This record deals with what family information has been found on the internet and primarily from one valuable online source for Manitowoc Genealogy, http://www.2manitowoc.com/. This web-page has provided a wealth of information and is probably the best I have encountered regarding our family history. As of now what is reflected here deals with the records regarding the cemetery of St. Isidore’s Catholic Church in Meeme where our grandmother Mary Ellen Donahue was born and raised. Our Great-Grandparents, Thomas and Mary Donahue are not buried in this cemetery however. After selling the Donahue farm near the end of the 19th century they purchased a small home in Manitowoc where they lived out the rest of their lives. They were buried in the Calvary Catholic cemetery in the town of Manitowoc. The web source mentioned here has pictures of the Donahue grave marker posted on their web-page, one of very few pictures they post, and the following links will take you to those pictures. A small boy is captured in one photo and he remains unidentified.
http://www.2manitowoc.com/01/43donahuemary.jpg
http://www.2manitowoc.com/01/43donahuemary2.jpg
When one attempts to gather information on any family of the 1800’s the most accessible and credible source is always the records of the local churches that the ancestors attended. That has proved to be the case for both of our Irish ancestral families, the McGinnis’s of Chatham, New Brunswick and the Donahue’s of Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. In New Brunswick it is St. Michael’s of Chatham and in Wisconsin it is St. Isidore’s of Meeme or Osman. Meeme is where the Donahue home was located for most records and Osman, but a few miles away, is where the church was located. Only the cemetery remains an active part of a new parish near by. The old church and school have apparently been torn down or sold off. The Meeme-Osman area of Manitowoc County is about 15 miles to the southwest of the city of Manitowoc and but 3 miles to the west of Interstate 43 that runs north from Milwaukee to Green Bay, Wisconsin, following the Lake Michigan shore line.
The following short description and photo regarding St. Isidore’s is from the wonderful source mentioned above: http://www.2manitowoc.com/
Meeme Township, Manitowoc Co., Wisconsin
Location: Located on the east side of Highway 42 in Osman, directly in back of the church and school. The cemetery is well kept but does have large areas where there are no longer any markers. Copied Saturday and Sunday, August 20 and 21, 1977 by Marcie Baer, a member of the MCOCS. Earliest remaining stone is 1856.
By accessing a list on the Manitowoc web-site that transcribes the names and dates of all the headstones for the St. Isidore’s parish cemetery the Donahue’s of Manitowoc County are represented. Several graves of various ancestral family members are easily identified and can be traced on our family tree. A few other Donahue’s cannot be connected to our line but I strongly suspect that someday a connection might be proven.
Below is the list which appears to be the recorded Grave Transcriptions integrated somehow with actual parish records. The combination of data has led to some discrepancies between the two sources and they are not sorted out here. Actual relationships to our Great-Grandfather Thomas Donahue have been added after collaboration with other Donahue family history researchers. This is a combined effort of me, Molly McGinnis Wright of Dundee, Oregon, Sharon Donahue Moniowczak of Bark River, Michigan and Floyd Billings Jr., of Provo, Utah.
As is common with many ancestral surnames, the Donahue name also emerges from past records with several different spellings. Some variants are “Donaghue with or without the “O” in front, Donahoe or even Donohoe. O’Donaghue appears to be the most common spelling found in many 19th century records originating in Ireland, but not necessarily the original version. Many times the spelling is a clerical error and at other times different families adapted their own choice of spelling after they immigrated. What survives in the records of St. Isidore’s may be attributed to both reasons. We have no definite reasoning to apply to what the records reflect today.
Sharon Donahue Moniowczak and her brother, Richard Donahue, have compiled more extensive Church, Cemetery and even County records that I will attempt to scan and post at a future date. Their effort really needs to be properly recognized and presented as a stand alone posting. They put forth a considerable effort to gather all they did and it is greatly appreciated by the rest of us.
As always, I can only suggest that if you want to make any sense out of all of this that you download a Donahue family tree that I have uploaded and stored on Google Documents. That tree can be found at the following link but you will need to log into Google to view it-
http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=F.2d2eb78f-c53a-4948-b2eb-22fda413d199&hl=en&pli=1
One abbreviation might need explaining, i.e. “OSSW” has the meaning “On the same stone with”.
