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Henry and Effie (Starks) Irish: Henry W. “Chippy” Irish, the son of Giles and Ellen Irish, was

born in St Lawrence County, New York State, on August 11, 1864. Henry's uncles including

Ruben, Samuel, and George Irish moved to Langlade County in the late 1800's. At some

point prior to 1888, Henry was living near Antigo, Wisconsin. He worked in area logging camps

and most likely worked at some point for Chester Starks. Henry married Chester's daughter,

Effie, on April 30, 1888. Effie May Starks, the daughter of Chester O. and Martha (Eastman)

Starks, was born July 23, 1872' at Freemont, Wisconsin. They had two children; Myrtle G. Irish,

and Chester J. Irish, both born in Langlade, County.

Henry and Effie separated in November of 1897, and were officially divorced June 14, 1899.

Later that year Effie married Matt Zahringer and they moved with the children to Laona. Henry

migrated west, and in 1912 he married Mary Ellen McNair, having three children; Anne M. Irish

born 1914, William H. Irish born 1919, and Frank E. Irish born 1923. Henry died January 25,

1937, at Caldwell, Idaho.

Myrtle G. Irish: Myrtle was born August 11, 1889, in Langlade County. She married

Fred Tomany, the son of Joseph and Mary Tomany on July 15, 1909. They had one

daughter, Evelyn Marie Tomany, born May 29, 1910 in Laona. Evelyn married

Alphonse L. Masse July 17, 1926, and they had three sons; Chester G. Masse,

Robert Masse, and Ronald L. Masse.

Myrtle’s second marriage was to Earl “Griff” Milham, son of James and Annie Milham,

on February 7, 1916, in Laona. They had one son, Earl H. Milham born August 23,

1917. Earl married Margie Tyler and they had a son, Ronnie Milham. Myrtle died

December 3, 1926, in Laona.

Chester John Irish: Chester J. ”Chet” Irish was born September 3, 1891 at Bryant in

Langlade County. He came to Laona in 1899 at age 9, and married Mary Anna Betker

October 30, 1911, in Laona. Mary, the daughter of Carl and Mary Betker, was born

September 6, 1891, and came to Laona in 1909. They had two sons; John H. Irish

born 1913, and Harold C. Irish born 1919.

During the first year of their marriage, Chester and Mary lived in lower town Laona next

to the Hotel Zahringer. In 1912 they purchased 40 acres in Starks Settlement from

Chet’s mother. The property first came into the family in 1906 when it was purchased

by Chet’s uncle, Levi W. Starks. In 1921 they purchased 40 acres to the west of their

property from the Connor Lumber and Land Company, and in 1927 purchased an

additional 80 acres to the west from E. J. Perkins and M. L. Munsert.

For a while Mary was a cook in a restaurant before taking charge

of the family farm. Mary loved her farm and being outdoors,

raising her boys in a firm but loving way, and being a good

neighbor and friend to all that crossed her path. She was multi-

lingual and many retired lumberjacks would stop by for a good

meal and to visit in their native language. Mary also had a

brother, Peter Betker, of Laona, and a sister Mrs. Peter (Martha)

Simonis, of Blackwell, living in Forest County.

Over the years Chet worked at many things. As a young teenager he helped the cook in a lumber camp, and as an adult he had his own logging and small saw mill operation. During the twenties he owned and operated “Irish Place” and the “C. J. Irish Grocery Store” in Laona. As an active democrat, he often ran for public office. Over the years he served as Laona Justice of the Peace, Laona Town Chairman, County Board Member, and was elected County Highway Commissioner on two separate occasions. Chet enjoyed hunting, but loved to fish for the big northern pike and muskies in Silver Lake. He owned the first house boat on Silver Lake which he constructed from recycled materials.

Mary died March 29, 1964, at her home in Stark's Settlement, and Chester died July 8, 1970, at age 78.

John Harold Irish: John H. Irish was born in Laona on February 27, 1913. He attended Laona grade

school and high school, Carroll College and Central State Teacher's College in Stevens Point, graduating

with a bachelors degree in education in 1938. He worked in a logging camp for the Connor Company and

taught school in Laona for five years. In 1945 he was appointed postmaster in Laona and served until 1974.

In his later years, he volunteered as an EMT for the Laona Rescue Squad. He was a member of St.

Leonard's Holy Name Society, the Laona School Board, and the Wisconsin Valley Library Board.

He married Marian Morency, the daughter of Richard and Isadora (Butler) Morency on June 20, 1940, at

St. Leonard's Catholic church. The couple lived on the northwest shore of Silver Lake, and Marian taught

school in Laona for many years. John and Marian had two children, both born in Laona; a daughter Mary

Ann Irish who married David G. Zoch, and Michael J. Irish who married Debra Kuenzi.

John died October 26, 1987, at St. Mary's Hospital in Rhinelander, Wisconsin.

Harold Chester Irish: Harold C. "Izzy" Irish was born in Laona in April 2, 1919. He was a graduate

of Laona High School and the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point. He was a Marine Corps fighter

pilot who saw action in the South Pacific during World War II. After the war, Harold returned to Laona

where he built and operated the Laona Airport from 1946 to 1950. On August 19, 1947, he married

Mary L. Murphy, the daughter of James and Eulalia Murphy. Mary was a teacher in Laona for one

year prior to starting a family. The couple lived on the northwest shore of Silver Lake next to John and

Marian Irish.

In 1955 they moved to Shawano where Harold taught science at Franklin Middle School until his

retirement in 1978. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, woodworking and spending time with his family at

their cottage each summer on Silver Lake. Harold and Mary had four children who were all born in

Laona; Harold M. Irish (1948-1948), James P. Irish (never married), John C. Irish who married Lynne

A. Burns, and Jane M. Irish who married Thomas J. Daul. Mary was also a teacher in Shawano for

many years at both the middle school and the high school.

Harold died May 22, 1995, at his home in Shawano, Wisconsin.

Two generations of famlies connected to the Henry and Effie Irish family include: Betker, Burns, Butler, Daul, Kuenzi, Massee, McNair, Milham, Morency, Murphy, Simonis, Tomany, Tyler, Zahringer, and Zoch.

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