Biography of William W. Kirby

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 lustre 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 stock raising 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 occurred with the redskins and one of them was killed, and a little further above, a part of the train went ahead, and they were attacked and killed by the Indians in plain view of the others, before assistance could be given.

Source: An Illustrated History of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties, pub. 1902 by Western Historical Pub. Co. of Chicago. page 267 

Following is the Obituary of Mary Ann Kirby, Baker County, Oregon which appeared in the Eagle Valley News; Richland, Oregon 31 Oct 1918 

A PIONEER PASSES 

Mrs. W. W. Kirby, whose death has been momentarily expected for some weeks past, passed away at the St. Elizabeth Hospital at 5:20 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 28th. The remains will be laid to rest in Eagle Valley cemetery at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, November 1st, Rev. J. M. Johnson conducting the services at the tomb. Mary Ann McClintock was born at Chillicothe, Ohio, on July 12, 1847, and with her parents came to Wapello county, Iowa, when but a child. In February 1864, she was married to W. W. Kirby at Rockport, Mo. With her husband and family she arrived in Eagle Valley on Sept. 27, 1887, and has since resided here. 

In 1874 she accepted Christ as her leader and united with the Christian church and has since been a constant and devoted Christian as well as a sincere advocate of temperance. 

Her life was one of devotion to her family, yet she always found time to do a kind deed or lend assistance to a neighbor, friend or stranger, and though her last years were filled with much pain she was never heard to complain. 

For a number of years Mrs. Kirby had been a sufferer from a sort of stomach trouble, the exact nature of which physicians were never able to discover. Some months ago she was taken worse and several weeks since was removed to the home of her son Jas. A., in Baker, and later removed to St. Elizabeth Hospital where everything possible was done to relieve her suffering. 

One brother, Lafayette D. McClintock of Tabor, Iowa, survives her demise, as also does her aged husband and six children, viz: James A. Kirby of Baker; Mrs. Maggie B. Chandler of Richland; Richard B. Kirby of Richland; Mrs. Cora E. Simonis of New Bridge; Wm. L. Kirby of Durkee; and Mrs. Maude M. Fraser of Pendleton. There are also living twenty grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

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