Our Irish Connection

 Otto Schelske married Ettie Irish and Ettie had been married 3 times prior to meeting Otto and they tied the knot in March of 1889 in VanBuren, Michigan. A short time after the birth of their first born William Schelske was in November of that same year. And a short time after that they made the move to the north country of Antrim and Kalkaska Counties.



Marriage Record (click on image to enlarge)


Ettie's family was from Orleans County, New York. Her father was Justice Augustus Irish born in Otsego County, New York in February of 1822 to Charles Irish and Amy Anna Brown. Ettie's mother was Delila Ann Irish (and yes, her maiden name was Irish) born in July 1822 in New York to Job Irish and Elizabeth Bear.


Delila's parents according to Ettie Schelske

  Justice Irish and Delilah were married in Clarkson, Monroe Co., New York on August 5, 1846. Some time before 1860 they moved, with what seems to be the entire Irish family to VanBuren County, Michigan. The family is found in Bangor Twp. in the federal census 1860. Justice Irish enlisted in the volunteer regiment of Company G, Twenty Eighth Infantry on September 1, 1864 at Arlington , for 3 years at the age of 42. In a wild guess about why a 42 year old man would get invalved in this event I suppose he was encouraged to join in the war effort by his brother Robert who was a corporal in the Birge's Western Sharpshooters and had been invalved in the war from October of 1861.

Descriptive muster roll for Justice Irish.

Justice's experience with this venture was not so fortunate. During his tour of duty he contracted Typhoid Fever and was discharged June 23,1865. He had been sick since February so my guess is they sent him home to either recover or die. Unfortunately he died on July 2, 1865 and was buried at Pioneer Cemetery at Hartford, VanBuren County. I have had intentions of getting down there to pay my respects but I don't think he has a headstone. If this is true, I may have to do something about that. I have included a picture of Justice's muster roll, it's my favorite document because although I don't have a picture of him there is a discription. I have, however, found a picture of Justice's brother Robert. Since brothers tend to share a likeness it might be something of what Justice looked like, maybe.



Justice's brother Robert Irish

Justice Irish's grave