Mark your calendar and join us on Monday, January 24th at 1pm. Authors Pat Cummins and Elizabeth Rice will share their stories of early Irish Immigrants and/or their descendants in their book “Irish Immigrants in Michigan: A History in Stories”.
To leave or stay was the question for the Irish in the nineteenth century. In Ireland, people suffered persecution, poverty and famine. America offered freedom and opportunity. For those who left and came to Michigan, the land’s abundant natural resources encouraged them to become loggers, miners, fisherman, traders and farmers. Others became rail workers, merchants, lawyers, soldiers, doctors and teachers. One Irish immigrant who made his way to Clinton County became a newspaperman, starting a newspaper when that type of work was often a one man show. This man, John W. Fitzgerald, was the son of Michael Fitzgerald who had emigrated from Ireland. John W. Fitzgerald started the Ovid Register Union shortly after returning from serving with the Third Michigan Calvary Regiment during the U.S. Civil War. His words diligently pieced together letter by letter, brought local news and news of the wider world to the other settlers living in the county.
These two authors will share true stories of early Irish Immigrants and their descendants in their book. There have included one true story from each of Michigan’s 83 counties. The public is invited to come listen to some of these stories and learn about some of the ordinary extraordinary people who helped to form Michigan’s early statehood history.
Their book, “Irish Immigrants in Michigan: A History in Stories” will be available for purchase with the authors signature. Maker plans now to join this event on Monday, January 24th at 1pm at the Ovid Public Library.
