Wasco-Multnomah-Benton County OR Archives Biographies.....Kirk, J. B. August 28, 1868 - ************************************************ 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: Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com May 6, 2007, 11:50 am Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company J. B. KIRK. An expert mechanic, as well as a capable executive, J. B. Kirk has developed an industry of much importance to The Dalles and also to the agriculturists of this district. He was born August 28, 1868, in Neosho, Missouri, and in the maternal lines is of Scotch and French descent. His parents were William H. and Harriet (Crane) Kirk, the former a native of Dumfries, Scotland, while the latter was born in Illinois. About the year 1850 William H. Kirk crossed the Atlantic and lived for some time in Illinois. In 1858 he started for Salt Lake, Utah, and spent the following winter at old Fort Laramie in Wyoming. He was in the employ of the firm of Russell & Waddell, government contractors, and carried supplies to the soldiers at the fort. In the spring of 1859 he went to Iowa, where he engaged in farming for about a year, and in 1861 enlisted in the Second Illinois Cavalry. For three years he was a soldier in the Union army and after receiving his honorable discharge returned to Illinois, where he was married in 1866. He then migrated to Missouri, locating on a farm, which he cultivated for a few years, and next followed agricultural pursuits in Kansas. In 1882 he went to the territory of Washington, making the overland trip in a wagon drawn by a team of horses, and filed on a homestead in Lincoln county. Mr. Kirk cleared and developed the ranch, on which he lived until his retirement in 1909, and afterward moved to Seattle, Washington, where he passed away on the 5th of February, 1918. His widow resides in Davenport, Washington, and has reached the venerable age of eighty years. To their union were born seven children: J. B.; Mrs. Harriet McInnis, whose home is in Spokane, Washington; William H. Jr., who lives on the old homestead at Almira, Washington; Mrs. Mary Burke, of Spokane; Mrs. Effie A. Nelson, who resides in Seattle; Mrs. James Goodwin, of Davenport, Washington; and Mrs. Viva Hansell, who is living in La Grande, Oregon. In the acquirement of an education J. B. Kirk attended public schools in Missouri, Kansas and Washington, after which he learned the machinist’s trade, serving his apprenticeship in Walla Walla, Washington, and Portland, Oregon. He worked as a journeyman machinist until 1896, when he enlisted in the United States navy, and was sent to the Philippines. Mr. Kirk was a seaman on the old battleships, Monitor and Monterey, and served until the close of the Spanish- American war. He then secured work at his trade and in 1905 ventured in business for himself, opening The Dalles Iron Works, of which he has since been the owner. His shop is equipped for all kinds of machine work but he specializes in tractors. He also manufactures the Kimball cultivator, used largely by the farmers of Wasco county and all other sections of the northwest. In 1907 he opened the first garage at The Dalles and at that time there were but two automobiles in the entire county. Mr. Kirk discontinued the garage in 1918 and has since devoted all of his attention to the machine shop. No inferior piece of work ever leaves the plant and under his wise management the industry has constantly expanded. In 1899 Mr. Kirk married Miss Lillie H. Johnson, a native of Sweden. At the age of eight with her parents she came to the United States. Mr. and Mrs. Kirk have five children. Bonita, the eldest was born in Portland, Oregon, and was graduated from the high school at The Dalles. For two years she attended the University of Oregon and is now the wife of Roscoe Roberts. They reside in Wasco county and are the parents of a son, Roscoe Kirk Roberts. William L. is also a native of Portland and a graduate of The Dalles high school. He is married and assists his father in the conduct of the business. Grant, the second son, was born in Corvallis, Oregon. He completed a course in The Dalles high school and is employed in the office of the Equitable Corporation of Portland. Elbert, a native of The Dalles, was graduated from the local high school and aids in the operation of his father’s machine shop. Letha, the fifth in order of birth, was also born at The Dallas and is a junior in the high school. Mr. Kirk is identified with the Masonic order, is Junior Warden of Wasco Lodge, No. 15, A. F. & A. M. and Eminent Commander of Columbia Commandery, No. 13, K. T., and is a Noble of Al Kader Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Portland. He is a past patron of the local chapter of the Eastern Star and his wife has filled the office of matron. An enthusiastic Kiwanian, he is an ex-president of the local club and also an energetic member of the Chamber of Commerce. The cause of education finds in Mr. Kirk a strong advocate and for ten years he has served on the school board. Unselfish, broad-minded and public-spirited, he exerts his efforts as readily for the general welfare as for his own aggrandizement and is a citizen of worth to the community. Additional Comments: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Pages 256-257 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/wasco/bios/kirk329gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 5.6 Kb