Elizabeth (Lily) Walsh
Elizabeth (Lily) Walsh was born in 1872 in London, England. A deaf-mute girl, Lily initially caught the attention of Ambrose Bierce with her poetry and would later become his protege. Lily was sent to the Wilkinson’s school for the deaf in Berkeley, California as a result of her condition and health. While at the school she was was cared for by Dr. C.W. Doyle and Harriet Hershberg (both individuals referenced throughout the “Bierce-Walsh” correspondence.) She died in October of 1895 and was laid to rest at Saint Marys Cemetery in Oakland, Alameda County, California.
Myles Walsh
Myles Walsh was born on November 15, 1874 in London, England. He became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1890 and married Louis Phinney Newman on June 30, 1903. Together the couple had four children (the first born, Lydia, is briefly mentioned in Letter 50). A college graduate, Myles chose the profession of accountant, working for such companies as the Casualty Company of America and the Niagara Fire Insurance Company. He died at the age of 93 on February 5, 1968 in Westwood, New Jersey.