"Dear Mr [Ted] Swoffer, August
5, 1988
My father, Joseph P. Walsh, passed away in September 1986. When
your letter arrived my mother assumed that it was meant for my brother
(named for my Dad) because he once lived in Binghamton. When my brother
visited, we learned of our mistake and I volunteered to respond to you,
however somehow I became sidetracked. Mom says another letter arrived
today, so I'll tack any additional answers to the end of this letter
when I read it tomorrow.
My Dad was one of the six Walsh children who survived till
adulthood. All my Aunts and Uncles are alive and in good shape. I'll
enclose their names and addresses so you can obtain more information
from them. Alba and Richard died in childhood.
My oldest aunt is Frances Marion Johnson and she is a widow
residing in Minnesota. She is very bright but her handwriting is
difficult to decipher due to Parkinson's disease.
Frances Johnson
PO Box 153
Mapleton, MN 56065 - no children
My Aunt Jen lives with her husband Art in Montana, however they
travel a lot.
Mrs Art Radcliffe
Box 203
Circle, MT 59215 - one child, Katherine
My Aunt Kay lives in Dearborn Heights, and I believe she has worked
on a family history, thus may have information you can use and may or
may not be willing to share it with you. She is widowed.
Mrs George (Kay) Price
4423 Dudley
Dearborn Heights, MI 48125 - one child, Judith Swan
My Dad's two brothers both live on the West Coast, and neither are
great correspondents.
Connor Walsh
2615 Yelm Rd
Olympia, WA 98501 - 3 children, Connie Jean, Lynda, &
Diane
Harold Walsh
1710 North Baker
E. Wenatchee, WA 98801 - 4 children, Patrick, James,
Gilbert, & Laurie
Dad's [children], Marion Jane, Jean Walsh Miller, and Joseph
Patrick. You must be mistaken in regards to your maternal grandmother,
because Alvilda Hanson and Patrick Joseph were my grandparents. My
grandad died before my parents married, but my grandmother survived till
1965 or 1966 (She was much younger than her husband). [Alvilda] was an
immigrant from Denmark and actually a maid in the home of my
Grandfather's parents, Richard and [Ann] Walsh, before their marriage.
My grandfather was a dynamic man who traded commodities, was quite
wealthy till he was impoverished prior to the crash by a margin call.
The family piled into two Model Tee cars and went West. You may be
interested to know that my Grandfather owned the Plum Creek property
that Laura Ingalls Wilder based much of her fiction (Little House on the
Prairie) on. There is a plaque in Minnesota on the site which indicates
that my Grandfather sold the property to her family [*] (My Dad was born
on Plum Creek). My Grandfather's brother was a lawyer, but my
Grandfather only obtained a second grade education. Despite this he was
looked up to by many, asked to hold public office, and generally led a
very successful life. My oldest aunts both were college educated, prior
to the money woes, and became teachers. My Aunt Kay resents that she,
the next in line, was unable to obtain an education. I believe this is
the reason she won't let me see the family history she has compiled and
if you decide to contact her I suggest you request specific information
rather than a copy of any records she might have. My Grandmother's Dad
was a cabinet maker and my Aunt once told me she has the original deed
to the Ford River Rouge Complex which was sold to Henry Ford. What I
find strange is that my grandmother's maiden name Hanson differed from
that of my great Aunt Jen (Jensen) which possibly was an "Ellis Isle"
mistake.
I hope I've helped you. I suggest you contact my Aunt Jen or Aunt
Frances. If you write to Frances be patient, it's hard for her to write
and she waits for good days. I only wish you had written a few years
earlier, my Dad would have enjoyed corresponding and although he was in
a nursing home his memory was excellent. My mom says he often spoke of
the "Swoffer" side of the family. He was a wonderful man.
Please forgive my handwriting, if I wait for a chance to recopy
this it'll take forever. I can't remember the county of Ireland the
family is from, my Aunts know. My brother currently resides in
Endicott, and has worked for IBM for many years. I'd be interested in
sharing your info.
Sincerely,
Marion Walsh
1334 Woodmere
Detroit, MI 48209 "
[*]Ingalls homesteaded the land before it was later sold to Richard
Walsh