Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2014 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== St. Clair County, Michigan, its history and its people: Jenks, William Lee - Lewis Pub. Co., Chicago, 1912 [562-563] GEORGE SHIRKEY. Among the sturdy and progressive farmers of St. Clair county is GEORGE SHIRKEY, who now operates the farm left him by his father, and is known throughout the county as a man of honor and ability. He was born on the farm which he now tills, in Wales town- ship, on the 23rd of November, 1848. He is the son of JOSEPH and SOPHRONIA (WOODS) SHIRKEY. His father was born in Detroit in 1811, and his mother's birth occurred in the state of Vermont, in about 1816. His father was always a farmer. When a young man he had come to Wales township with his parents. At the death of his parents he was left with a large family of children to take care of. He ar- ranged homes for all of them, and took up government land, and this he cleared and continued to improve until his death, in 1881, by which time he had accumulated a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres. He was also interested in the lumber business, and engaged in the business as a jobber at various places. His wife, the mother of GEORGE SHIRKEY, died on the old place in 1879. GEORGE SHIRKEY attended the public schools of Memphis, and there received the foundations of a solid education. In May, 1871, was solemnized the marriage of GEORGE SHIRKEY to Miss ALICE STEHPENSON, who was born near St. Thomas, Canada, October 6, 1850. She was the daughter of JOHN and ELIZABETH (THEYER) STEPHENSON. Her father was a native of England and her mother claimed Canada as her birthplace. Her father was by trade a butcher, but this he gave up when he came to St. Clair county. He settled in this county in 1858, and went on a farm in Wales township, where they spent the remainder of their lives. At first MR. SHIRKEY worked on his father's farm, and this he con- tinued to do after his marriage, staying on at the old homestead with his parents as long as they lived. He still resides at the same place, which is now fraught with all the dearest memories of his life. The farm consists of one hundred and fifty acres of arable land, which he uses in general farming and stock raising. He and his wife have been blessed with four children. PEARL, born in March, 1874, makes her home in the city of Detroit. CLAYTON, born August 22, 1877, married ELIZABETH ENGLE, of New York City, in which place they now make their home, and where he is engaged as a builder and contractor. They are the parents of two children, - GEORGE, born in 1906, and HELEN, born in 1910. CHESTER SHIRKEY, born March 4, 1881, married Miss MAY McCONNELL, born in McComb county, near Memphis, on December 5, 1882. They have one child, WILBER CLAYTON, born on the 1st of December, 1910. GERTRUDE SHIRKEY, born on February 12, 1884, passed to her eternal reward on the 5th of December, 1903, mourned by a large circle of devoted friends. Politically MR. SHIRKEY may be found under the standard of the Republican party, and for a number of years he served the community as a member of the school board, giving wise and appreciated service in that capacity. Fraternally he is a member of the Ancient Free and accepted Order of Masons and of the Gleaners. =========================================================================== If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access more information about St. Clair County, MI by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/mi/stclair/ ===========================================================================