Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

KIRK, Theodore Howard,
Retired Business Man.
After long activity in the business
arena, Mr. Kirk is enjoying life as a private
citizen of Stamford, Connecticut, and
yet, not altogether as a private citizen, for
his public-spirited zeal, combined vi^ith
the urgency of his friends and neighbors,
has drawn him into the sphere of poHtics,
and he is now serving as one of the as-
sessors of his home city.
The name of Kirk was derived from
the word "kirke," meaning church. Fam-
ilies living near the church assumed this
word as a surname and it was known at
a very early period, Joan-atte Kirk being
recorded in 1217.
Members of the Kirk family were early
settled in New York State. In the north-
ern part of that State a pond one mile
long and one half mile wide, and noted for
its excellent fishing, was called Kirk's
pond in honor of a family long resident
in the neighborhood.
John Kirk, from Derby, England, was
one of those who, in 1687, settled in
Darby, Pennsylvania. He married, in
1688, Joan, daughter of Peter EUet, and
they were the parents of eleven children.
One of these, William Kirk, was living
in 1705. There seems to be no doubt
that from this family of Kirks, the Kirks
of Stamford were descended.
(I) William Kirk, grandfather of Theodore
Howard Kirk, was born in Putnam
county. New York, where he owned a
small farm, spending, however, a large
portion of his time in following the trade
of a carpenter and builder. He was an
excellent workman and, as this was be-
fore the day when the architect gave ex-
pert attention to other than pretentious
structures, William Kirk's taste and ingenuity
in contriving convenient and
economical plans made him popular as a
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
designer and builder of homes. Mr. Kirk
married Mary, daughter of Abijah Hinckley,
of Dutchess county. New York, and
their children were : James ; Julia ; Warren,
mentioned below ; Demond ; Horace ;
334
and Laura. The youngest son, Horace,
did gallant service for his country in the
Civil War, eventually giving his life for
the cause of freedom.
(II) Warren Kirk, son of William and
Mary (Hinckley) Kirk, was born September
17, 1829, in the town of Kent, Putnam
county. New York, and received his edu-
cation in the public schools of his native
town, afterward learning the carpenter's
trade under the instruction of his father,
with whom he was associated both in
business and in agricultural interests.
About 1851 he removed to Danbury, Con-
necticut, where he engaged in farming,
and in 1861 he became a resident of Stam-
ford, establishing a fish and vegetable
market. Very soon, however, business all
over the country felt the disrupting influ-
ence of the Civil War, and many loyal cit-
izens, forsaking the warehouse, the office
and the shop, rallied to the defense of the
Federal government. Among these was
Warren Kirk, who in the spring of 1862
enlisted in Fairfield, Connecticut, in Company
K, Seventeenth Regiment, Connec-
ticut Volunteer Infantry. He passed
through some of the bloodiest battles of
the war and after the battle of Gainesville
was invalided to a camp at Rock
Creek, just outside Washington, District
of Columbia, where the National Soldiers'
Home is now situated. During Mr.
Kirk's stay there he formed a warm
friendship with Dr. Bliss who was then
in charge of the camp, and who, long
after, became famous as the physician of
President Garfield. Dr. Bliss suggested
that Mr. Kirk erect the first hospital
building on the camp grounds, and with
his assistance and that of President Lin-