Walsh, John M.

Louisiana:  Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 452-453.  Edited by Alcee Fortier, Lit.D.  Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.

Walsh, John M., Confederate veteran, sheriff, assessor, tax collector and well-known citizen, was born at Thibodaux, Lafourche parish, La., Jan. 1, 1844; son of Michael and Bridget (McGuire) Walsh, the former of whom was born at Kilkenny, Ireland, and the latter at Mt. Bellier, Ireland.  Both parents died of yellow fever, at Thibodaux, in 1853.  The parents were married in Ireland, and came from that country to Louisiana in 1832, immediately locating at Thibodaux, where the father was engaged in business, from a time shortly
following his arrival until the end of his life.  John M. was the 2nd of 4 children born to his parents. 

He received his education in private and public schools at Thibodaux, but had only attained his 17th year when he left school, April, 1861, and enlisted in Co. E, 4th Louisiana regiment, and went forward in the service of the Southern Confederacy, in the course of which he participated in many of the most sanguinary conflicts of the Civil war.  He took part in the siege of Vicksburg and of Nashville, the battle of Shiloh and
of Altoona, and a number of other notable events aggregating 32 engagements,in which he was with his command and in the thick of the fray.  At Nashville he was captured and taken to Camp Douglas, where he was confined until the close of the war. 

Returning home after the surrender, he engaged in the rice business for a time, but was attracted to the field of local politics and secured an appointment as deputy sheriff, which office he continued to fill until elected assessor of Lafourche parish, and to this post he was continuously elected for 12 years, following which he became tax collector and so remained to the end of his life.  For a period extending over about 30
years he was an office-holder at Thibodaux, and it is said that he probably enjoyed a wider range of acquaintance than any other citizen in that portion of the state, and that his funeral was the most largely attended of any ever seen in Thibodaux. 

In 1871, Mr. Walsh was married to Miss Cecilia Blanchard, a daughter of Octave Blanchard, a pioneer steamboat captain on Bayou Lafourche, and previous to the Civil war an extensive slave-owner.  He was
born in Assumption parish.  Mrs. Walsh's paternal grandfather, Firmin Blanchard, was for many years sheriff of Assumption parish, though he was born in France and was the first representative of the family to come to America.  He came accompanied by 2 brothers, Pierre and Edouard, the former of whom located in Louisiana, while the latter went to Virginia.  The Walsh family has always affiliated with the Roman Catholic church and been active in church work. 

Mr. Walsh was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Knights of America, charter member of Braxton Bragg Camp, No. 196, U. C. V. of Thibodaux charter member of the Young Men's Benevolent association of Thibodaux, and a member of the Acadian club.  To Mr. and Mrs.Walsh, 8 children were born, seven of whom died in childhood, the surviving one being Mrs. Mamie C. Walsh Peltier, a graduate of the dominican academy of New Orleans and for 5 years a teacher is a cultured lady and was for years prominently identified with the Daughters of the Confederacy.  She is said to be exceedingly proud of her father's military record, and of the evidence his long tenure in public office affords and esteem among his fellow citizens.  Mr. Walsh was a life-long democrat, and took pride in making the statement that he had never voted any other ticket.  It is worthy of note, too, that he was vice-commander of Braxton Bragg Camp, No. 196, U. C. V., from the time of its organization to his death.