Grundy-Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Kirkham, John August 12, 1832 - 
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Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com February 20, 2006, 3:50 am

Author: WW Stevens, 1907; Gen/Bio Rec Will Co IL 1900

John Kirkham, the owner of a good farm in Lockport Township, was born in 
Nottinghamshire, England, August 12, 1832, a member of an old and honored 
family of that shire. When he was twelve years of age he went to a hotel as 
first turn boy. He attended night school, but is practically a self-educated 
man. He was fond of music, and, under the guidance of a competent instructor, 
he soon acquired a thorough knowledge of the violin, which he still plays and 
enjoys. At fifteen years of age he began to learn engine-building and was 
apprenticed for six years to Clayton & Shuttleworth, of Lincoln, under whom he 
gained familiarity with the business. It was his desire to seek a home and 
fortune in the new world, but his parents strongly opposed him in his wish. 
However, he determined to cross the ocean in spite of their protests, and so 
he told his father to give his share in the family estate to an invalid 
sister. From that day he never asked his father for any aid, but was able to 
make his way in the world for himself. With a good letter of recommendation 
from the firm he had been with several years and with just enough money to pay 
his way to America, he set sail from Liverpool August 12, 1856. After a voyage 
of six weeks and two days he landed in New York September 24 and debarked from 
the four-masted sailing vessel “City of Mobile,” in which he had made the 
voyage. From New York he went to Dunkirk, in the same state, and there was ill 
for several weeks. As soon as he was able to travel he started for the west. 
November 7, of the same year, he landed in Lockport, with only three cents in 
his pockets. He accepted the first work he could get, for which he was paid 
$10 a month. In the spring he secured employment which paid him $200 a year, 
without board. His next work was the building of six hundred rods of fence, 
and he also engaged in haying during the season. Later he went into the woods 
and cut cord wood, for which he was paid fifty cents a cord. Going from Will 
to Grundy County, he worked for $14 a month, continuing there for two years. 
From 1861 to 1862 he was foreman of a farm of twelve hundred acres. He then 
bought a team and rented a farm in Dupage Township, Will County. After a year 
he removed to another farm, which he rented for three years, later buying it 
for $40 an acre. The place comprised eighty-five acres and was fairly well 
improved. After six years he rented the land and moved to Lockport, in order 
that his children might attend the school there. Meantime, for three years he 
ran an engine in the Romeo warehouse. On selling his farm he bought one 
hundred and twenty acres, which he has since owned and cultivated, and which 
is said to be one of the best farms in Lockport Township.

Before leaving England Mr. Kirkham was married, in May, 1856, to Miss Mary 
Naylor, an estimable lady and a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. She died April 3, 1898, leaving two children, namely: William Henry, a 
farmer in this county; and Allie Louisa, wife of Edson E. Harder, who rents 
his father-in-law’s farm.

In political views Mr. Kirkham is liberal and independent, voting for the man 
rather than the party. Interested in good roads and in good schools, he has 
done excellent service for the district while filling the offices of 
pathmaster and school director. A believer in Christianity and in sympathy 
with Christian work, he has assisted religious enterprises as he has been 
able. Although he started in this county wholly without means, he has worked 
his way to a position of independence which will permit him to spend his 
declining years in retirement from active cares, enjoying the rest he has so 
truly earned and richly deserved.

Source: "Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County, Illinois", 1900, 
Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago, Pages 217-218

--------------------------------------

John Kirkham

John Kirkham is one of the worthy citizens that England has furnished to this 
country, his residence in Will county covering a period of over a half 
century, and since his emigration to the new world he has engaged almost 
continuously in agricultural pursuits. He was born in Nottinghamshire, 
England, August 12, 1832. His father served in the army for more than five 
years, and was badly wounded several times. He participated in the battle of 
Waterloo. His family numbered seven children: William, who died at Lincoln 
City, England; James and Joseph, who passed away in Ireland; Elizabeth, 
deceased; Mary, who died at Lincoln City; and Ann, who died at Sturten, 
Nottinghamshire. The father lived to the advanced age of ninety-seven years, 
and his wife died from injuries sustained by a fall at the age of eighty-seven 
years.

John Kirkhamn, the only surviving member of his father’s family, was born in 
Nottinghamshire, August 12, 1832. During his early youth he had little 
opportunity for acquiring an education but in later life attended a night 
school and through reading and observation has become a well informed man. He 
began to earn his living at the early age of twelve years, being employed as 
first turn boy in a hotel. He early displayed a love for music and under the 
instruction of a competent teacher soon mastered the violin, and still spends 
many pleasant hours in indulging his love of the art. When fifteen years of 
age he became apprenticed to Clayton & Shuttleworth, of Lincoln, England, and 
in due course of time learned the trade of engine building.

