The Francis Donahue and Rosannah Henson Family of St Joseph County, Indiana: An Analysis of Francis' Migration from Ireland to Center Township, St Joseph County, Indiana in Census and Other Records

Francis (Frank) Donahue and Rosannah Henson (Hanson) were married in St Joseph County, Indiana on January 8, 1845 by E.F. Soren. This is the first evidence that I have of them in the South Bend, Indiana area. I have identified this family in two Sacred Heart Church, Notre Dame Baptismal records for their son Joannis and daughter Birgitta on June 10, 1859 as well as the 1860-1880 census records. It appears that Francis must have died sometime between 1860 and 1865 as wife Rosan is listed as a widow Managing the Farm without him in the 1870 census. Center Township is just south of Portage Township and the City of South Bend, Indiana. The compilation "Marriage Records of St Joseph County" lists their marriage as January 8, 1845 but the "Indiana Marriage Collection 1800-1941" lists August 1845 performed by Francis Donaghue but a note says he married here January 8, 1845. There is a Marriage record for a Frank Donahue to a Lois Williams on September 8, 1867 in Edwardsburg Michigan who may possibly be the son of Francis, but the marriage record would need to be obtained to confirm or rule it out. It is probably unlikely as this Frank Donahue appears in the Elkhart, Indiana 1880 census as having been born in Michigan (not Indiana), dad in Ireland, mom in Delaware (not Virginia); on the other hand the age is about right 38 and he is a Farmer. Elkhart is east of South Bend.

The objective of this compilation is to try to establish the earliest possible evidence of this family in the United States through all available resources. I would love to hear from anyone who believes that they may be a descendent of this family so that we can work together to find their origins in Ireland and migration trail to the U.S. This will most definitely be a work in progress and all findings I speculate on would have to be proven for accuracy with Ireland and U.S. marriage records, church baptismal records and death records among other genealogical resources. Please use this information with that caveat in mind so that nothing is assumed and no stones are left unturned to assure it's your family and the connection is accurate.

Special Note: There is a list of lot owners in the Cedar Grove Cemetery Microfilm 1637531 item 3 that indicates that the "Donahue family" owns lot number 146 in Section B. I'm not certain this is this particular Donahue family's specific lot but it would be worth checking on to rule it out! There is also a Donahue/Lahey plot 163 listed on this section.

Census, Church or other Record Date Born, Baptized, Married Father/ Husband Mother/ Wife Child Occupation; Misc.
Marriage Records of St Joseph County, Volume III, 1844-1855 Ancestry.com Database January 8, 1845 Donaghue, Francis Henson, Rosannah   Married by EF Sorin;
1850 US Census for St Joseph County, Indiana Center Township September 19, 1850 Census conducted Donahue, Francis, age 26 born in Ireland Donahue, Rosanah, age 23 born in Virginia Donahue, Mary Ellen, age 3 born in Indiana Francis is a Farmer with $400 in Real Estate
Sacred Heart Church, Notre Dame Baptismal Records June 10, 1859 Baptism Donoghue, Francisco of Hibernia Hanson, Rosanna Joannis of the South Bend Parish; Joannis Treanor Sp
Sacred Heart Church, Notre Dame Baptismal Records June 10, 1859 Baptism Donoghue, Francisco of Hibernia Hanson, Rosanna Birgitta of the South Bend Parish; Joannis Treanor Sp
1860 US Census for St Joseph County, Center Township, Indiana June 23, 1860 Census Conducted Donahugh, Frank, age 38 born in Ireland Donahugh, Rosanna, age 34 born in Virginia Donahugh, Mary, age 13 born inIndiana Frank is a Farmer with $8000 real estate and $600 Personal Estate; Owen McClerr from Ireland lives with them
" " " " Donahugh, Jane, age 8 born in Indiana  
" " " " Donahugh, John, age 6 born in Indiana  
" " " " Donahugh, Mohala, age 6/12 born in Indiana  
" " " " Donahugh, Bridget, age 3 born in Indiana  
" " " " Donahugh, Francis, age 18 born in Indiana  
1870 US Census for St Joseph County, Center Township, Indiana July 27, 1870 Census conducted Donahue, Francis age 47 born in Ireland Donahue, Rosan, 43 born in Virginia Donahue, Nancy J, age 18 born in Indiana Francis is in Farming with $1000 Real Estate and $1000 Personal Estate
" " " " Donahue, John, 15 born in Indiana Works on Farm
" " " " Donahue, Bridget, 12 born in Indiana  
" " " " Donahue, Mahola, 10 born in Indiana  
" " " " Donahue, Eliza, 8 born in Indiana  
" " " " Donahue, Rhoda, 4 born in Indiana  
1880 US Census for St Joseph County, Indiana Center Township, District 166 Ennumerated on June 1880   Donahue, Rosanna, Widow, 54 born in Virginia Donahue, John, 23 yr old son born in Indiana; dad born in Ireland, mom in Virginia Rosanna manages the farm, son John is a Farmer
" "   " Donahue, Bridget, 22 born in Indiana, dad in Ireland, mom in Virginia at home
" "   " Donahue, Mahala, 20 yr old daughter born in Indiana, dad in Ireland, mom in Virginia at home
" "   " Donahue, Louisa, 18 yr old daughter born in Indiana, dad in Ireland, mom in VA at home
" "   " Donahue, Rhoda, 14 yr old daughter born in Indiana, dad in Ireland, mom in VA at school
" "   " Metz, Ida, 7 yr old grand daughter born in Indiana, dad in Pennsylvania, mom in Indiana