Notes for Jeremiah M Kirk

Family Group Sheet

Notes for Jeremiah M Kirk

Note:
History of Clay County, Indiana by William Travis 1909 Vol II pp 439-441
JERRY M. KIRK, identified with contracting and building interests in Brazil, was born upon the present site of the city June 6, 1842, but at that time the district now enclosed within the corporation limits of Brazil was largely an unbroken wilderness, in which were few traces of the modern civilizing influences of the white race. He has lived to witness the entire growth and development of the city and through his business interests has contributed in substantial measure to its upbuilding. His parents were William and Sarah (Myers) Kirk. The father was born in Louisville Kentucky in 1817 and came to Indiana when about fifteen years of age , arriving in this state in 1832 in company with his parents. They drove across the country from Kentucky to Orange County, Indiana, and in 1836 came to Clay County, where Mr. Kirk built a log cabin in the midst of the wilderness where Staunton is now located. Almost the entire countryside was covered with the forest. Deer roamed among the trees and over the prairies, and wild turkeys and other kinds of game were to be had in abundance, furnishing many a meal for early settlers. It was an arduous task to bring the fields into a state of cultivation, for the brush and stumps had to be cleared away, but the men who came into this district possessed a determined resolute spirit and soon cleared the forest and converted the land into cultivable fields. Later Mr. Kirk removed to the present site of Brazil, where he built a log cabin in the midst of the green woods, helping to clear away the timber on the present site of the city. He there made his home until 1852, when he removed to Bridgeton and worked at the cooper's trade for James Mulligan for about three years. He then returned to his original claim in Clay County, and in 1862 removed to Illinois, Settling in Sullivan, Moultrie County, where he worked at his trade as a cooper. In 1866 he returned to this county and spend his last days in Staunton, his death occurring in 1881. He always voted with the Democrat Party, believing that its principles contained the best elements of good goverment. His religious faith was that of the Christian church, and he was always loyal to its teachings. His wife survived him for several years, passing away in 1888. They were the parents of nine children, whom five are now living.

Jerry M. Kirk as a boy and youth remained under the parental roof, assisting in the arduous task of developing new farms. In his boyhood days there were only three houses upon the present site of the city of Brazil. Mr. Kirk in early manhood took a contract to clear the timber on the right of way for the railroad, extending from the smelting plant to the Otter creek coal yards. He also helped to build the frame work for the smelting plant, which was the first of the kind put up in this district. In 1871 he removed to Sullivan Illinois, where he engaged in the flour milling business for a year, after which he returned to clay county, locating in Staunton. There he carried on business as a carpenter and contractor until 1873, when he removed to Brazil and for a year was employed in a sawmill. He next resumed carpentering and contracting in this city, and was thus identified with its building operations until 1893, when he purchased a farm in Washington township, Putnam County, Indiana, there carrying on general agricultural pursuits until 1900. In that year he disposed of his farm and came to Brazil, where he now lives and is engaged in contracting and in carpenter work.

Mr. and Mrs. Kirk became the parents of seven children, six of whom are living: Grace B., the wife of Paul Picket; Margaret; William w., who wedded Mary Girton; Joseph; Kenneth, who wedded Margaret Simons; and Evalyn, the wife of Claude Earhart. The parents are members of the christian Church and are interested in the moral development of the community. Mr. Kirk is a stalwart prohibitionist in politics. He has long been a stalwart advocate of the cause of temperance and does all in his power to promote its growth and secure the adoption of total abstinence principles. His influence is ever found on the side of right, justice, improvement and truth, and he is recognized as a man of undoubted integrity, ever loyal to his honest convictions. (Copied in part FMB)