Central California Biographies

A memorial and biographical history of the coast counties of Central California : illustrated : containing 
a history of this important section of the Pacific coast from the earliest period of its discovery to the 
present time, together with glimpses of its auspicious future, illustrations and full-page portraits of 
some of its eminent men, and biographical mention of many of its pioneers, and prominent citizens of 
to-day (1893)

Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Company
Author: Barrows, Henry D; Ingersoll, Luther A

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 


M. F. WALSH, one of the most prosperous and influential citizens of Castroville, Monterey 
county, California, is a native of Ireland, where he was born forty-two years ago. In his 
youth the love of liberty was instilled into his mind. When the patriots of 1867 revolted 
against English oppression, he was one of the first to take up arms in defense of his country's 
rights, though comparatively a boy at that time. Being one of the " wild geese," he sailed for 
America the same year, and landed in Boston, Massachusetts, where he remained twelve 
months. 

Finding the climate of the East too severe he came to San Francisco and engaged in the 
shoe business, in all of its branches. While there he took an active part in organizing 
some of the leading Irish societies of that city. In 1877 he came to Castroville, and 
becoming charmed with the tine climate and beautiful scenery, concluded to locate there 
permanently. 

Acting upon this resolution he sent for his family, bought him a little home, and has 
ever since had the best interest of the town and county at heart. He owns a large amount 
of real estate in the old and new towns, which he has carefully improved. His residence 
and beautiful grounds are an ornament to Castroville, and a credit to himself. He be- 
lieves implicitly in the town as the coming city of Monterey county, and works ever with 
that object in view. Besides his real-estate interests, he is an active and prosperous mer- 
chant of his town, and is well and favorably known throughout the Golden State. 

He has four bright children, attending the normal and home schools, who, with their 
mother, a most amiable daughter of the Emerald Isle, form a happy household.