James Kirkwood
james kirkwwod title
James Kirkwood From Scotland to Pennsylvania
James Kirkwood was born in 1832, in Glasgow, Scotland. From his obituary, we learned that his father's name was William Kirkwood, who died at the age of 25 from cholera when James was just an infant. James also had two sisters but nothing is known about them. The obituary stated his mother lived to 98 years and grandmother to 99 years, just one month shy of reaching 100 years of age. However, no names or even places were given for the mother and grandmother. It is not known if any other family members immigrated to the United States or remained in Scotland.
When James was 21 years old, he and a friend left Scotland for America, landing first in New York. When they inquired about work at an agency there, they were referred to an Iron Mill that was opening in Duncannon, Pennsylvania. They boarded a train and arrived in Duncannon in the wee hours of the morning. It was reportedly a very snowy night and as they walked into town the only lights that could be seen were coming from a boarding house in town. They arrived at the boarding house run by Ann Rebecca Foster Nickum, who was up early fixing breakfast for the mill workers. They went to the boarding house and after breakfast, they applied for jobs at the Mill.
AnnRebecca Foster Nickum was a widow with four children. She was a very tall woman with very large hands. She was known to be able to lift a barrel out of a wagon without assistance. On May 23, 1853, James Kirkwood and Ann Rebecca Foster Nickum were married in Duncannon. Ann and James had 5 children, including two sets of twins. The first, William was born in 1857 in either Pennsylvania or Maryland. James had been sent to Maryland sometime before 1859 to help open an Iron Mill there. The next two children, twins Peter and Ann, were born in Maryland in August 1859. The family of James and Ann Rebecca Kirkwood appears on the 1860 Federal census in the town of Mechanicsburg in Frederick County, Maryland. Living with them are a 35 year old Charles Kirkwood born in Ireland and a 21 year old Lewis Kirkwood, born in Pennsylvania. There is also a 21 year old Edmund Blackstone living with the family. At this time, it is not known how or if any of these three men are related to James or Ann. Twins Sarah and Eliza were born in September, 1863. probably in Pennsylvania. James and family had moved back to Duncannon by 1870 and appear on the 1870 Federal census there.
In 1880, the family has moved to Upper Bend in the village of West Hamburg, in the neighboring county of Berks, Pennsylvania. William has married a 20 year old girl named Mary and is living next door to James in this census. Peter and Ann are not present on this census, but it is in this county that Peter Kirkwood meets and marries a girl named Hettie Shugar in 1883. She was the daughter of Henry and Amanette Machemer Shugar who lived in the village of Maidencreek. I suspect, but have not proven yet, that Peter's sister Ann also met and married a member of Amenette Machemer's family in this county. Berks County does not have any marriage records before 1885 so I was not able to obtain a copy of Peter and Hettie's marriage license. I suspect Ann, his twin sister also married before 1885 because by 1900 we see James is living again in Duncannon with a 16 year old grandaughter named Ann Machamerr. According to family lore, Ann (daughter of James and Ann Rebecca and Peter's twin) died in Hamburg in 1884. From the censuses, we know that James and Ann Rebecca's daughter named Sarah married William Page about 1886, probably in Perry County. If the 16 year old grandaughter named Ann Machamerr were Sarah's daughter, I would think she would appear in the 1900 census with Sarah and William. Since she does not, I think that rules out Sarah as the mother of Ann Machamerr. According to a written family history document, Eliza was married to Charles Bowers and they can be found in the 1900 and 1910 censuses. According to those censuses, Eliza and Charles were married about 1882 or 1883. So that rules Eliza out as the mother of Ann Machamerr. There is a marriage record for Eliza Bowers and Francis Dreibelbis in 1919 in Berks county, PA. Francis and Eliza can be found on the 1920 and 1930 censuses. Since Eliza and Sarah can be ruled out as the mother of Ann Machamerr (the granddaughter listed as living with James in the 1900 census), that leaves the only other daughter, Ann (Peter's twin sister) as the mother of Ann Machamerr. I suspect she gave birth then died during or shortly after childbirth as was common in those days.
James is a widow on the 1900 census, Ann Rebecca, having died in 1896. His occupation is reported as a night sentinel which correlates with family lore that he was injured and was not able to work in the mine, but having the virtue of a very loud voice was employed to be the caller for the mine and wake the workers in the early morning hours by yelling from the streets. Family lore says that he could be heard all over town and that he carried a silver headed cane to keep the dogs away from him as he carried out his duty.
In the 1910 census, James is living alone and by 1920 he is living with his daughter Sarah who married William Page and their family. James died in 1923 in Duncannon, PA and is buried with his wife, Ann Rebecca in Evergreen Cemetery.
