The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-11-19
BENZ. D. WALSH OBITUARY.

One week ago TO day, a serious accident
occurred to Benz. d. Walsh, State Entomol |
ogist, and old time resident of Rock Island,
by which he lost his right foot. The opera. !
ii on was performed by Drs. Gait, Truesdale
and Powers, the foot being taken off as high
above as would permit the formation OF
good flap.
Yesterday our citizens received the griev-
Gus announcement of his death. The am
putation of his limb was q successful opera
ton, and was not the cause of his death
In attempting to throw himself from before
the locomotive he fell heavily on his eide,
aud received some severe internal Concus
sion. He had a terrible pain in his side, and
was unable to keep anything on his stomach
He himself frequently expressed an opinion
during his illness that the internal distress
he felt was Of mortal character. He died
quietly and at peace with all men at ten
o'clock of Thanksgiving day. Twenty.four
hours before his death he asked DR. Gait,
his family physician, what were his hopes OF
recovery, and DR.. &. informed him that he
was of the opinion that he could not survive
MS injuries. He replied calmly, mildly,
without symptom of bravado, that he had
uot lived 81 years for nothing. 81 am, con
tinued he, las we'll prepared to die now as |
ever will bel neither fear man nor dedth.'
Ho then composed his mind for the ap.
preaching dissolution, which occurred a, ten
o'clock of Yesterday.
AS his principal services are Of character
more useful to the world than to this CON-
| nunity, and as he was an old and universal
IL respected citizen, a short sketch of his
| career would not be unlnteresting
Benz D. Walsh, the son Of well.to-d o
aud respectable family was born in From~,
Worcestershire, England, in July 1908. He
was accordingly at the time of his death, 81
years of age and over. He was intended
| for the church, aud after the usual prelim
mary studies he entered Trinity College
Can't bridge, to pursue an academic course.
lie obtained his Msster's degree in his 18th
year, and was designated fellowship. He
resigned his fellowship, however, not deslr
lug TO continue the study of divinity. His
preference was towards agriculture, 80 after
marrying he came to this country and began
the cultivation Of farm in Mercer Co. This
occupation proved unhealthy to one who had
oil his life time, led sedentary life. He
therefore at the advice of H. B. Osborn of this
city, came to Rock Island and started in the
lumber business. In this he continued with
moderate success for seven or eight years,
when he undertook the erection Of the two
rows Of tenement houses bearing his name,
at the corner of Orleans and Exchange
streets. Previous to bis coming to America
he developed strong attachment towards the
science Of entomology as peculiarly akin to
the harmless pastoral bent Of his inclination
aad made several fine collections of English
insects. When be completed the Walsh
buildings, he gave up all business for
the sake of pursuing his pet study
and has continued at it ever since, with an
enthusiasm unasgging, and energy indomit
able He was appointed State Entomolo.
gist by Gov, 0glesby,snd short time since
began the publication of the Entomo!ogist a
journal devoted the practical and popular fea-
lures of the science, in the city Of St. Louis.
His associate was Mr.. Riley State Euto.
mologist, Of Missouri. Several valuable
pamphlets, the few numbers of the Entomo-
Iogiss fine library, and choice museum,
are the monuments of this dead mans exis.
. ence. While the demon Of the storm was
shrieking through the air, and the chilling
gloom was animated by drifting snow fakes;
while the landscape WAS putting on its gar.
ments of wintry white, the mild career of
this silver-gray old student ended, a
strange close to life passed
in the green fields, or along the
dimpled babbling shadows of the brooks in
pursuit Of painted moths and midges. 1t
| would be hard TO ann nm bis character IN