McDonough ILGenWeb

KIRK, Tom Dale, proprietor of a marble and granite works in Macomb, McDonough County, Ill., was born at Ashby-de-la-Zouch, England, April 16, 1849. His father, Adam Kirk, was born November 2, 1810, at Aberfeldy, Perth, Scotland, and his mother, Susanna (Dale) Kirk, was born in the same place as the subject of this sketch. Tom Dale, her father, was a native of England. Tom Dale Kirk was the eldest of two children born to his parents. He received his early education in the Ashby Grammar School, and afterward served an apprenticeship of seven years in the granite cutting trade, in England, for nine years thereafter serving as a member of the Government police force. In 1876 he resigned, came to the United States and settled in Philadelphia, Pa., where he was employed at his trade from July 17th of that year to February 27, 1877. He then came to Lacon, Marshall County, Ill., where he worked at his trade six years, later started in business for himself, but sold out in 1899, and November 15, 1902, moved to Macomb. Here he bought out the O. D. Doland marble and granite works, where he employs two experienced stone and marble cutters.

Mr. Kirk was married August 29, 1869, to Mary Ann Watchorn, who was born at Waltham on the Wolds, England, and received her mental instruction in the Waltham Grammar School. The subject of this sketch is of the Church of England religious faith, politically, supports the principles of the Republican party, and fraternally, is a Royal Arch Mason. He is a careful and diligent artisan of thorough training and pronounced skill, and his close application to work is laying the foundation of a prosperous career in Macomb.

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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of McDonough County, compiled by Dr. Newton Bateman, and Paul Shelby, 1907, volume 2, page 927, extracted 11 May 2019 by Norma Hass.