When James was 21 years old, he and a friend left Scotland for America, landing first in New York. When they inquired about work at an agency there, they were referred to an Iron Mill that was opening in Duncannon, Pennsylvania. They boarded a train and arrived in Duncannon in the wee hours of the morning. It was reportedly a very snowy night and as they walked into town the only lights that could be seen were coming from a boarding house in town. They arrived at the boarding house run by Ann Rebecca Foster Nickum, who was up early fixing breakfast for the mill workers. They went to the boarding house and after breakfast, they applied for jobs at the Mill.
AnnRebecca Foster Nickum was a widow with four children. She was a very tall woman with very large hands. She was known to be able to lift a barrel out of a wagon without assistance. On May 23, 1853, James Kirkwood and Ann Rebecca Foster Nickum were married in Duncannon. Ann and James had 5 children, including two sets of twins. The first, William was born in 1857 in either Pennsylvania or Maryland. James had been sent to Maryland sometime before 1859 to help open an Iron Mill there. The next two children, twins Peter and Ann, were born in Maryland in August 1859. The family of James and Ann Rebecca Kirkwood appears on the 1860 Federal census in the town of Mechanicsburg in Frederick County, Maryland. Living with them are a 35 year old Charles Kirkwood born in Ireland and a 21 year old Lewis Kirkwood, born in Pennsylvania. There is also a 21 year old Edmund Blackstone living with the family. At this time, it is not known how or if any of these three men are related to James or Ann. Twins Sarah and Eliza were born in September, 1863. probably in Pennsylvania. James and family had moved back to Duncannon by 1870 and appear on the 1870 Federal census there.
In 1880, the family has moved to Upper Bend in the village of West Hamburg, in the neighboring county of Berks, Pennsylvania. William has married a 20 year old girl named Mary and is living next door to James in this census. Peter and Ann are not present on this census, but it is in this county that Peter Kirkwood meets and marries a girl named Hettie Shugar in 1883. She was the daughter of Henry and Amanette Machemer Shugar who lived in the village of Maidencreek. I suspect, but have not proven yet, that Peter's sister Ann also met and married a member of Amenette Machemer's family in this county. Berks County does not have any marriage records before 1885 so I was not able to obtain a copy of Peter and Hettie's marriage license. I suspect Ann, his twin sister also married before 1885 because by 1900 we see James is living again in Duncannon with a 16 year old grandaughter named Ann Machamerr. According to family lore, Ann (daughter of James and Ann Rebecca and Peter's twin) died in Hamburg in 1884. From the censuses, we know that James and Ann Rebecca's daughter named Sarah married William Page about 1886, probably in Perry County. If the 16 year old grandaughter named Ann Machamerr were Sarah's daughter, I would think she would appear in the 1900 census with Sarah and William. Since she does not, I think that rules out Sarah as the mother of Ann Machamerr. According to a written family history document, Eliza was married to Charles Bowers and they can be found in the 1900 and 1910 censuses. According to those censuses, Eliza and Charles were married about 1882 or 1883. So that rules Eliza out as the mother of Ann Machamerr. There is a marriage record for Eliza Bowers and Francis Dreibelbis in 1919 in Berks county, PA. Francis and Eliza can be found on the 1920 and 1930 censuses. Since Eliza and Sarah can be ruled out as the mother of Ann Machamerr (the granddaughter listed as living with James in the 1900 census), that leaves the only other daughter, Ann (Peter's twin sister) as the mother of Ann Machamerr. I suspect she gave birth then died during or shortly after childbirth as was common in those days.
James is a widow on the 1900 census, Ann Rebecca, having died in 1896. His occupation is reported as a night sentinel which correlates with family lore that he was injured and was not able to work in the mine, but having the virtue of a very loud voice was employed to be the caller for the mine and wake the workers in the early morning hours by yelling from the streets. Family lore says that he could be heard all over town and that he carried a silver headed cane to keep the dogs away from him as he carried out his duty.
In the 1910 census, James is living alone and by 1920 he is living with his daughter Sarah who married William Page and their family. James died in 1923 in Duncannon, PA and is buried with his wife, Ann Rebecca in Evergreen Cemetery.
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Peter Kirkwood, son of James and Ann Rebecca Kirkwood
Peter Kirkwood, was born Aug, 21 1859 in Maryland. He appears with his family on the 1860 and 1870 censuses mentioned above. I could not definitively find Peter on the 1880 census, he is not with his family at that time. There is a Peter Kirkwood who is almost the right age and is reported as being born in Maryland, who is working as a farm laborer in Fawn township, York County and living with the family of Virginia and William Anderson. In any case, we do know that Peter married Hettie Shugar in about 1883 in Berks County, PA. Though their marriage record is not available, we do find proof of this marriage in subsequent census reports and obituaries.
