(May 7, 1812 - July 15, 1869) Born in Maine in 1812, Milton Irish came to East Texas in 1835 at age 23. His service in the Texas Army in 1835 and 1836 included action with Capt. John English's Company of Shelby County Volunteers and Ben Milam's assault during the Siege of Bexar, as well as Col. James Fannin's command at the Battle of Coleto Creek. Taken prisoner at Goliad, Irish barely escaped the massacre. In 1838 he was granted a headright of 1/3 league in Shelby County and a bounty grant of 640 acres in San Augustine County. He married Emily Eaves in 1845. Irish left to search for gold in California and is believed to have died there in 1869. Emily settled on the Shelby County headright in 1864. She later supported herself and her children with a widow's pension and lands due her as a veteran's wife. Irish descendants became part of Shelby County history. (2000)