John F. Walsh

John F. Walsh was born in Ogdensburg, N. Y., on February 2, 1855. He attended public schools of his native place until thirteen years of age, when he found employment as fireman of a locomotive on the Vermont Central railroad, remaining in that employ five years. He now took charge of a locomotive on the Cincinnati, Sandusky & Cleveland railroad, holding that position two years, when he began steamboating in the employ of the old Northern Transportation Line, out of Ogdensburg. In 1877 he shipped as wheelsman on the City of New York, and was next appointed second mate, serving as such two years, and transferring to the steamer Oswegatchie in the same capacity. His service as oiler in the steamer Gordon Campbell lasted during the season of 1880, and the following season he was appointed second engineer of the steamer Ontonagon, filling that berth off and on for four years. In 1884 Mr. Walsh took out chief's papers. He engineered the H. C. Schnoor two years, the propeller Newbury two years, fitted out the V. Swain, and brought out the steamer Caledonia, closing the season of 1889 on her. The following season he shipped as chief with Capt. Harry Mills in the steamer Bulgaria, remaining on her one year, and going with the Captain to the steamer Harper the following season, which he closed in the new steel steamer Gilcher. The next season he shipped as chief on the steamer R. E. Schuck, remaining on her and on the steamer G. F. Williams one year each. In 1895 he was appointed chief of the Nahant, continued as such one season, and then transferred to the steamer Britannic, which was lost by collision in the Detroit river. In 1896 he fitted out the Griffin, but finished the season in the steamer Sitka, laying her up at the close of navigation.

Mr. Walsh was united in marriage to Miss Annie L. Smith, of Ogdensburg, N. Y., on December 26, 1881. Five children have been born to them: Annie Lula, Mary Ellen, George P., Edward J. and Sarah E. Walsh.

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Volume I

This version of Volume II is based, with permission, on the work of the great volunteers at the Marine Captains Biographies site. To them goes the credit for reorganizing the content into some coherent order. The biographies in the original volume are in essentially random order.

Some of the transcription work was also done by Brendon Baillod, who maintains an excellent guide to Great Lakes Shipwreck Research.