Tracing Irish Immigrants in Illinois and Michigan Canal Records - Debra M. Dudek

Tracing Irish Immigrants in Illinois and Michigan Canal Records

by Debra M. Dudek

During America's great canal building boom, it was said that all you needed to build a canal was a pick, a shovel, a wheelbarrow, and an Irishman. Far from being lazy, unwashed, and underskilled, these new immigrants labored long hours, built churches, and created communities in and around the growing city of Chicago. Learn how to track down records on early Irish immigrant ancestors living and working in the Illinois and Michigan Canal zone located in Cook, DuPage, Will, and LaSalle counties from 1830-1850.

Debra M. Dudek is the Adult and Teen Services Manager at the Fountaindale Public Library in Bolingbrook. She is generally awesome and enjoys snacks.