Person:George VanKirk (1)

19 Jan 2010-taken from Jarrod Van Kirk's rootsweb page:

This is the George Vankirk of Kiasola that was killed in the train accident on September 24, 1881. George, a carpenter, was 1 of 6 men killed when struck by a fast news train, running 50-60 mph, on the P&LE RR covering the funeral train of assassinated President Garfield. George and 8 other carpenters were on a handcar having completed work at the Beaver Train Station. The RR company paid families of victims $1000 each and newspapers of the East made liberal contributions for their relief. More can be read in the History of Beaver Co., p. 243-44. Buried by Batchelor Brothers Funeral home.

George W. Vankirk, a Beaver Co. Civil War Veteran, was buried 10/18/1881 at Union City Cemetery. His GAR # was 161. I obtained from National Archives on 6-2-97 that a George W. Vankirk, whose wife was Agnes, served in Co D. 100th Reg. PA Infantry as Pvt, mustered in 12/28/61; mustered out 12/28/64, and he applied for Invalids Pension 2-28-1879. Application #269880. Cert. #168396. His widow, Agnes, applied for Pension 7-5-1890. Application #451404 or that was Certificate #. (not sure if # was App. # or Cert.#) Note that his brother William F. also served in exactly the same company & regiment. Jarrod Vankirk says George served Dec. 21, 1861 to Dec. 21, 1864 per 1890 Census of Union Widows.

1850 census-PA-Beaver-Fallston-26 Jul 1850-lines 15-23-dwelling 66-family 71-William VanKirk; 40; carpenter; Barbara; 42; George W; 19; carpenter; Mary A; 17; William; 15; Elizabeth; 10; Nancy J; 5; Barbara A; 3; Lavina; 9 mos; everyone is born in PA

1860 census-PA-Beaver-Darlington-PO Enon Valley-pg 25-13 Jun 1860-lines 12-15-dwelling/family 182-George W VanKirk; 28; carpenter; personal estate $50; Agnes; 30; Samantha; 3; Oleana; 1; all born PA; next family is Arthur Van Kirk; 37; coal miner; personal estate $75; Catharine; 50; Mary McFarland; 20; Violette; 17; Elisabeth E Van Kirk; 13; Margaret; 11; Caroline; 8

1870 census-PA-Beaver-Darlington-pg 1-9 Jul 1870-PO New Galilee-lines 24-32-dwelling 55-family 58-George VanKirk; 39; house carpenter; real estate value $500; personal estate $600; Agness; 39; Samantha; 12; Allen-- [Oleana]; 10; Anna M; 8; Martha; 7; George S; 5; Eliza Jane; 4; Matilda; 1; probably George's brother lines 33-36; dwelling 56; family 59-William VanKirk; 35; house carpenter; Eliza Jane; 32; Mary; 12; Barbara A; 10; probably George's parents lines 1-3; dwelling 50; family 51; William VanKirk; 58; house carpenter; personal estate $250; Barbara; 61; Susan; 18

1880 census-PA-Beaver-Hopewell-pg 16-ED 190-11 Jun 1880-lines 42-49-dwelling 131-family 133-George W VanKirk; 48; carpenter; Agness; 48; Anna M; 19; George S; 15; laborer; Eliza J; 13; Matilda; 11; Harry; 9; Eddie; 7

George Washington VanKirk

1850 census

1860 census

1870 census