Tuscola-Oakland County MI Archives Biographies.....Kirk, James 1834 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com June 2, 2007, 3:51 pm

Author: Chapman Bros. (1892)

JAMES KIRK. No better citizens have come to the Wolverine State than those whose
birth and parentage were in the North of Ireland, for the noble characters and
sterling qualities which make up that honest and industrious people, are of
untold value. Our subject was born in Glenwherry, County Antrim, Ireland,
September, 1834, and is a son of Robert and Sarah (Reid) Kirk, natives of the
same county.

  The father of our subject was a farmer in his native home, and came to the
United States in 1862, settling in Fairgrove Township, Tuscola County, this
State, where he purchased eighty acres of timber land. His faithful wife was
called from his side by death in August, 1865, and he died some ten years later.
His father was of Scotch birth, and the family was connected with the
Presbyterian Church. Robert and Sarah Kirk reared to maturity ten children,
namely: Bell, who died in Ireland leaving eight children; Eliza, who died
leaving a little family of four children; Sallie, James, Jennie, Ellen, Andrew,
Ann, William and John.

  Our subject was brought up on the farm and was largely self-educated. After
eight weeks voyage upon the Atlantic, he landed in New York City, August 1,
1851. Here he worked for four years in a starch factory, and it was the 1st of
May, 1855, when he landed in Oakland County. Mich., where he worked for five
years on a farm for Mr. John Ewing. In October, 1855, he came to Tuscola County,
and bought eighty acres of land on section 31, Fairgrove Township, this county.
He did not at once take up his residence here, but during the winter of 1860
chopped wood upon his farm, and in 1861 he came to the county to live permanently.

  This property Mr. Kirk has now improved with fine buildings, and added to its
acreage from time to time until he owns one hundred and forty acres, all of
which he has cleared. His first house was a log cabin 18x26 feet, in which he
made his home for eighteen years. For the past four years he has been a breeder
of Durham cattle, and is progressive in his methods of farming. He served as
Highway Commissioner for four years, and also as Supervisor, and was School
Director for eighteen years. In the fall of 1890 he was elected to represent his
county in the State Legislature, and is considered a leader among the Republicans.

  The marriage of our subject with Nancy Miller took place in January, 1868.
This lady was born in the same county with our subject, and is a daughter of
John and Martha (Smith) Miller. Mr. Miller was a farmer and died in Ireland
leaving a widow and four children, as follows William, Mary, Matilda and Nancy.
The son died in the old country, and the widow came with her daughters to the
United States about thirty years ago. Our subject and his wife have ever been
earnest and consistent members of the Presbyterian Church, in which they find a
broad field of work and influence.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties,
Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of
the Presidents of the United States

Chicago:
Chapman Bros.
1892


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