OBIT: John WALSH, 1880, Altoona, Blair County, PA

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Preparations for Rev. Father Walsh's Funeral.

  Rev. Father Walsh, who passed away at about 6 o'clock yesterday 
morning, is mourned by a very large circle of sorrowing friends.  The 
funeral will take place on Thursday morning.  There will be a requiem 
mass at St. John's Church at 9 o'clock.  Bishop Tuigg will be present 
and Father Wall, of Pittsburgh, will deliver the funeral sermon.  The 
body will be taken on a special train to Hollidaysburg about 11 
o'clock, where the interment will take place.  The members of the B. V. 
Sodality will meet in the church in their respective places at 8 
o'clock on Thursday morning.  Also the children of the convent schools 
will meet at the same hour in the convent.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Wednesday, June 9, 1880

The Dead Priest Lying in State.

  The remains of the dead Priest, Rev. Father John Walsh, were 
yesterday lying in state in the church which so often has been filled 
with his voice during the past few years.  All day long crowds of 
mourners passed in and out to take their last look at the dead.  The 
casket laid in the front of the church, and the remains were neatly 
arranged and bore a calm and peaceful look.  The whole building, inside 
and out, was covered with mourning.  The funeral will doubtless be one 
of the largest which has ever taken place in Altoona.  Many persons 
will accompany the train to Hollidaysburg on the special train.  The 
children of St. John's Convent and the Brothers' school will assemble 
in the convent rooms at 8 o'clock this morning.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Thursday, June 10, 1880

REV. FATHER WALSH
Last Offices of Respect to the Dead Priest.  An Immense Assemblage.

  Yesterday morning long before the hour announced, St. John's Church 
was filled in every part with an immense throng of mourners to pay the 
last token of respect to the deceased pastor.  At 8 o'clock the clergy 
congregated in the sanctuary to recite the office for the dead, and 
after that a pontifical requiem mass was said.  The Right Rev. Bishop 
Tuigg pontificated; Very Rev. Morris Walsh, vicar general of the 
diocese of Pittsburgh, was deacon of honor; Rev. A. P. Gibbs, of 
Pittsburgh, sub-deacon of honor; Rev. John Schell, of Altoona, deacon 
of the mass; Rev. M. M. Sheedy, of St. John's, sub-deacon of the mass, 
and Rev. James Nash, master of ceremonies.  At the close of mass Rev. 
William Pollard, of Birmingham, preached an eloquent sermon from II 
Timothy, 4th chapter.  He spoke very highly of the character of Father 
Walsh, whom he had known for many years.  At the conclusion of Father 
Pollard's remarks Bishop Tuigg made a few appropriate remarks.  When 
the ceremonies were completed the clergy retired to the sacristy and 
shortly after joined the funeral procession.  The procession, an 
immense one, wended its way to the depot.  Eighteen carloads of persons 
accompanied the remains to Hollidaysburg.  It was there met by St. 
George's Literary and Benevolent Association, The Blessed Virgin 
Sodality, the children and members of St. John's and St. Michael's 
churches and other friends of the deceased, numbering fully four 
thousand persons.  After the remains had been removed from the car and 
placed in the hearse, which was drawn by four horses, and the Bishop 
and priests, who numbered fifty-three, and the relatives of the 
deceased had been seated in carriages in waiting, the huge procession 
slowly proceeded up Allegheny street to Wayne; up Wayne to the Catholic 
cemetery, where the body was deposited in the vault previously prepared 
to receive it, with the most solemn and impressive ceremonies.  Never 
before was so much respect shown to the dead.  Almost the entire 
population turned out to honor the memory of a pure Christian man.  
Many of the stores and public houses were closed.
  It was near 2 o'clock when the funeral ceremonies had ended, and the 
vast multitude from Altoona had returned to the depot and were seated 
in the cars, after which the train moved slowly away.  Many, however, 
who tarried with friends in town were left behind, and were compelled 
to remain for the evening train. For twenty-seven years Father Walsh 
lived in Hollidaysburg, and was in charge of St. John's Catholic 
Church, which, by his self-sacrifice and faithful and persevering 
labor, he not only relieved from debt, but made it what it now is, the 
most valuable church property in the town, the bell on which was the 
first to tell the glad news of Lee's surrender.  Father Walsh was 
always the first to help the suffering.  In the words of the poet, 
Halleck, we can truly say:
    "None knew him but to love, 
     None named him but to praise."

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Friday, June 11, 1880

Blair County Genealogical Society, Old St. Mary's Cemetery, 
Hollidaysburg, Pa. -
Walsh, Rev. John, 1819-1880