Carlsville

CARLSVILLE

…Egg Harbor had received an important addition to its population in the southern part of the town. These were the two brothers, Thomas and William Carmody. They came from Limerick, Ireland, and lived for a time in Pennsylvania. In 1857, they came to Door County. At that time, entire townships lay vacant, waiting for their first settlers. Most of the best land near Sturgeon Bay was still open for pre-emption. Thomas and William Carmody, however, chose to go as far back into the timber as it was possible to get at that time and settled 10 miles north of Sturgeon Bay. Here, far beyond any roads, trails or neighbors, they settled on some rather low lands just north of the present Carlsville, which are even now considered of little value. Their purpose was not farming, however, but to get out cedar. Whether this was found profitable is not know. But here they lived year after year without schools, churches, markets, or neighbors. It was in the heart of the wilderness. No daily or even weekly mail came to tell them of the world’s progress. Beefsteak was not often on the bill of fare but bear meat took its place, and the boys found wolf hunting better sport than pool playing.

Both Thomas and William Carmody had a number of husky boys and girls, and the Carmody family is now numerous in Door County. Thomas had five sons and two daughters. These were Jack, Thomas, Michael, Dennis, Patrick, Mary, and Olive. William had five sons and four daughters. These were John, James, Dennis, William, Henry, Mary, Bridget, Ellen, and Johanna.

After 12 years of life in their cedar slashings, Thomas and William Carmody moved north to what is now called Carmody Prairie—then a big forest. Here, they found other Irishmen and quite a settlement of Irish was formed back in the woods of Egg Harbor.

(From History of Door County, Wisconsin/The County Beautiful—Volume I, by Hjalmar R. Holand, originally published in 1917, re-published in 1993 by Wm Caxton Ltd, 12037 Hwy 42, Ellison Bay, WI, 54210; 920.854.2955.)

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