Kirk, David

KIRK, SEARER, MORRISON

Posted By: Gary Norris (email)
Date: 2/27/2013 at 07:58:42

The History of Poweshiek County, Iowa
Des Moines: Union Hist. Co., 1880.

KIRK, DAVID—Scott Twp—pg 767. Farmer, section 19, P.O. Montezuma. Born in Delaware, August 26, 1809, and while there, at the early age of five years, while operating a picking machine in his father’s woolen mill, he met with a sad accident by his right hand being caught in the machine and mangling it so that he lost three of this fingers. About this time young Kirk, with his parents, removed to Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, where they resided till 1834, when they removed to Clark county, Ohio; thence to Schuyler county, Illinois, where, at the age of twenty-seven, Mr. K. was married to Miss Lucy W. Searer, of that place, where they remained some thirty years, carrying on farming very successfully. In 1866 he came with his family to this township, where he bought one-half section of partially improved land, upon which he now lives, and which is all under cultivation, having a large orchard on the place. Mr. Kirk has suffered the loss of many near and dear to him, having buried his first wife in Brown county, Illinois, August 3, 1856, aged forty-four years. Has also followed to the grave his children, Margaret H. (in 1876; aged forty years), Hanna E. (in 1867; aged twenty-nine years), John R. (in 1858; aged eighteen years), Jonathan P. (in 1878; aged thirty-six years), James W. (on July 20, 1879; aged thirty-four years, who left a wife and two daughters in Casey, Iowa). Two children from his first marriage remain to cheer their aged parents: David W. (born April 3, 1848) and Henry E. (born July 31, 1854). Mr. Kirk married for his second wife Miss Jane, only daughter of William and Mary Morrison, of Schuyler county, Illinois. Was married in this county, November 11, 1860. From this union they have one daughter, Mary Ann (born January 10, 1863). Mr. Kirk, though now seventy-one years old, is quite active and healthy, and is a very social and highly respected citizen of this community.