Joseph Shirk

  General Notes:

The 1870 Federal Census for Chicago Ward 12, Cook Co., Illinois, page 230B, dated June 16, 1870 records Joseph (37 - PA) and Caroline (36 - PA) Shirk with children Susie (16 - PA), Emma J. (14 - PA), Harry (12 - PA), and Ruben Shirk (32 - PA). Joseph is a Conductor on a Rail Road while his brother, Ruben, is a Brakeman for the Rail Road.

The 1880 Federal Census for Washington Township, Dallas Co., Iowa, District 48, page 191A, dated June 29, 1880 records Joseph (47 - PA/PA/PA) and Caroline (45 - PA/PA/PA) Shirk with children Emma (23 - PA), Harry C. (22 - PA), Rubin (9 - IL), Blanch (6 - IL), and Anna (4 - IL).

The 1900 Federal Census for Howardin Town, Logan Township, Sioux Co., Iowa, District 139, page 131A, dated June 6, 1900 records what is most likely our Joseph Shirk (June 1830 - PA/PA/PA) boarding in the home of J. Asa & Addie E. Moody. This Joseph is single and employed as a Rail Road Conductor.

From The Shirk Family History and Genealogy: From 1665 to 1914 by Henry Yocom Shirk:
Joseph was a Brakeman on the Pennsylvania Rail Road before becoming a Conductor and moving to Chicago, Illinois. He tried his hand at farming in Iowa before he eventually married again, to Emma Wenger, and moved to Pasadena, California residing at 758 N. Fair Oaks Avenue as of 1914.

The 1910 United States Federal Census for Pasadena, Ward 2, Los Angeles Co., California, District 307 records Joseph Shirk (indexed as Shick at ancestry.com) (77) with wife Elizabeth (45 - PA) and son Paul (2 - California) living at 758 N. Fair Oaks Ave. Also in the household is step-daughter Mabel Wenger (18 - Kansas) and nieces May (24 - Kansas) and Cora (25 - Kansas) Alvis.
Mabel is Elizabeth's daughter from her 1st marriage.

The 1920 United States Federal Census for Pasadena, Los Angeles Co., California, District 512 taken January 6, 1920 records Joseph Shirk (87 - PA/PA/PA) with wife Elizabeth (65 - PA/PA/PA) and son Paul H. (12 - California/PA/PA) living at 758 N. Fair Oaks Ave. Also in the household are Harry R. Butler (11 - Colorado / adopted son), nieces A. May Alvis (24 - Kansas), Nellie Alvis (32 - Kansas) [Cora from 1910], and Anna M. Eyster (19 - Kansas), and a widowed cousin-in-law, Minerva Chambers (72 - Ohio/PA/PA). Joseph is retired and Elizabeth is a Nursing Instructor. May, Nellie, and Anna are employed as General Practice Nurses. May and Nellie are daughters from the marriage of Elizabeth's sister, Anna Margaret Eyster, with Edward Amandeus Alvis.

California, Death Index, 1905-1939
Name: Joseph Shirk
Birth Year: abt 1832
Death Date: 1 Jun 1923
Age at Death: 91
Death Place: Los Angeles, California

From www.findagrave.com
Joseph Shirk
Birth: July 17, 1832 - Lincoln, Lancaster Co., PA
Death: Aug. 1, 1923 - Pasadena, Los Angeles Co., California
Last known address 758 N Fair Oaks, Pasadena
Burial: Mountain View Cemetery and Mausoleum, Altadena, Los Angeles Co., California


The 1930 United States Federal Census for Gotha, Orange Co., Florida, District 40, page 158B, taken April 11, 1930 records the widow Elizabeth Shirk (64 - PA/PA/PA) and son Paul Shirk (22 - California/PA/PA) living Rose Lake. Elizabeth was first married at age 32 and is employed as a Nurse at a Hospital. Also in the household are nieces A. May Alvis (44 - Kansas/IL/IL) and Nellie Alvis (43 - Kansas/IL/IL). Both May and Nellie are employed as Nurses at a Hospital

Joseph married Caroline Kitch on 5 Oct 1851 in Lancaster Co., PA. (Caroline Kitch was born on 10 Jul 1834 in Pennsylvania, died on 30 May 1895 in Hawarden Town, Logan Township, Sioux Co., Iowa and was buried in Grace Hill Cemtery, Hawarden, Sioux Co., Iowa.)

Joseph next married Emma Elizabeth Eyster, daughter of George Eyster and Margaret Ramp, on 11 Oct 1906. (Emma Elizabeth Eyster was born on 8 Sep 1864 in Pennsylvania and died on 21 Jan 1945 in Oklahoma.)