Born ‎3 Feb 1787, died ‎28 Jul 1873 Liberty Twnship Union Cty History Says Died In Indiana‎, 86 years, buried ‎ New Millcreek Cemetery
HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY
John Shirk, a native of Virginia, born February 3, 1787, married Sarah Brake August 2, 1805; she was born in Virginia January 2 , 1790. In 1820, he emigrated to Ohio, and settled in Ross County, and two years later removed to Union County, and settled on the farm since known as the Jesse Judy farm. In 1832, he purchased land where the Disciples Church now [386] stands. This tract of land he purchased of Judge McLean, and here resided till his death, about 1873. Mr. Shirk was a very large, robust man, and physically had but few equals. While a resident of Virginia, he was the acknowledged champion, both in physical strength and activity, and there "wore the belt." But he was also possessed of an unswerving character. In morals, in kindness and justice to all with whom he had dealings, he was excelled by but few. His conclusions upon right and wrong were drawn with great nicety of decision, and adhered to with great firmness in all the minutest details of business life. At one time in his life there was a scarcity in corn generally throughout this section of country, but Mr. Shirk had an abundance, and to spare. He had always said that the true value of corn was 25 cents per bushel; that it was worth that to raise it, and no more; and consequently would never sell his corn for any more or any less than that price. He found many poor people through the neighborhood who had to buy corn, and supplied them with what they needed at the above stated price, while at other places not many miles distant corn was selling at 50 cents per bushel. One of his neighbors who knew the market value of corn, and learned that Mr. Shirk had a quantity to sell, and also the price at which he was selling it, concluded he would enter into a speculation; he harnessed up a four horse team and drove over to Mr. Shirk's residence and told him he understood he had corn to sell. Mr. Shirk replied that he had, and the man with the team told him he would take all he had. Mr. Shirk replied: " You cannot have a bushel of it; you do not want it for your own use, and do not need it, but are trying to speculate off of poor people. " So he gave the man some strong moral advice, and sent him home without any corn. Thus was his kindness and generosity ever exhibited to the poor. At the time he concluded to make a purchase of land, one of his neighbors, Mr. Moore, decided also to buy; they were both poor. Judge McLean owned a large tract of land which they concluded they would endeavor jointly to purchase. The Judge would not sell to speculators; they desired it for their own use, upon which to make homes for themselves; so they concluded to go to see Judge 'McLean, in Ross County, and sot the day to start on their journey. Mr. Moore had nothing but an old ragged suit of clothes and felt unable financially to buy a new suit; so he borrowed a fine suit of his neighbor, and on the morning appointed, dressed in his tine black suit, he made his appearance at Mr. Shirk's ready to start on the trip, Mr. Shirk looked the man all over, from head to foot, then he told him to go right home and take off his fine suit and put on his old clothes or he would not go with him; that they were going to see the Judge in their plain old clothes, and tell him just their situation financially, and make no fine show of dress or any misrepresentation in any form. He did as Mr. Shirk directed; they visited the Judge, in that plain way, with plain talk, were successful, and purchased 733 acres of land for $1,000, on easy terms, and the same land, when correctly surveyed, embraced 912 acres. This success was all due to Mr. Shirk's straight forward course, and true representation of themselves and circumstances. And the above examples are but illustrations of the principles and character which made up the warp and woof of this noble pioneer's life. Mr. Shirk was the father of the following children: Elizabeth, who married Caleb Orahood; he died and she married Ezekiel Clements; she is now a widow again and resides in Middletown, Champaign County, Ohio; Aaron, married Rosanna Tobey; she died in 1879; he now resides at York Center; Nancy, married Daniel Johnson; Jemima, married Abraham Grubb; he died, and she married William Davis, and now resides in Michigan; Henson and Hiram (twins), the former married Nancy Wilson, the latter a lady in Northern Ohio, and subsequently removed to Iowa where he died; Jonas, married
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LIBERTY TOWNSHIP. - 387
Olive Harrington, is deceased; Isaac, married Jane Dillon; Lucy, married Matthew Johnson; Alfred, married in Michigan, was in the war of the rebellion, and severely wounded, from the effects of which he died soon after in Indiana; Silas, married Sarah Stout, who died, and he married Christena Hamilton; John, married Millie Clemens; Sarah, married James Miller, and now resides in Mechanicsburg, Champaign County, Ohio; and one child that died in infancy.



