Vankirk, John

VANKIRK

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 11/3/2008 at 21:54:58

John Vankirk

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.237, Silver Creek Twp.)
John Vankirk, farming and stock, P. O. Silver City, Mills County. Mr. Vankirk, one of the oldest settlers now in Silver Creek Township, came here Marck, 1869; he is a native of Washington County, Penn., and was born in 1835. Mr. Vankirk was out here and bought his present home farm in the fall of 1868, buying of O. Lawson. His farm is perhaps the oldest settled farm in the township, Mr. John Bratton settling it, Mr. Bratton setting it from David Johnson July 25, 1855; Mr. Johnson had entered it May 20, 1854. This was a stage station for a number of years on the old Des Moines and Council Bluffs road, and along Silver Creek and in the woods of this farm was quite a Mormon settlement, and there is one of their burying grounds on the place. Mr. Vankirk lived on the old home place in Pennsylvania till he moved to his present farm. He was raised on a farm, and has always made farming and stock his business. his farm, which lies part in Mills and part in Pottawattamie County, contains about 1,700 acres, on which he carries on feeding and stock-raising. Mr. Vankirk was married in Washington County, Penn., in 1856,, to Miss Anne Vankirk, who was also born in the same county as Mr. Vankirk. They have three children living, two boys and one girl. He is a Democrat in politics. In the fall of 1857, Mr. Vankirk came out through this country, passing through his present farm on the stage. Mr. Vankirk's parents are still living, their home being in Mills County, Hamilton Vankirk being his father's name. They are about seventy years old. When he settled here there was a bridge across Silver Creek on the old stage road, and then over three miles north another, and on the south it was eight miles to another. Mr. Vankirk is one of the most successful men in Silver Creek Township, and has one of the largest residences.