PHILIP C. WALSH.
BY PHILIP C. WALSH, JR.
Philip C. Walsh, a member of the American Irish Historical Society since 1897, died at his residence, 22 Grant Street, Newark, N. J., May 19, 1909, in the seventy-fifth year of his life. He was born in the City of Kilkenny, in 1834, was educated at St. Keren’s in that city, and emigrated to America in 1854, being associated with his uncle, Mathew Nolan, a retired seaman of the United States navy, at New Brunswick, N. J., where he married Annie Walsh of Gowran, Ireland, in 1858, removing to Newark, N. J., in 1865; while there he was engaged in the cattle business until 1880, when he began the iron and steel business of Walsh & Sons, of which he was the head, until his death.
From his youthful associations in Ireland, he imbibed a characteristic Irish antipathy to the government which had wrought such a malign influence upon his native land, and in America he promptly became a member of the Irish organizations that were laboring for Ireland’s cause, offering his time and his services as occasion demanded, to the Hibernian, Clan-na-Gael, Irish Volunteers and the American Irish Historical Society, the success of which he was very proud, as well of the Society as an organization tending to the uplift of the Irish, as he was of the distinguished eminence so many of its individual members had achieved.
During his long life, Mr. Walsh steadily acquired every conceivable kind of book relating to Ireland, the Irish people, and their just cause, for which they had struggled so valiantly, gradually obtaining a very large library of Irish works, some of them exceedingly rare and venerable, and by constant reading, study, and discussion with those well qualified, became a veritable encyclopedia upon Ireland and Irish history, being known as one of New Jersey’s great Irishmen, a position which he proudly enjoyed as one of the best distinctions he had.
Although not in good health, for the last two years, Mr. Walsh was about during the pleasant weather, meeting old friends, discussing with them Irish affairs, showing as devoted an interest as ever, and at the mention of any proposition that would benefit Ireland his eye would brighten and he would eagerly discuss every phase, from a position of genuine interest actuated by a sincere, pure, high-minded desire, for the progress and advancement of his native land which he always claimed would equal any nation in the world if but given a fair opportunity, and whose people, upon their native soil, would exhibit the same intelligence, ability and capacity, that they have exhibited in every walk of life elsewhere throughout the world.
Mr. Walsh’s personal traits were the admirable ones characteristic of the true Irishman, gentleness, kindliness and affection, mingled courage and tenacity. His family, to which he was most endeared, will ever regret his demise, and the sweet, gentle ties of father and children will ever remain with them, as long as life remains.
In a letter transmitting to the Secretary-General the above sketch “for the record of the Society,” Philip C. Walsh, Jr., a member of the municipal corporations committee of the New Jersey Senate, says:
Father had a very high regard for the Society, and was especially proud of the older members, who like himself, had been transplanted here, and never losing for a moment the great affection they bore their native land. The progress and advancement of the Society and its members always brightened his eye, and brought forth approving sentiments.
He was a typical Irishman—gentle, kind, affectionate and indulgent as a woman on one side and as fierce and courageous as a lion upon the other, the fighting spirit of his race, dominant when necessary; a curious combination of admirable characteristics, opposite in their nature, characteristics that seem more peculiar to Irishmen than any other people.
During his long life, he collected a great number of books dealing with Ireland and Irish affairs, all of which the writer is happy to state were given to me, and I earnestly hope that I may ever be as Irish as my dear father.