SHIRK, John 1829-1900

SHIRK

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 1/12/2011 at 09:31:58

A Sad Accident

On Saturday afternoon occurred one of the saddest accidents this locality has been called upon to witness for some time. The east bound passenger on the C. M. & St. P. ran into Mr. J. S. Shirk while he was mowing on the track. He was going east and the sound caused by the mower was so great that he did not hear the train until it was so near that to get off was impossible. He attempted to drive off the track, but the train struck him, throwing him several feet into the ditch. As is usually the case in such accidents, it was supposed the injuries were only slight, but he was brought to town as soon as assistance could be procured and medical aid summoned at once. Upon examination it was found that he had been injured internally to such an extent that his chances for recovery are very slim. The internal injuries were caused by a splinter passing through his back and into the vital organs. The horses were badly injured but will probably recover. --Harley Herald

The above has reference to the father of Al Shirk of our town. -- Ed.

--The Sanborn Pioneer (Sanborn, Iowa), 16 August 1900, pg 5

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J. S. Shirk who, as reported last week, was run into by a passenger train while mowing weeds along the track, died at his home in Hartley Sunday morning, and the body, accompanied by numerous relatives, was on Monday taken to Grundy Centre for interment.

--The Sanborn Pioneer (Sanborn, Iowa), 23 August 1900, pg 5

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John Shirk Killed

An Old Time Citizen of Melrose Township, Grundy County.

Many of the old citizens of East Hardin and West Grundy counties will remember John Shirk, an early citizen of Melrose township, Grundy county, who lived there and operated a farm until eight or nine years ago, when he moved to O'Brien county and settled on a farm near Hartley. He it was who, while operating a weed machine on the railroad near his place last Friday, was over taken by a train and before he was aware of what had happened was buried into eternity. The account of the sad affair as related to The Herald leads us to believe that Mr. Shirk was instantly killed.

His remains were brought to the Melrose cemetery for interment and arrived at the Eldora station Monday afternoon at 4:15, where they were met by conveyances and taken at once to the neighborhood where the unfortunate man formerly lived. The funeral was held on Tuesday morning after which he was laid to await the resurrection morning.

The remains were accompanied by his immediate family and other relatives. Mr. Shirk will be remembered as a good and upright citizen by his old neighbors.

--The Herald (Eldora, Iowa), 22 August 1900