Kirk, J.M. 1842-1934

KIRK, GREEN, FENNER, ELLISON, HAMMER, SHEELY, DOWNEY, KETCHAM

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 4/20/2011 at 09:35:05

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; April 3, 1934

FUNERAL OF J.M. KIRK IS HELD IN NEWTON

Quite a delegation of Grinnell people went to Newton Monday morning to attend the funeral of J.M. Kirk, old soldier and for many years an honored resident of Grinnell. Among those present from here were John Rehder, Steve Smith, E.L. York, A.F. Swaney, George Sampson, Judge T.J. Noll and Dr. J.W. Souter. The body was taken to Davenport for burial.

Mr. Kirk was 92 years old and passed away at 11:30 o'clock Friday morning at the home of his grand-daughter, Mrs. Arlene Ketcham, after a lingering illness of five months.

Mr. Kirk was born in Butler county, Pa., March 9, 1842, and was the last surviving member of a family of four children. He came to Jasper county in 1876, and located at Kellogg, later living at Grinnell and Montezuma. He followed the carpenter trade for more than 50 years.

Mr. Kirk served as quartermaster sergeant of the 47th Illinois Infantry during the Civil War, serving for four years and seven months. He was a member of the Grinnell G.A.R. post.

He was united in marriage to Alice E. Green at Davenport Oct. 7, 1868, and to this union were born five children, two of whom survive. Three sons died in infancy, and his wife preceded him in death April 10, 1915, at Grinnell.

Later on, Oct. 9, 1917, he married Anna Fenner of Grinnell, who preceded him in death in July 1928. Since her death, Mr. Kirk had been making his home with his grand-daughter, Mrs. Ketcham, in Newton during the winter months and had been living at the Old Soldiers' Home at Marshalltown during the summer.

Of his Masonic record, Mr. Kirk was justly proud. He became affiliated with the lodge at Whitefield, Ill., in 1867, and was made an honorary member of Hermon Lodge No. 273 of Grinnell in 1919. He was taken into the Council at Marshalltown last May.

Although a member of the Baptist church, Mr. Kirk had been attending the Methodist Episcopal church during his residence in Newton. He was also a member of The Newton Daily News' Three Quarter Century club of Jasper county.

Surviving relatives include two daughters, Mrs. Fred Ellison and Mrs. Jesse Hammer of Newton, and four grandchildren, Harry L. Sheely of Davenport, Mrs. Lee Downey of Syracuse, N.Y., Edward Sheely of Araphoe, Colo., and Mrs. Ketcham of Newton.