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RICHARD KIRK, deceased, was for nearly thirty years a respected citizen and prominent business man of Vinton, Iowa. He was born near Belfast, Ireland, in 1846, and there grew to manhood. Coming to this country in 1871, he settled in Chicago, where from 1871 to 1877 he was engaged in the wholesale linen business as buyer for one of the large firms of that city.
Believing it would be to his advantage to identify himself with a town still farther west, he came to Iowa and embarked in business under the firm name of Jervis & Kirk. That was in 1877, and Mr. Jervis came to Vinton with him from Chicago. They were associated together in the dry goods business until 1884 or '85, when the partnership was dissolved, after which each continued separately. Mr. Kirk was in active business up to the time of his death, December 6, 1903, and was succeeded by his son. In July, 1904, the business was incorporated as the Kirk Dry Goods Company, with officers as follows: Richard Kirk, Jr., president; Mrs. Richard Kirk, Sr., vice president, and Harry Kirk, secretary, and the store has since been conducted along the lines established by the senior Mr. Kirk.
In Chicago the subject of our sketch married Miss Josephine Reneud, a native of Montreal, Canada, who was reared in Chicago from her twelfth year. To them were born three children, two sons and a daughter, all of Vinton, namely: Richard, Jr., Harry and Mrs. A. H. Ellis. Harry also was for some time connected with the dry goods business above referred to, but now conducts a garage.
Politically Mr. Kirk was a Republican, at times independent in local affairs but always a conscientious voter. He never sought nor accepted public office, his own private business wholly occupying his time. Fraternally he was a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America, and his religious faith was that of the Presbyterian church. His family also are Presbyterians.
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