for they dashed down the barnyard, through the gate into the lane where they came into collision with many trees. The plucky fellow, who was gripping a part of the wagon box, was wrenched from his hold and fell to the ground, the hind wagon wheels passing over his head. Death must have been instantaneous. His father had seen the runaway from a distance. Frankie had been attending S.S.#2 Brock Road School. It has been closed till after the funeral. Funeral on Saturday morning from his father’s residence, Brock Road, at 9, to the Church of Our Lady at 10, thence to the Roman Catholic Cemetery. Solemn high mass was celebrated by Father Drummond…Floral offerings included a wreath of roses from his father and little sisters; a cross of white roses from his teacher; a cross of roses and lilies from his aunts, Mary and Ellen…and sprays from his uncles, Drs. John and Frank Walsh.  -from Celebration of Lives & Obituaries of Puslinch Township

                                                                Frankie's baby cup

                                                                Frankie's toy bear

The twins lived with their father on the farm. 

                                                                Michael and the twins

                   

                                                          Mary & Ellen  or Ellen & Mary

Michael farmed into his late 70s. An inventory of his estate lists a number of cattle, 2 good farm horses, and a large assortment of farming implements.  

Daughter Mary, married John Sullivan in 1943. Ellen married Murray Whelan in 1946; Wayne, Steve and Joan spent early childhood years on the Walsh farm.

                                                              Mary, Alice, Michael, Ellen

Michael Walsh died in Guelph on November 9, 1946, aged 88. He is remembered as a quiet, decent and hardworking man. He is buried alongside Elizabeth and Frankie in the Walsh plot in St. Josephs’ Pioneer Cemetery, Guelph.

 

MICHAEL JOSEPH WALSH

                b. Oct 15, 1858 in Guelph Township, Wellington Co

                m. Elizabeth Sullivan on Jan, 11, 1905 in Elora, Ont

                d. Nov 8 1946 in Guelph, Ont

 

ELIZABETH SULLIVAN

                b. Nov 12, 1870 in Nichol Township, Wellington Co.

                d. Jan 6, 1912 in Guelph, Ont

 

Steve’s maternal grandparents

 

FRANCIS “FRANKIE” JOSEPH WALSH

                b. Nov 9, 1905 in Guelph Township, Wellington Co.

                d. May 22, 1913 Guelph Township, Wellington Co.

                                            Sisters--1983--Mary, Alice, Ellen, Florence
 

ALICE GRACE WALSH

                b. Dec 14, 1907 in Guelph Township

                m. Willis Alden Buie (1907-1994) on Aug. 19, 1944 in Guelph, Ont

                d. Apr 8, 2001 in Mississauga, Ont

 

FLORENCE MARY ELIZABETH WALSH

                b. Mar 26, 1910 in Guelph

                m. Milton Whitney Staples on Jun 11, 1949 in Toronto

                d. Jan 21, 1999 in Puslinch Township

 

MARY JOSEPHINE WALSH

                b. Jan 2, 1912 in Guelph, Ont

                m. John Charles Sullivan (1910-1982) on Aug 22, 1943 in Guelph, Ont

                d. Aug 10, 2005 in Brampton, Ont

 

ELLEN MARY WALSH

                b. Jan 2, 1912 in Guelph, Ont

                m. Murray Leonard Whelan (1920-1994) on Nov. 20, 1946 in Guelph, Ont

                d. Nov 4, 1996 in Toronto