Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-09-11
Dr. E. D. Walsh, Noted Rock Island Pioneer

+ derman for the express purpose Of
/ getting at the facts and publishing
them After exposing the fraud he
resigned satisfied with having per
formed duty and proving that he
+ knew dangerous human bugs and
where 20 stick the pin, lie was waTI
laid and his life attempted because OF
3rhe expose, q compliment TO the truth
OF his findings.
Walsh's Row, some OF it still stand
ing. is at the corner Of Third avenue
and Ninth street, once known as Or
leans ard Exchange streets. These
houses were built with the idea OF
giving a comfortable dwelling at mod
crate rental and were far ahead of the
towns development in convenience Of
arrangement Now such an invest
ment might not be termed q philan-
throplc venture, but surely it was at
that time
Fortunate in love, Dr. Walsh had
the companiouship OF a woman who
was his warmest appraiser. Thorough /
ly In sympathy with his every idea, I
she gave him Ieeway for his molina I
lions and worshipped his gods because /
they were his It was his custom 10
remain up till early hours, correcting /
pro0fsheets and writing and often I.
times not retiring. simply smoking & /
pipe for rest They we're married in
England, she Miss Rebecca Finn, an
attractive young woman of good con-
uections with them to this country /
they brought her sister. Miss Mary, q /
little girl Their combined affection I
was Iausbed upon the sister, they be- i
ing childless. Miss Mary Finn mar
ried into the Colby family Of Geneseo.
and her daughter, Miss Emily L. COliyI
became the bride of William B. Petit,
wen known citizen. Their marriage
took place iu the Baptist church in
Rock Island. Oct Is, 1863. Mrs. Petit
passed away in this city Dec. Is, 1876,
leaving several children. In Septem-
ber. 1873. Mr. Petit married Miss
Sarah Ward Of this city. Yesterday
was Mr. Pettit's Sist birthday and Ia
and Mrs. Petit are in excellent health.
The Petit family live near the Walsh
Row and upon mfr Petit devolyed the
duty of looking after Mrs. Walsh's in
terests after her husbands demise, he
removing his family here from Mis-
souri, Mrs, Walsh died Nov. p, 1882.
at the family residence, 3I4 Ninth
street Her death was due primarily.
to paralysis, but for many years she
had been lame. a broken foot c0nfniue
her closely TO her home She had
been as q mother to Mr.. Pettit's chill
dren upon the death of his first wife.
her niece, and lived for Il years in the
home with the present Mrs. Petit
The falI Of 1865, 81 year prior to his
death. Dr. Walsh undertook with Gen
eraI Riley of st. Louis the publication
of the journal Of Entomology This
was an unfortunate move and was the
direct means Of losing 20 the world
his Invaluable collection of native in
seCts. some 10000 specimens, carefully
prepared, mounted and gathered by
himself oa his hunting tours. Upoa
receipt Of news of his death his part
ner came post haste, and as DR. Walsh
had neglected 10 mention his collnc- +,
tiun by viii, ir is alleged succeeded in
boxing all the books. papers. and near
3
At least, when the estate
was probated, charges of $3.50 for
three large packing boxes We're err, /
tered by L. Neisow. Of whom Mr. Riley
purchased them Through the advice
of s. family friend N A. SwyIer Mr..
Bley's intentions were halted and the
matter taken up with the state beIiav-
ing that if the collection could not he
saved to the rightful heir the state ,
should be given d chance TO get it.
which was done at "a cost Of 50. 800. Il
bagateile of its value II intact today. F.
1t was sent to the Academy of Sci
ances and was licked up by flames in u
the Chicago FIRE Had no controversy :
been Waged as to its ownership, more :
han likely it would have gone as
gift to the government A deplorable ,
feature was thar the newspa pers would Il.
not allow Or. Walsh's executor auv y
statement Of her side Of the case.
General Riley presumably bottIing the
source through plea of newspaper =
ethics and his connection with journal r."
SIN. Obviously the collection was DR.. "
Nalsh's work as truly as the artists b
laBdiwork or the dreamer's breath Of q
1oesy.
Dr. WaIsh's death was due to an
accident received while walking along y
he railroad He had stopped that
morning at the postof7ce and had re :
'eived letter from England in which
le was much engrossed. He was very
.ompani0nable with boys and when