Michael Donahue-
Grave Transcription-
Michael, Son of, T.& M.A. Donahoe, Born, Sept. 20, 1885, Died Febr. 16, 1886,
Budded on earth, in bloom in heaven., ossw: 1885-1886
Relationship to Thomas Donahue Sr.:
Grandson of Thomas Donahue Sr. and Mary McKeough Donahue, son of Thomas Donahue Jr.
For my generation, this would be a son of our Grand-Uncle, Thomas Donahue Jr. Relationship tables do not actually assign a relationship of the son to my current generation. The tables stop assigning at the level of the father of this Michael Donahue.
Thomas Donahue-
Grave Transcription-
Thomas Donahoe, Born June 9, 1857, Died, March 14, 1887 (War vet flag holder)
Footstone: T.D.
1857-1887
The Church Record for the burial states:
Thomas Donahue, no stone, d. 14 Mar. 1887, age 29 yrs., husband of Maria Anna Donahue (from records of St. Isidore Cath. ch. bk.1 p.201)
Relationship to Thomas Donahue Sr.:
Son of Thomas and Mary McKeough Donahue and an older brother of our Grandmother, Mary Ellen.
This is the father of Michael Donahue as explained in the first Grave Transcription above and a Granduncle to today’s generation.
Patrick Donahue-
Grave Transcription-
Patrick Donahue, ossw: Wife, Honorah
The Church Record for the burial states:
Patrick Donahue, d. 9 Jan. 1917, age 88 yrs, (from records of St. Isidore Cath. ch. bk.1 p.220)
Relationship to Thomas Donahue Sr.:
Brother. Brother Patrick emigrated from Ireland in the mid-1850’s after his brother Thomas had begun farming. Most likely Thomas promoted if not financed his younger brother to help him immigrate and begin his life of farming nearby.
Hanorah Donahue-
Grave Transcription-
Hanorah, wife of P. Donahue, Died June 20, 1896, Aged 63 years, a native of Roscommon Ire., ossw: Husband, Patrick1833-1896
The Church Record for the burial states:
Hanora Donahue, d. 22 June 1896 (from records of St. Isidore Cath. ch. bk.1 p.206)
Relationship to Thomas Donahue Sr.:
Sister-in-law, wife of Brother Patrick.
Hanorah’s maiden name was Luby. She married Patrick Donahue about 1858 in Manitowoc County. No trace of her family line has been found to date. She also was an immigrant from Roscommon in Ireland, an area just to the north of Galway where the Donahue’s originated.
John Donahue-
Grave Transcription-
John, Son of, Patrick & Honorah, Donahue, Died, June 23, 1897, Age 34 years.
1862 or 1863-1897
The Church Record for the burial states:
John Donahue, d. 25 June 1897, age 30 yrs (from records of St. Isidore Cath. ch. bk.1 p.207)
Relationship to Thomas Donahue Sr.:
Nephew, son of Brother Patrick and Hanorah.
To the current generation this is a “first cousin, twice removed”. Removed in essence only indicates the individual was of another generation. Our cousin Tommie of Florence is a first cousin once removed. I constantly have to refer to the following definition each time I come across the relationship in our family data.
Patrick Donahue-
The Church Record for the burial of Patrick Donahue provides the following:
Patrick Donahue, d. 7 Dec. 1899, age 22 yrs, par. John Donahue and Margaret Fitzgerald (from records of St. Isidore Cath. ch. bk.1 p.209)
1877-1899
The following notation was inserted into the internet list. It was taken from a local German language newspaper. The Irish and the German farmers of the region lived side by side and the families intermarried as in the case of Margaret Donahue, our Grandmother’s sister that married an Arnold Siehrs. They preserved their separate cultures but in essence they were all proud members of the local community.
From Der Nord Westen, 14 Dec. 1899:
Patrick Donahue of Meeme, who was working in a lumber camp near Menominee, Michigan on Thurs. last week, was hit by a falling tree and killed. His body was brought to Meeme for burial. He was 22-1/2 yrs. old.
Relationship to Thomas Donahue Sr.:
Grandson, son of John Donahue-
To the current generation, he also would be a first cousin, once removed.
