Umatilla County OR Archives Biographies.....Kirk, Hon. Thomas J. August 12, 1839 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Carlene Still crstill@oregontrail.net August 3, 2006, 2:21 am Author: Colonel William Parsons Page 384, 385 HON. THOMAS J. KIRK We are pleased to accord to this prominent and enterprising citizen and pioneer of Umatilla county representation in this volume of its history, since he has been a leading and potent factor throughout in its advancement, aiding materially in giving it prominence in the state. A man of fine executive ability, with breadth of intellect to correspond, he has ever devoted himself to those lines which operate for the benefit of all, and his fellows have rewarded him by bestowing upon him the highest honors in their power to give. He was born to Alexander and Sarah Kirk, natives of east Tennessee, in Platt county, Missouri, on August 12, 1839. At the age of seven he crossed the plains with his parents this being before the rush of “Forty-nine,” and settled near Brownsville, in Linn county, this state. The land being unsurveyed, they took a squatter’s right and commenced to till the virgin soil, obtaining seed from the French settlers on French prairie, people that came there from the Hudson Bay forces. Here he received a training in the schools of that time, and at the age of twenty-one secured a farm for himself, which he operated until 1871, when he sold out and came to this county. Here he settled on his present place, using the pre-emption right and adding by purchase until he now owns four hundred and fifty acres at the home place and fourteen hundred and forty acres near Pendleton. All of this vast estate he farms to wheat, raising annually many thousands of bushels. Quite active in political mattes, he is at the present time the representative of his county in the state legislature, his term expiring in June, 1902, it being the second term of his incumbency. He has done excellent work on some of the important committees, as the ways and means, public lands and Indian affairs. He was mayor of Athena two terms, and has filled other important offices of public interest, in all of which he has demeaned himself with that faithfulness and wisdom and energy that are characteristic of his every-day life. This has secured for him a great popularity with his constituency as well as the gratitude and esteem of every citizen. During the Bannock war he resided near the reservation, but on account of the numerous settlers at that point there was no molestation from the Indians. He was married in Brownsville, Oregon, on October 21, 1860, to Miss Ann Coyle, daughter of James and Maria Coyle, and a native of Illinois, crossing the plains with them in 1853. To them have been born nine children: Alice, wife of N. L. Ackels, of La Grande: Ann, now in the Pharmceutical College of Chicago, from which she graduates in 1902; Alma, at home with her parents; and six others who are deceased. Mr. Kirk’s father died in Umatilla county and his mother in Linn, this state. His grandfather, John Kirk, was a native of Virginia and a pioneer to Indiana, where he died. Mr. Kirk affiliates with the A. O. U. W., Lodge No. 104; Wild Horse Lodge, No. 73, I. O. O. F.; and A. F. & A. M., Dolph Lodge, No. 80, all of Athena. His wife is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Athena. Additional Comments: An Illustrated History of Umatilla County by Colonel William Parsons and of Morrow County by W. S. Shiach with a brief outline of the early history of the State of Oregon. W. H. Lever, Publisher 1902. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/umatilla/bios/kirk155gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 4.0 Kb