In the 1900 Federal census, Peter and Hattie Kirkwood are living in Hamburg, Berks county, PA. They have been married for 17 years, according to the census and they have the following children; James N. born in November of 1884; Annie A. born in August 1885; Mary S. born in January 1888; William O. born in February 1890; John W. born in April 1892, and Charles E. born in November 1894.
By 1910, they have moved to Lebanon, Pennsylvania and are listed on the 1910 census as living at 347 N. Eighth Street in Lebanon City, Lebanon County, PA. By this time, only children John and Charles remain with the family.
By 1920, Peter Kirkwood is 60 years old, living in George Weaver's boarding house and is a laborer at a scrap yard. His wife , Hettie is not with him, though he does report being married, not widowed, on this census.
In 1930, Peter now reports an age of 73 years and is still living in George Weaver's boarding house and is still a laborer at the scrap yard. He is still reported as being married though Hettie is not with him. I had presumed that Hettie died sometime between 1910 and 1920 and that for whatever reason, either census taker error, or reporting error on Peter's part that the "married" listng on the census was a mistake. But, according to family lore, Hettie Shugar Kirkwood died in Chicago on May 7, 1938. I have not been able to verify that nor have I been able to locate Hettie in the 1920 and 1930 censuses yet. I have however, been able to substantiate her maiden name of Shugar. Peter and Hettie's daughter Anna died in 1972 and her obituary states that she was the daughter of Peter and Hettie Shugar Kirkwood. This was the first document I could find that mentioned Hettie's maiden name, and thus corroborating what is found in the family lore documents.
Peter died in 1935, in Lebanon. Hettie is not mentioned among the survivors in his obituary. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, in Duncannon, Perry County, Pennsylvania, the same cemetery that his parents are buried in. It is not known at this time where Hettie Shugar Kirkwood is buried, nor why she would have been in Chicago, but hopefully, someday, someone will be able to provide those missing links.
In the 1900 Federal census, Peter and Hattie Kirkwood are living in Hamburg, Berks county, PA. They have been married for 17 years, according to the census and they have the following children; James N. born in November of 1884; Annie A. born in August 1885; Mary S. born in January 1888; William O. born in February 1890; John W. born in April 1892, and Charles E. born in November 1894.
By 1910, they have moved to Lebanon, Pennsylvania and are listed on the 1910 census as living at 347 N. Eighth Street in Lebanon City, Lebanon County, PA. By this time, only children John and Charles remain with the family.
By 1920, Peter Kirkwood is 60 years old, living in George Weaver's boarding house and is a laborer at a scrap yard. His wife , Hettie is not with him, though he does report being married, not widowed, on this census.
In 1930, Peter now reports an age of 73 years and is still living in George Weaver's boarding house and is still a laborer at the scrap yard. He is still reported as being married though Hettie is not with him. I had presumed that Hettie died sometime between 1910 and 1920 and that for whatever reason, either census taker error, or reporting error on Peter's part that the "married" listng on the census was a mistake. But, according to family lore, Hettie Shugar Kirkwood died in Chicago on May 7, 1938. I have not been able to verify that nor have I been able to locate Hettie in the 1920 and 1930 censuses yet. I have however, been able to substantiate her maiden name of Shugar. Peter and Hettie's daughter Anna died in 1972 and her obituary states that she was the daughter of Peter and Hettie Shugar Kirkwood. This was the first document I could find that mentioned Hettie's maiden name, and thus corroborating what is found in the family lore documents.
Peter died in 1935, in Lebanon. Hettie is not mentioned among the survivors in his obituary. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, in Duncannon, Perry County, Pennsylvania, the same cemetery that his parents are buried in. It is not known at this time where Hettie Shugar Kirkwood is buried, nor why she would have been in Chicago, but hopefully, someday, someone will be able to provide those missing links.
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Mary Kirkwood title
Mary Kirkwood, daughter of Peter and Hettie Kirkwood
Mary Nora Kirkwood was the third child born to Peter and Hettie Ann Shugar Kirkwood. She was born Jan 23, 1888 in Lebanon, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania.
At the age of 20 or 21 she married her first husband, Amos Stiles. Her first child, Ernest Kirkwood Stiles was born August 11, 1909 in Lebanon. Mary had been working in a factory at the time and that is where she reportedly met Amos, according to family lore. When Ernest was just a baby, she would take him to work with her and he slept in a drawer while she worked. By the time of the 1910 census however, when Ernest was just 8 months old, she was no longer working. Sometime before 1917, the marriage ended.