Removed-
When the word "removed" is used to describe a relationship, it indicates that the two people are from different generations. You and your first cousins are in the same generation (two generations younger than your grandparents), so the word "removed" is not used to describe your relationship.
The term "once removed" mean that there is a difference of one generation. For example, your mother's first cousin is your first cousin, once removed. This is because your mother's first cousin is one generation younger than your grandparents and you are two generations younger than your grandparents. This one-generation difference equals "once removed."
Twice removed means that there is a two-generation difference. You are two generations younger than a first cousin of your grandmother, so you and your grandmother's first cousin are first cousins, twice removed.
John Donahue-
The Church Record for the burial of John Donahue states:
John Donahue, no stone, d. 1 Oct. 1912, age 62 (from records of St. Isidore Cath. ch. bk.1 p.217)
1850-1912
Relationship to Thomas Donahue Sr.:
Son of Thomas and Mary McKeough Donahue.
A Granduncle to today’s generation.
One of the few if not the only child of Thomas and Mary that lived his life out in the Meeme or Osman areas.
Ida Donahue-
The Church Record for the burial of Ida states:
Ida Donahue, no stone, d. 18 July 1911, age 20 yrs, par. John Donahue and Margaret Fitzgerald, from records of St. Isidore Cath. ch. bk.1 p.216)
1881-1911
Relationship to Thomas Donahue Sr.:
Granddaughter, daughter of John Donahue and Margaret Fitzgerald
William Donahue-
The Church Record for the burial of William Donahue states:
William Donahue, no stone, d. 30 Nov. 1906, age 19 yrs (from records of St. Isidore Cath. ch. bk.1 p.213)
1887-1906
Relationship to Thomas Donahue Sr.:
Grandson, son of John Donahue
The Donohue’s within the record that follow appear not to be related. Molly McGinnis has a very curious mind and is very good at bringing up possibilities and some of her notations are included here for future reference.
Donahue-
Grave Transcription-
Mary Donohue, daughter of, Patrick & Mary HAYES, and wife of Michael Donohue, Born March 20, 1818, Died Oct. 7, 1876, ossw: 1818-1876
Relationship to Thomas Donahue Sr.:
Unknown relationship. Most likely not related.
Molly’s comment:
Another puzzle. In 1860 in Meeme, there’s a Charles & Margaret in their household as: John Hayes, Michael Donahue (age 50 born Ire), Jeremiah Donahue (age 15 born Ire), and Mary Donahue (age 8 born Pennsylvania). It’s interesting that a John Hayes is listed as he could be a brother-in-law to this Michael Donahue if he’s the Michael married to Mary. However, the only Mary listed is an 8 year old. Notice again, that young Mary was born in Pennsylvania as the earliest Jeremiah Donahue children were. This is looked like a good possibility as John Hayes is listed and supposedly Mary Donohue was the daughter of Patrick & Mary Hayes—they may have been siblings. But where’s Mary born 1818? Could they have not gotten married until after 1860? Perhaps this Michael had been a widower?
Another possibility, is in 1870 in Plymouth, Sheboygan Co. There’s a Michael born 1807 Ire, Mary born 1820 Ire, along with a Mary 16, Patrick 14 and Dennis 12. Since the Jeremiah group was in Sheboygan Co, there may be a connection there, too. Hope Floyd has some input for this one.
My comment:
When Brother Patrick arrived from Ireland, he undoubtedly traveled with another sibling, Mary Donahue. Mary appears in the records at about the same time that Patrick does suggesting the older brother Thomas may have provided the means for both of his siblings to immigrate. Perhaps there were other family members in Ireland that did not come to the U.S. leaving the possibility that we may have relatives in Ireland even today. That remains to be proven.
Mary Donahue, again, a sister of our Great-Grandfather, married one Arnold Siehrs as mentioned earlier. The next five descriptions are of Mary’s family. The children of Mary and Arnold of course would be distant cousins to our current generation.
Arnold Siehrs-
Grave Transcription-
Arnold Siehrs, Dec. 25, 1866, Apr.8, 1939
1866-1939
Relationship to Thomas Donahue Sr.:
Nephew, son of Mary Donahue Siehrs and husband Arnold
Mary Siehrs-
Grave Transcription-
Mary Siehrs, Dec. 25, 1819, Apr. 30, 1915, next to Large Siehrs monument,
1819-1915
Relationship to Thomas Donahue Sr.:
Sister, Mary Donahue Siehrs.
