Johann Joseph Walther * 26 Jan 1829 Selkingen, Valais + 25 Jun 1899 Chicago IL | Nous allons partager avec vous des histoires incroyables !

How we managed to make the link between two photos, located on either side of the Atlantic

We found once in a family album two photographs of Johann Joseph Walther and Sarah Flanagan, next one to the other.

Thanks to our network, we could elucidate the fact that Sarah was Johann Joseph’s wife, and not only locate the descendants of this cousin in the US , but also find a photography matching ours ! We could also understand why Johann Joseph, born in Selkingen, canton Wallis, Switzerland, and Sarah Flanagan, born in Dublin, Ireland, joined their destinies.

Walther Alphons, * 14 Sep.1836 in Selkingen,✝︎ 22 Aug.1898 in Sion, son of Aloys and Marie Josephine Zeiter :

⚭ 1) Marie-Thérèse de Riedmatten, 2) Clothilde Piotaz-Pillet ; from Selkingen in Sion; lawyer and notary : Suppleant, then Grand Councillor, Goms, 1865-1872, 1893-1894 (elected Grand Councillor, Goms, on 2. 3. 1873, then Council of State on 28 May 1873, the same on 4 March 1877 and 29 May 1877, 6 March 1881 and 19 May 1881, 1 March 1885 and 20 May 1885, 3 March 1889 and 24 May 1889); Council of State, 1872-1893 : Head of the Department of the Interior, 1872-1876, and the Department of Finance, 1876-1893: Vice-President, 1873-1874, 1878-1879, 1883-1884, 1888-1889, and President of the Council of State, 1874-1875, 1879-1880, 18841885, 1889-1890 ; Secretary to the Department of Finance : reporter to the Administrative Disputes Court : Cantonal archivist and librarian ; Lieutenant.

Notices biographiques des autorités valaisannes

Johann Joseph Walther, * 26 Jan.1829 Selkingen, ✝︎ 25 Jun.1899 Chicago IL , buried at the St. Maria Cemetery in Chicago ⚭ 1857 Rome, Italy to Sarah Flanagan

Joseph A. Walther a well known resident of Homestead has a remarkable history. He is 50 years old, was born in Switzerland and was a bodyguard of Pope Pius IX. being a member of the Swiss Guards. He was, afterwards, a courier for Emperor Fredrick and travelled with the Monarch to Italy. He was married to Miss Sarah Flanagan at Santa Mariah Church in Rome. He came to America in 1860 and has resided in Homestead since 1870. He can speak Italian, German, French, Swiss and English.

From the Baltimore Daily News, Tuesday June 11. 1880 Headings About People and Things

http://xml.memovs.ch/318phA02-064.xml

What is remarkable is that Johann Joseph and Alphons, cousins at the 7th row, were born in the small village of Selkingen, at 7 years of distance, and they deceased in the same year.

Discover Selkingen : https://www.obergoms.ch/mountain-village/villages/selkingen/

Virtual tour of Selkingen :

On August 8th, 2020, we had a Zoom virtual tour of Selkingen with the Walther cousins from USA.

See attached documentation: https://audrin.ch/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Virtual-tour-of-Selkingen.pdf

Graftschaft Selkingen Aug. 2 2016

Sarah Flanagan

* 14 Mar 1823 Wakeford, Dublin, Ireland + 22 May 1901 Cook Co. IL

Sarah was born March 14,1823 at County Wakeford, Ireland.
She left to travel, as companion to a sick lady, Mrs. Hamilton (English) and was to be gone six months but never went home. Travelled by coach, 2 hours a day from Ireland to Rome. Mrs. Hamilton made arrangements for her to visit all places of interest enroute. Stayed in Rome as governess to little Dutchess Salvesthe, met Johann Joseph Walther there as he was in service with Swiss guards. Married him in 1857 and came to America in 1860. She came to America as Companion to a Mrs. Hairtson.

http://xml.memovs.ch/318phA02-063.xml