Title

Walter (1858-1888)

Abstract

Walter, a black man, was born in 1858, place unknown and possibly an enslaved child due to being born before the Civil War. All that is known of him is from his death certificate in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. Walter died May 2, 1888, of valvular heart disease. This is a condition where Walter had a shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain or possibly no symptoms. One of his four heart valves were damaged somehow and leaked causing these symptoms. Since Walter was a laborer, perhaps his physical job caused this disorder, or he was born with it. Whatever the case, Walter was only 30 years old when he died at the County Hospital and did not have the resources for a proper burial and was buried in the Poor Farm Cemetery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

I Lived – I Loved – I Laughed – I Cried

I should be able to rest in peace for eternity. I should be remembered. I was somebody.

Note

Fictive Narrative

This item was contributed a teacher, not a student.

Subject

Walter

Date

November 19, 2025

Creator

Jessica Piemonte