Also next to Large Siehrs monument
Arnold Siehrs-
Grave Transcription-
Arnold Siehrs, Dec. 13, 1817, Jan. 3, 1896, next to:
1817-1896
The Church Record for the burial states:
Arnold Siehrs, d. 6 Jan. 1896, age 73 yrs. (from records of St. Isidore Cath. ch. bk.1 p.206)
Relationship to Thomas Donahue Sr.:
Brother-In-Law , Husband of sister Mary Donahue Siehrs
John Siehrs-
Grave Transcription-
John, Sept. 26, 1863, Oct. 13, 1934,ossw:
1863-1934
John Siehrs-
Grave Transcription-
John, Sept. 26, 1863, Oct. 13, 1934,ossw:
1863-1934
Relationship to Thomas Donahue Sr.:
Nephew, son of Mary Donahue Siehrs and husband Arnold.
Catherine Siehrs-
Grave Transcription-
Catherine, July 31, 1873, May 12, 1941
1873-1941
Relationship to Thomas Donahue Sr.:
Wife of Nephew, John Siehrs
Donahue’s- Related or not ?
Another Donahue Family is at rest in St. Isidore's and collaboration with others results in no connection to our Donahue’s. Some comments that passed between us while attempting to sort all this out are included here.
Family Marker Description-
Large stone-family name only. Separate stones read:
Katherine, 1856-1928, next to:
Nellie, Apr. 9, 1865, Apr. 23, 1913, next to:
Katharine, Sept. 15, 1819, Oct. 6, 1897, next to:
Jeremiah, Jan. 6, 1822, Dec. 20, 1909
Relationship of this family to Thomas Donahue Sr.:
Unknown, if any
Molly’s comment:
This is Jeremiah & Catherine Donahue with two of their daughters. Again, how are they connected to Thomas?
Floyd’s input:
This refers to a family that lived mostly in Sheboygan County. Much information about them is available in the Sheboygan county website. The mother's maiden name was Hayes and that is presumably what made for a connection to St. Isidore.
Church Records reveal the following detail of the family:
Jeremia Donahue, d. 23 Dec. 1909 (was buried at St. Michaels, Mitchell, Wis. moved to St. Isidore Cemetery, 3 Oct. 1911 (from records of St. Isidore Cath. ch. bk.1 p.216)
1822-1909
Molly’s comment:
Jeremiah Donahue was the husband of Catherine Donahue listed in #11. I’m hoping that Floyd has the connection to Thomas, if there is one to be had. Jeremiah & Catherine are in Plymouth, Sheboygan Co. in 1860; Greenbush, Sheboygan Co. in 1870; Mitchell, Sheboygan Co. 1880, 1895; & Jeremiah is living with son, Bart (Bartholomew) in 1900 also in Mitchell. Jeremiah immigrated in 1846 and was born in Ireland in Jan 1822 according to the 1900 census. Remember Floyd sent us a copy of a photo of one of his family with “relatives in Sheboygan”. Could these relatives possibly be connected to the Jeremiah Donahue family? Jeremiah & Catherine had a whole slew of kids: Johanna, Timothy, Eliza,
Catherine Donahue, d. 8 Oct. 1897, age 78 yrs (from records of St. Isidore Cath. ch. bk.1 p.207)
1819-1897
Helena (Nellie) Donahue, d. 23 Apr. 1913, age 47 yrs, from records of St. Isidore Cath. ch. bk.1 p.218)
1866-1913
Another different family:
Mikey, son of Cors & Mary Donohoe, Born Sept. 25, 1863, Died Aug.17, 1873
1863-1873
Relationship to Thomas Donahue Sr.
Unknown, if any
Floyd’s input:
Mikey is presumably a son of Cornelius & Mary Donahue who lived in Manitowoc 3rd ward for a short time around 1880. Cornelius was a railroad engineer.
Hi, we are not related, but I also have relatives buried in St Isidore's Cemetery. They are Mary (1881) and John O'Neil(l) (1883) and other relatives. So I just had to say, "Hello". Kelly Hikergirl3@aol.com
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