Samuel M. Shirk

  General Notes:

The 1850 census in Nimishillen, Stark County, OH: CLINGMAN, Michael (64); Mary (58); Jacob (35); Samuel SHIRK (26); Catherine SHIRK (19). Michael, Jacob and Samuel were farmers. Everyone in the household was born in PA, except for Catherine, who was born in Ohio.

The 1860 census in Nimishillen, Stark County, OH: SHERRICK, Samuel (36); Catherine (29); Jacob (8); Samuel (1); Henry SHIRK (28); Kate BILDEAN (23). Samuel, Sr. was a farmer; Henry was a farm hand. Samuel, Sr. and Henry were born in PA; Everyone else in the houshold was born in Ohio.

The 1870 census in Nimishillen, Stark County, OH: SHIRK, Samuel (46); Catherine (39); Jacob (18); Samuel (11); Daniel (4); Mary (8/12). Samuel was born in PA; everyone in the household was born in Ohio. Samuel was a saddler; Jacob was a farm laborer.

The 1880 census in North Township, Marshall County, IN: SHIRK, Samuel (56); wife Catherine (49); children Samuel (21); Daniel (14); Mary (10). Samuel was a harness maker. He was born in PA; everyone else in the household was born in Ohio. Next door is Samuel's half brother Henry Shirk and family ... see notes on Henry Y. Shirk for 1880 census facts.

The 1900 census on Sycamore Street in North Manchester, Wabash County, IN: SHIRK, Samuel (75; b. June 1824 in PA); wife Catherine (68; b. July 1831 in OH); daughter Mary (30; single; b. April 1870 in OH). They had been married 51 years. Catherine was mother of 5 children, 3 of whom were still living. Samuel was a harness maker.

Obituary published 3/5/1903 in the Louisville Herald, p. 4:
Death of Samuel Shirk
Samuel Shirk, of North Manchester, Ind., who left Louisville about twenty-five years ago, died Sunday evening. He was a saddler by trade and was well known in Stark county. He was married to Miss Katy Klingaman, a sister of Henry Klingaman and Mrs. John Schlichtenmyer. Services were held at the Dunkard church of North Manchester. He leaves a wife and three children, namely Mary, Daniel and Samuel. Mr. Shirk was 78 years old.

According to this obituary, his funeral was held at the Dunkard church. The Church of the Brethren Dunkers was originally part of the German Baptist Brethren. Between 1881 and 1883, the German Baptist Brethren split into three groups: the Progressive Dunkers formed the Brethren Church; the Conservative Dunkers formed the Church of the Brethren; and the Old Order Dunkers formed the Old German Baptist Brethren Church. The word "Dunker" is a derivation of the German word "tunken", meaning "to dip or immerse", and is identified with the peculiar method of immersion employed by all brethren churches--trine (triple) immersion--in which the believer is immersed three times, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Obituary published in The Gospel Messenger, 4/25/1903:
Shirk, Samuel M. died at his home in North Manchester, Ind., March 1, 1903, aged 78 years, 8 months and 25 days. He was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, May 27, 1849. He was married to Catharine Klingaman, who with two sons and one daughter survives him. Two sons preceded him to the spirit world. Funeral services conducted by Eld. Albert Wright.

Daniel Shirk of Silver Lake, Ind. gave the information for his death certificate. Samuel M. Shirk was born June 6, 1824 in Lancaster Co., Pa. He died March 1, 1903 in Wabash County, Indiana at the age of 78 years, 8 months and 25 days. His wife was Katherine Shirk. His parents were Samuel Shirk and Susan Mohler. His occupation was Harness maker.

Samuel married Katherine Klingamon circa 1848. (Katherine Klingamon was born in Jul 1831 in Ohio, died in Jun 1913 in North Manchester, Wabash County, IN and was buried in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, North Manchester, Wabash Co., Indiana.)