Biography of William W. Kirby, 1902, Baker Co., Oregon: Surnames: Kirby, Blew, Buck, McClintock, Wood, Chandler, Samonis, Frasier.

***********************************************************************
USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE:  These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced
in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or 
persons.  Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must 
obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative
of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of 
this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives 
to store the file permanently for free access. 
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ 
***********************************************************************
Transcribed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
W. David Samuelsen - November 2001
************************************************************************
An Illustrated History of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties, pub. 1902
by Western Historical Pub. Co. of Chicago. page 267

Col. William W. Kirby

Mr. Kirby is the son of Wade H. and Emily (Blew) Kirby, natives of Kentucky,
and he was born in Schuyler county, Missouri, in 1842. His mother's father,
Richard Blew, fought for the independence of the colonies under General George
Washington, and the military career of his grandson but adds luster to the
brightness of the family record. In his native county our subject received his
education and at the breaking out of the war enlisted in Company E,
Twenty-second Missouri Volunteers, being but seventeen years of age, and his
regiment was assigned to western duties. For three years he fought for the
stars and stripes and after the expiration of his term he enlisted again to
repel the savages from the frontier. Following this he engaged to the
government as wagon master, and at the end of his services he was ranked as
colonel, while he entered as private. In 1866 he settled down to farming and
operating a mercantile establishment in Barry county, Missouri. Later he gave
up the mercantile part and confined his efforts to stockraising and farming
alone.

In 1886 he came to Eagle Valley, this county, and bought the farm where he is
at present residing, and here he is devoting himself to tilling the soil and
stock raising; however, he frequently is found in the mountains searching for
the key to nature's hidden vaults of treasure and so successful has he been
that at the present time he owns a fine property on the Snake river,
consisting of fourteen claims. The mineral is copper and it is considered one
of the finest properties in this section.

The marriage of Mr. Kirby and Miss Mary, daughter of William and Winifred
(Buck) McClintock, natives of Ohio, was solemnized in 1864 and they are the
parents of the following children: James A., married to Florence Wood; Maggie,
wife of Mr. W. W. Chandler; Richard B., married to Miss Augustus; Cora E.,
wife of Mr. Samonis; William L., married to Miss Samonis; Maud A., wife of Mr.
Frasier. Mr. Kirby is affiliated with the G.A.R. where he is a prominent
member and he is also very active in politics, being associated with the
Republican party, where he does good work and is known to eve rstand for those
principles and policies that are for the best interest of all concerned.

By way of reminiscence, it is of interest to state that Mr. Kirby was in the
battle of Corinth, his regiment being attached to the Tenth Missouri, and
after the charge he was among the number sent to Island Number Ten and later,
with his company, was captured. He laid for a time in prision, and then with a
man named Felix Cornelius, he made his escape, having some thrilling
adventures and hair breath escapes, meanwhile enduring all sorts of hardship
from exposure, hunger and fatigue, swimming streams and other weary toils. At
last they reached the Federal lines at Thomasville, Missouri, and he was
assigned to duty with the First Missouri Cavalry, where he served out his
time. When the colonel was crossing the plains he was chosen train master and
some exciting times were experienced with the Indians. On one occasion, near
Julesburg, Colorado, a battle occured with the redskins and one of them was
killed, and a little further above, a part of the train wen tahead, and they
were attacked and killed by the Indians in plain view of the others, before
assistance could be given.