Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Webster and Hamilton Counties, Iowa. Chicago: Lewis Publishing, 1888. John Walsh, one of the well-known farmers of Johnson Township, is a native of Ireland, born in Kilkenny County, Waterford [Ireland?], in 1820, a son of Michael and Mary (Dempsey) Walsh. In 1844 he came to the United States and located in McHenry, Illinois, and a year later was joined by his brother Edward. They worked by the month as farm hands, until 1856 when John came to Fort Dodge, Iowa, Edward following him in 1857. He pre-empted 160 acres of land in 1855 but did not settle on it until 1858, the brothers working the farm of Thomas Flaherty in 1857. In 1858 he built a log cabin on the land and together the brothers have worked their farm, owning it in partnership with the exception of two homesteads of eighty acres each. They now own 470 acres and are numbered among the prosperous men of the township. Their homes are beautifully located, and their buildings are commodious and erected with a view to convenience and elegance. They have acquired their property by hard work and good management. John Walsh was married in 1885 to Margaret Kelly, and to them have been born two children- Mary and Michael. In politics they are Democratic in their affiliations and in religion are members of the Catholic church. Cathy Joynt Labath Irish in Iowa http://www.celticcousins.net/irishiniowa/index.htm