LINDA LOU COOK Microfilm: 1394489 Birth submitters
5026 LOG CABIN DRIVE
LAKELAND Submission: AF87-006013
USA 33809-0116

CAROLYN PRATT MOCK Microfilm: NONE
985 WEST 400 SOUTH
OREM UT Submission: AF97-112596
USA 84058

LINDA L COOK Microfilm: NONE
5026 LOG CABIN DRIVE
LAKELAND FL Submission: AF96-104589
USA 33809

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History of Union County, Liberty Township
John Shirk, a native of Virginia, born Feb. 3, 1878 married Sarah Brake, August 2, 1805; she was born in Virginia Jan. 2, 1790. In 1820 he emigrated to OHio and settled in Ross County, and two years later removed to Union County and settled on the farm since known as the Jesse Judy farm. In 1832 he purchased land where the Disciples Church now stands. This tract of land he purchased of Judge McLean and here resided till his death about 1878. Mr. Shirk was a very large, robus man and physically had but few equals. While a resident of Virginia, he was the acknowledge champion both in physical strength and activity, and there "wore the belt." But he also was possessed of an unswerving character. In morals, in kidness, and justice to all with whom he had dealings, he was excelled by few. His conclusions upon right and wrong were drawn with great nicety of decision and adhered to with great firmness in all but the minutest details throughout business life. At one time in h!
is life there was as carcity in corn generally throughout this section of country,m but Mr. Shirk had an abundance and to spare. He had always said that the true value of corn was 25 cents per bushel, that it was worth that to raise it and no more and consequently would never sell his corn for any more or any less than that price. He found many poor people through the neighborhood who had to buy corn and supplied them with what hteyneeded at the above state price while at other places not many miles distant corn was selling at 50 cents per bushel. One of his neighbors who knew the market value of corn and learned that Mr. Shirk had a quantity to sell and also the price at which h was selling it, concluded he would enter into a speculation; he harnessesed up a four horse team and drove over to Mr. Shirk's residence and told him he understood he had corn to sell. Mr. Shirk replied that he had and the man with the team told him he would take all he oculds ell. Mr. Shirk r!
eplied: "You can not have a bushel of it; you do not want it for your
own use and do not need it but are trying to speculate off of poor people." So he gave the man some strong mroal advice and sent him home without any corn. Thus was his kidness and generosity ever exhibited to the poor. aT the time he concluded to make a purchase of land one of his neighbors, Mr. Moor, decided to buy; they were booth poor. Judge McLean owned a large tract of land which they cohndlued they would endeavor jointly to purchase. The Judge would not sell to speculators; they desired it for their own use upon which to make homes for themselves, so they concluded to go see Judge McLean in Ross County and set the day tos tart on their journey. Mr Moor had nothing but an old ragged suit of clothes and felt unable financiallyt o buy a new suit so he borrowed a fine suit of his neighbor and on the morning appointed dressed in his fine black suit he made his appearance at Mr. Shirks' read to start on the trip. Mr. Shirk loked the man all over, from head to foot, !
and then told him to go right home and take off his fine suit and put on his old clothes or he would not go with him . They were going to see the Judge in their plain old clothes and tell him just thier situation financially andm ake no fine show of dress or any misrepresentation in any form. He did as Mr. Shirk directed, they visited the Judge, in that palin way, with plaint alk, and were successful and purchased 733 acres of land for $1,000 on easy terms and the same land when correctly surveyed embrasced 912 acres. The success was all due to Mr. Shirk's straightforward course and true representation of themselves and circumstances. And the above examples are but illustrations of the principles and character which made up the warp and woof of this noble pioneer's life. Mr. Shirk was the father of the following children: Elizabeth who married Caleb Orahood; he died and she married Ezekiel Clements; she is now a widow gain and resides in Middletown Champaign County, Ohio; Aaron married Rosanna Tobe; she died in 1870; he now resides at York Center; Nancy married Daniel Johnson; Jemima, married Abraham Grub; he died and she married William Davis; and now resides in Michigan; Henson and Hiram (twins) the former married Nancy Wilson; the latter a lady in Norther Ohio; and subsequently removed to IOwa where he died; Jonas, married Olive Herrington is deceased; Isaac marrid Jane Dillon; Lucy married Matthew Johnson; Alfred married in Michigan was in thewar of the rebellion and severely wounded form the effects of which he died soon after in Indiana; Silas married Sarah Stout who died and he married Christiana Hamilton; John married Millie Clemens; Sarah married James Miller; and now resides in Mechanicsburg Champaign County, Ohio; and one child that died in infancy.

Married name: Shirk, born ‎3 Sep 1792 Hardy Va, died ‎25 Sep 1869 Union County Ohio‎, 77 years, buried ‎ New Mill Creek Cemetery, Union Co