The state of Michigan numbers in its rural population a very large per cent of people of Irish lineage Some of the most successful farmers are of Irish birth or extraction and many of the most successful merchants of the towns and villages are of the same race The Hibernian element is noticeable in St Clair county and if a stranger were set down in Eromett township any knowledge of his location he might easily imagine himself in the Emerald Isle of the most successful farmers of township was David Donahue He born in Canada in 1852 of Irish parents being the son of John and Anna Fitzgerald Donahue His father settled Canada but soon decided to spend the remainder of his life under the stars stripes moving to Emmett township St Clair county in 1850 Very few others preceded him his own and two other families constituting the population had ever been his business and he readily set about to clear up his land and with aid of his son David he soon had a good farm under a splendid state of cultivation July 17 1875 David Donahue was united in marriage to Jane Corry a daughter of Andrew and Eliza Wallace Corry The father of Mrs Donahue was of Irish birth also coming to Michigan in 1853 and locating in Kimball township The country was so wild that deer unaccustomed to fear herded with and grazed in the midst of the cattle and were easily approached and shot Of course it is an Irishman who describes them as being really so wild they were actually tame Bears also roamed the woods causing not a little uneasiness to mothers youths and children Mr Corry was a splendid marksman and passionately fond of hunting but never allowed it to interfere with its regular business He owned one hundred and twenty acres of choice land was successful in his business and became quite prosperous He and wife were the parents of four children Jane William is a successful farmer John is also a farmer and cultivates the old home place and Sarah is the wife of Robert Wallace a policeman at Bay City After having spent an industrious and useful life Andrew Corry died in September 1897 In politics he was a Republican but never aspired to office Soon after marriage Mr and Mrs Donahue moved to Emmett and here he in 1882 established a store of four lines groceries hardware furniture and undertaking This he conducted successfully while his health permitted After an illness covering many months he died May n 1900 sincerely mourned by the whole community He was for a number of years township clerk president of the village board and an officer of the schools He was a Catholic and always liberal not only in his support of the church but to every worthy cause Toward the erection of the new Catholic church at Emmett he paid three hundred and eighty dollars It is one of the finest houses of worship in Michigan and was erected at a cost of about sixty thousand dollars He was a member of the Maccabees and of the CMBA His business was taken in charge by Mrs Donahue who in addition to other duties in 1901 superintended the erection of a large and comfortable home on the farm three quarters of a mile north of the village It is of brick substantially constructed and beautifully finished and makes a very desirable residence Mr and Mrs Donahue had six children Anna is still at home John is a traveling salesman William superintends the work on the farm and assists his mother in the management of the furniture and undertaking Business Nellie Leo and Blanche Mrs Donahue is very popular throughout the locality in which she resides.