Irish in Kalamazoo

Irish migration patterns in the 19th century suggests that most who arrived in Michigan, ended up either working as manual laborers in Detroit or Grand Rapids, or in some cases, migrated toward the northern portion of the state to find employment in the mining and lumber industries. Although a smaller number than other nationalities, the Irish did settle in the Kalamazoo area over the course of the 19th century, with an even smaller number, arriving in the 20th century. Often, Irish immigrants were too poor to afford land to farm in southwest Michigan, and so the larger cities, where the larger number of industrial jobs were located, were the better option for those escaping the ravages of the Great Potato Famine. The 1850 census recorded around 270 Irish residents residing in Kalamazoo County. Fifty years later, the number of those living in the county who had been born in Ireland totaled around 550, a relatively small number compared with the much larger arrival of Dutch immigrants over the same time period.

In the later part of the 19th century, the local community began to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a banquet at Turn Verein Hall, speakers, musical performances, and Catholic church-related addresses. Many of the surnames of both congregants and staff at St. Augustine’s Cathedral would suggest there was active participation on the part of local Irish Americans in church affairs. Cork Street was alleged to have been named because of the number of nearby residents in the southeastern portion of the city with connections to County Cork, Ireland.

Every year, a downtown parade sponsored by the Kalamazoo Irish American Club continues to bring attention to Irish culture and heritage. Some notable 19th and 20th century residents include:

George A. O’Brien: Among the founders of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in 1837.

John Kilgore: John Kilgore settled on 94 acres of land in section 34 of Kalamazoo Township in the 1840s. Kilgore’s land was perfect for successful dairy farming, with the western portion of it later becoming Blanche Hull Park. Kilgore’s son George took over the family farm after his father’s death in 1874.

Captain John Dudgeon: Northside Neighborhood land owner, grain merchant, village President, and organizer and first captain of the Kalamazoo Light Guards.

James and William Doyle: Local contractors and masons who built the William A. Doyle Building in 1891.

William F. “Paddy” Miller: An Irish farmer with a large stretch of land in section 25 of the township. Miller Road takes its name from this early resident. His land was eventually sold to the city in 1918, which then developed a city park called ‘Paddy Miller’ for many years, until it was changed to Hays Park. Miller died in 1872 and is buried along with his wife Abigail in Mountain Home Cemetery.

Monsignor Frank A. O’Brien: Led St. Augustine Church from 1883-1921, and founded Kalamazoo’s first hospital, Borgess Hospital. O’Brien also oversaw the development of Barbour Hall and Nazareth College.

Written by Ryan Gage, Kalamazoo Public Library staff, August 2024