In 1917, Mary married Henry Harrison Gingrich in Lebanon. Henry was the son and youngest child of Cyrus S. and Emma Carmany Gingrich, also born in Lebanon on Dec 17, 1887. Family members report that Henry was a sweet, mild mannered man. To this union were born two more children, Robert Pershing Gingrich was born Dec 8, 1918 and Allen C. Gingrich was born about 1921. Henry also adopted Mary's first child Ernest.
The family is seen living in Philadelphia on the 1920 census. Henry worked for the railroads and was a track foreman. In 1930, they are living in Spencer City, Rowan County, North Carolina. Henry is an engineer for a steam railroad.
They eventually migrated back to the Northeast living first in New Jersey and lastly moving back to Lebanon, from which this family started. Henry died Dec 9, 1970 in Lebanon. Mary would survive him by 14 years before passing away in November of 1984. Both Henry and Mary are buried in Covenant Greenwood Cemetery, in Ebenezer, just outside Lebanon.
At the age of 20 or 21 she married her first husband, Amos Stiles. Her first child, Ernest Kirkwood Stiles was born August 11, 1909 in Lebanon. Mary had been working in a factory at the time and that is where she reportedly met Amos, according to family lore. When Ernest was just a baby, she would take him to work with her and he slept in a drawer while she worked. By the time of the 1910 census however, when Ernest was just 8 months old, she was no longer working. Sometime before 1917, the marriage ended.
In 1917, Mary married Henry Harrison Gingrich in Lebanon. Henry was the son and youngest child of Cyrus S. and Emma Carmany Gingrich, also born in Lebanon on Dec 17, 1887. Family members report that Henry was a sweet, mild mannered man. To this union were born two more children, Robert Pershing Gingrich was born Dec 8, 1918 and Allen C. Gingrich was born about 1921. Henry also adopted Mary's first child Ernest.
The family is seen living in Philadelphia on the 1920 census. Henry worked for the railroads and was a track foreman. In 1930, they are living in Spencer City, Rowan County, North Carolina. Henry is an engineer for a steam railroad.
They eventually migrated back to the Northeast living first in New Jersey and lastly moving back to Lebanon, from which this family started. Henry died Dec 9, 1970 in Lebanon. Mary would survive him by 14 years before passing away in November of 1984. Both Henry and Mary are buried in Covenant Greenwood Cemetery, in Ebenezer, just outside Lebanon.
Ernest Kirkwood Gingrich
Ernest Kirkwood Gingrich
Ernest Kirkwood Gingrich was the first child born to Mary Nora Kirkwood and her first husband Amos Stiles, on August 11, 1909. Though he was "adopted" by his step father Henry Gingrich, he needed his biological father's permission to join the Navy when he was a teenager. The story is that when he went to his father's house to get his signature on the papers, Amos offered him a different life. Ernest described the house Amos was living in as a "mansion" and said Amos wanted him to come and live with him. Ernest wanted only his father's signature and nothing else and subsequently joined the US Navy.
While stationed at the shipyards in Brooklyn, NY, he met his future wife Margaret Stack, daughter of Daniel Joseph and Anna Ahern Stack.
He married Margaret Stack at Our Lady of Victory Church, in Brooklyn, just after the start of the Great Depression. To this union were born three children; Danny Gingrich, born Sept. 11, 1932; Robert Gingrich, born July 25, 1934; and a daughter, Diane Gingrich, born Oct. 14, 1937, all in Brooklyn, NY.
The family moved to Farmingdale, Long Island. Margaret died in 1973. Ernest remarried a woman named Gertie and they moved to Florida in the 1980's. Ernest's second wife died in the mid eighties. At the age of 79, Ernest succombed to cancer and is buried with his first wife, Margaret, in St. Charles cemetery.
While stationed at the shipyards in Brooklyn, NY, he met his future wife Margaret Stack, daughter of Daniel Joseph and Anna Ahern Stack.
He married Margaret Stack at Our Lady of Victory Church, in Brooklyn, just after the start of the Great Depression. To this union were born three children; Danny Gingrich, born Sept. 11, 1932; Robert Gingrich, born July 25, 1934; and a daughter, Diane Gingrich, born Oct. 14, 1937, all in Brooklyn, NY.
The family moved to Farmingdale, Long Island. Margaret died in 1973. Ernest remarried a woman named Gertie and they moved to Florida in the 1980's. Ernest's second wife died in the mid eighties. At the age of 79, Ernest succombed to cancer and is buried with his first wife, Margaret, in St. Charles cemetery.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Welcome to The Kirkwood Genealogy Blog. Here I will post and update Kirkwood genealogy that I have gathered from family members, documents and online genealogy sources. If you are related to this family and have information that you would like to see added to this site, please email me at ef38369@aol.com. Please list Kirkwood genealogy in the subject heading. There are still pieces of the puzzle to be solved and by working together, perhaps we can solve the mysteries.
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