Andrew T. Walsh 1911-1955

WALSH, COLEMAN, SMITH, HANSEN, HANSON

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 8/4/2011 at 18:56:36

Find Superior Man Burned to Death
A Superior resident was found dead shortly before noon today I his home which was completely demolished by fire. Andrew Walsh, 44, was discovered by his brother-in-law, Frank Smith and Smith’s son at 11:45 this morning. Dickinson County coroner said that death was caused by suffocation, but added the body was badly burned. The shack in which Walsh lived, located one mile north and one mile west of Superior, was demolished, the coroner said. Walsh was found lying face down on the floor with the roof of his one-room shack caved in on top of his body. He was unmarried. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, February 25, 1955)

Walsh Rites Expected to Be Monday
Andrew Walsh, a resident of Superior for the past six months, was found dead yesterday shortly before noon in his gutted shack located northwest of town. Walsh’s brother-in-law Frank Smith and Smith’s son found the body lying face down on the floor with the roof caved in on top of it.
Spirit Lake coroner Dr. K.L. Clayton attributed death of suffocation.

An overheated stove in the shack was the cause of the fire which completely demolished the small residence, relatives said this morning.

The victim was born on April 27, 1911 at Piper City, Ill. He and his family moved to Superior in 1915. Walsh received his grade school training in the Superior schools.

He was married in 1928 to Harriet Coleman of Milford. The marriage took place in Estherville. The couple then resided in several towns in Minnesota before settling in Minneapolis for 10 years starting in 1945.

Walsh only recently had returned to Superior and was engaged in farming at the time of his death.
Surviving him in addition to his wife are nine children, eight boys and one girl. They are Ralph and Robert of Chicago, Vernon of Webb, Kenneth of Ft. Riley, Kans., Roger, stationed at Parks Air Base in California, and Marvin, Darreld, Gerald and Wanda, all of Milford.

Two brothers, James of Canton, ill., and Ralph of Superior, and two sisters, Mrs. Frank Smith of Superior and Terry Hansen of Milford, also survive.

Services are tentatively set for Monday at 9 a.m. at St. Patrick’s church with the Rev. Father J. H. Duhigg officiating.

Rosary will be recited Sunday night at 8 o’clock at the Sandin Funeral home. Burial will be in the Catholic cemetery in Estherville. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, February 26, 1955)

Superior Farmer Dies in Burning Shack Friday
The body of Andrew Walsh, 44, was recovered from the ashes of his fire-demolished home near Superior by Dickinson county authorities Friday morning. Walsh’s body was found lying face down on the dirt floor of his shack at 11:46 a.m. Friday by his brother-in-law, Frank Smith and Smith’s son, who notified the Dickinson County Sheriff’s office. Dr. K. L. Clayton, Spirit Lake, Dickinson county coroner, said that Walsh died of suffocation and added that the body was badly burned.

The exact cause of the fire was not determined, however, Sheriff Ike Kissinger said it could have been caused by an overheated stove. George Aggen, Spirit Lake fire chief and Dr. Clayton accompanied Sheriff Kissinger to the scene of the fire located a mile north and a mile west of Superior.

According to authorities, Walsh’s nephew, Fred Smith, was passing by the shack when he noticed smoke billowing from under the door. He tried to enter the shack but the door was locked on the inside. He then returned to his home and got his father, Frank Smith. The two of them returned and broke down the door and found Walsh’s body in the ashes with the room caved in on top of him. The body was taken to the Sandin Funeral home at Estherville.

Walsh was born April 27, 1911, at Piper City, Ill. He and his family moved to Superior in 1915 and he attended Superior schools.

He married Harriet Coleman of Milford in 1928 at Estherville. The couple lived in several towns in Minnesota and in 1945 moved to Minneapolis where they lived for the next 10 years. Walsh returned recently to superior and took up farming.

He is survived by his wife and nine children, eight boys and a girl. They are Ralph and Robert of Chicago, Vernon of Webb, Kenneth of Ft. Riley, Kans., Roger, stationed at Parks Air base in California, and Marvin, Derreld, Gerald and Wanda, all of Milford.

He is also survived by two brothers, James of Canton, Ill., and Ralph of Superior, and two sisters, Mrs. Frank Smith of Superior and Mrs. Perry Hanson of Milford.

Services were conducted Monday morning at St. Patrick’s church at Estherville and burial was there in the Catholic cemetery. The Rev. Father J. H. Duhigg officiated at the services. Rosary was recited Sunday evening at 8 o’clock at the funeral home. (Spirit Lake Beacon, Spirit Lake, IA, March 3, 1955)