Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Kirkham, John 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 28, 2008, 10:58 pm

Author: Past and Present of Will County, IL; 1907

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 Kirkham, 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 sufficiently 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, he 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 mean time 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 E., 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 C. 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, he, 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. 

Additional Comments:
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/kirkham2667nbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/

File size: 7.9 Kb