William Walsh (1828-1892)
MSA SC 3520-2152
William Walsh was born in Killenmore, Ireland on May 11, 1828 to John Walsh and Sara Doran Walsh.1 John Walsh died in 1844, and his widow Sarah moved to America to live with her brother in Harper's Ferry. William remained in Ireland until 1842 when he moved to America upon the urging of his uncle Richard.2
After two years of working in his uncle's business, Walsh attended Mount St. Mary's College in Emmittsburg, Maryland.3 He graduated from Mount St. Mary's College in 1848 and then went on to study law at Ballston, near Saratoga, New York.4 In 1850 he was admitted into the bar, and he completed his legal education under the guidance of Andrew Hunter, a lawyer at Charlestown, Jefferson Co. located in Virginia.5 In 1852, Walsh moved to Maryland and established his own law practice in Cumberland.6
On May 25, 1858, Walsh married Mary Ann (Marian) Shane.7 The union produced three surviving children; Mary, Clara Teresa, and William Edward. Their seven other children did not survive infancy.8
Walsh was an active figure in local, state, and national politics. Throughout his entire political career he was known as a committed Democrat.9 He served as a delegate from Allegany County to the Maryland Constitution Convention of 1867.10 In 1860, he appeared on the Democratic ticket as a Presidential elector and eventually served as an elector in 1872.11 In 1874, he was elected as the U.S. Representative for 6th District in the 44th and 45th Congresses.12 He served in Congress until 1879. In that year he decided against running for re-election and returned to his law practice in Cumberland.13
Walsh lived out the rest of his life in Cumberland.14 He died on May 17, 1892 and was buried in St. Patrick's Cemetery in Cumberland.15
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