Ruben David Shirk Sr.

  General Notes:

Rueben D. Shirk is named for his father's brother, Rueben, who was living with the family when Caroline gave birth to her baby boy.

See general notes on Benjamin B. Shirk, son of Elias E. Shirk, for 1900 census facts where Reuben and Blanche have married and their two familes are living next door to each other in Fairfield, South Dakota. Also, Reuben's sister, Emma Shirk, and her husband are living next door as well.

The 1900 Federal Census for Fairfield, Beadle Co., South Dakota, District 9, page65A , dated June 19, 1900 records Benjamin (May 1870 - Iowa/PA/PA) and Blanche (March 1873 - IL/PA/PA) married 6 years with no children. Benjamin is a Dentist. Next door is Reuben D. Shirk (June 1870 - IL/PA/PA) with his wife Mamie (March 1871 - Missouri/PA/IL) and their children Caroline (July 1888 - South Dakota), Darcet (Oct 1894 - SD), Lurenz (Aug 1897 - SD), and Joseph (Nov 1899 - SD). Reuben and Mamie have been married for 11 years and have had 4 children. Reuben is the son of Joseph Shirk and Caroline Kitch. Joseph is the brother to this researcher's great great great grand mother, Salome (Sally) Shirk Pearson [Pierson]. Thus, Blanche and Reuben are siblings. Also next door is Reuben's sister, Emma Shirk, and her husband, Samuel Royer.
Note: Benjamin Shirk is the grandson of Jacob and Catherine Shirk, and son of Elias and Susan Shirk. Jacob is the brother of Joseph Shirk, grandfather of Emma Jane Shirk Royer. Benjamin's wife is Blanche Shirk, daughter of Joseph and Caroline Shirk, who are Emma's parents ... ie Blanche and Emma are sisters.

The 1910 Federal Census for Wellington Ward 1, Sumner Co., Kansas, District 172, page 24B,dated April 18, 1910 records Ruben D. (39 - IL/PA/Missouri) and Mamie (38 - Missouri/PA/PA) Shirk with children Lorenzo B. (12 - Dakota), Joseph T. (10 - Dakota), John (8 - Dakota), Albert (6 - Dakota), Gwendoline (3 - Dakota), and Thelma (2 - Salt Lake City). Also in the household is Hanna Page (28 - IL/IL/PA). [Note: Hanna is listed as a single female boader ... she is actually Mamie's mother ... see 1920 census record below] Ruben is a Car Dealer in an Automobile Shop. Ruben and Mamie have been married for 21 years and have had 8 children all of whom are still living.

The 1920 Federal Census for Wellington City, Sumner Co., Kansas, District 191, page 266A,dated January 16, 1920 records Reuben D. (49 - IL/PA/PA) and Mamie (48 - Missouri/PA/PA) Shirk with children Joseph D. (20 - South Dakota), Albert (17 - South Dakota), Gwendoline G. (14 - South Dakota), Frank B. (8 - Kansas), Marcene (7 - Kansas), and Reuben (5 - Kansas) living at 40 North Blaine Street. Also in the household is Reuben's widowed mother-in-law, Hannah J. Page (76 - IL/IL/IL).

By 1930 Reuben has moved with is family to California and is not working:
The 1930 Federal Census for Lomita Township, Los Angeles Co., California, District 1056, page 204A, dated April 22, 1930 records Ruben D. (58 - IL/PA/PA) and Mamie (57 - Missouri/PA/PA) Shirk with children Lorenzo B. Shirk (32) with his wife Viola V. Shirk (21 - Oklahoma) [Lorenzo 1st married at age 21 and Viola at age 17 meaning that they have been married for 4 years], Gwendoline G. Winfrey (23 - South Dakota) and her husband Jessie A. Winfrey (30), sons Frank B. Shirk (19 - Kansas) and Marcenie H. Shirk (17 - Kansas), and grandson Richard L. Shirk (9 - Kansas/SD/Kansas). Richard L. Shirk appears to be the son of Lorenzo Shirk and Lorenzo appears to have been married to a girl named Ruth in Kansas: The 1920 Federal Census for Wellington City, Sumner Co., Kansas, District 191, page 266B, dated January 17, 1920 records Lorenzo B. (22 - SD) and Ruth H. (17 - Kansas) Shirk living at 216 North Blaine.


From www.findagrave.com
Ruben Shirk
Birth: Jun., 1870
Death: unknown
Spouse: Marie
children: Caroline, David, Lurenz, Joseph
Burial: Broadland Cemetery, Broadland, Beadle Co., South Dakota
Plot: Block 4 Lot 16

Ruben married Mamie Buckingham on 9 Sep 1888. (Mamie Buckingham was born in Mar 1871 in Missouri and died on 28 Nov 1947 in Madera, Madera Co., California.)