Mr. Kirkham had in the meantime heard favorable reports concerning the 
advantages to be enjoyed in the new world, and being ambitious to advance in 
the business world, he decided to try his fortune in America but was strongly 
opposed in this by his parents. Telling his father to give his share of the 
estate to an invalid sister, he made arrangements to emigrate to the United 
States, despite the protests of his family. He had only money enough to pay 
for his passage, and, securing a commendatory letter from a former employer, 
he embarked upon a sailing vessel—the City of Mobile—at Liverpool, August 12, 
1856, and after a voyage of forty-four days on the ocean reached the harbor of 
New York on the 24th of September. He at once made his way to Dunkirk, that 
state, where he was ill several weeks. After having recovered sufficient1y to 
travel, he continued his journey westward, arriving in Lockport, on the 7th of 
November of that year, with a capital of only three cents.

Immediate employment being necessitous, be accepted the first work which 
presented itself, receiving for his services ten dollars per month. With this 
meager sum he managed to support himself during the winter, and in the spring 
he secured a situation which paid him two hundred dollars per year and from 
this sum he had to provide for his board. He next engaged in harvesting during 
the busy season, while the remainder of his time was devoted to building a 
fence, of which he constructed six hundred rods. Later he went into the woods 
and cut cord wood, for which he was paid fifty cents per cord. Believing he 
might find more remunerative employment he went to Grundy county, where he was 
employed at fourteen dollars per month, so continuing during the two 
subsequent years. His ability being recognized he was made foreman of a farm 
of twelve hundred acres, being thus employed from 1861 until 1862.

Mr. Kirkham had in the meantime saved some money, which he invested in a team 
of horses, and, returning once more to Will county, rented a farm in Dupage 
township, cultivating that tract for one year, after which he removed to 
another farm, which he rented for three years and then purchased the property, 
paying for it forty dollars per acre. The tract embraced eighty-five acres 
which had been fairly well improved. He continued agricultural pursuits there 
for six years, after which he removed to the city of Lockport in order that 
his children might benefit by instruction in the public schools. While living 
there he ran an engine in the Romeo warehouse for three years. Disposing of 
his farm he bought a second tract of one hundred and twenty acres in Lockport 
township, which constitutes one of the best farms in the locality. He has 
always been an active and industrious man and although he has now passed the 
seventy-fourth milestone on life’s journey he is still carrying on work on the 
farm. He has always followed the most modern and progressive ideas of farm 
labor, placing his fields under a high state of cultivation, so that he 
annually harvests rich crops as a reward for the care and labor he bestows 
upon them.

Mr. Kirkham was married, May 18, 1856, to Miss Mary Naylor, who, was born at 
Linwood, England, August 3, 1833, and came to the United States in 1856. Her 
father, James Naylor had come to the new world in 1855 and was foreman in a 
concrete factory. He died at Romeo, Illinois, in 1858. His wife bore the 
maiden name of Elizabeth Ingalls and died at Blyton, England. The marriage of 
Mr. and Mrs Kirkham was blessed with two daughters and one son. Anna B., who 
was born February 18, 1857, died on the 8th of March following. William Henry, 
who was born May 25, 1860, acquired his education in the schools at Lockport, 
graduating from the high school there. He wedded Lillian D. Hopkins, a 
daughter of Henry Hopkins, a well-to-do farmer of Lockport township. They have 
become the parents of four children, as follows: Gertrude May, the wife of 
David Stone, by whom she has one son, William E.; Stella, Ruth and John, all 
with their parents. Allie Louise Kirkham was born June 9, 1866, and acquired 
her education in the schools at Lockport. She was married, November 25, 1885, 
to Edson Harder, a son of Theodore Harder, a prosperous farmer of Lockport 
township. Their children were: Ida May, who was born May 15, 1887, and died 
August 24, 1887; and Susan Grace, who was born November 21, 1888, and was 
married, November 22, 1905, to Gilbert O. Pierce, son of Frank Pierce, a 
farmer of Kendall county. Mrs. Kirkham died on the home farm April 3, 1898. 
She was a devoted and loving wife and mother, and a consistent member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church. She had endeared herself to many friends, for she 
possessed many excellent traits of heart and mind, and her death was the 
occasion of deep regret throughout the community in which she lived. It is a 
notable fact that the birth, marriage and death of Mrs. Kirkham occurred on 
Sunday.

Mr. Kirkham is independent in politics, supporting men whom he thinks best 
qualified for office regardless of party affiliation. Coming to the new world 
when a young man, having no capital or friends to assist him, lie, however, 
possessed that energy, thrift and determination which is always sure to win 
success, and during the years which have since come and gone he has acquired a 
competence which supplies him with many of the comforts of life. He makes his 
home on his farm in Lockport township, surrounded by a wide circle of friends.

Source: "Past and Present of Will County, Illinois" by W.W. Stevens, 1907, The 
S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, Page 382-385


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