Re: Alonzo C. Kirk

Although his grave marker lists his birthdate as 12 Jul 1845, I believe Alonzo was born in Tennessee in July of 1843.

U.S. Census, 9 Jun 1880, 1st Civil District, McNairy County, Tennessee: Alonzo KIRK, 35 y/o farmer born in Mississippi, father born in Kentucky.

U.S. Census, 13 Jun 1900, Civil District 1, McNairy County, Tennessee: Alonzo C. KIRK, 56 y/o farmer born July 1843 in Tennessee, father born in Tennessee, mother born in Mississippi.

U.S. Census, 15 Apr 1910, 1st Civil District, McNairy County, Tennessee: Alonzo C. KIRK, 66 y/o farmer born in Tennessee, father born in North Carolina, mother born in Tennessee.

U.S. Census, 8 Jan 1920, 1st Civil District, McNairy County, Tennessee: Alonzo C. KIRK, 76 y/o born in Tennessee, father and mother born in Tennessee.

NARA film T289-533, Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900, shows that Alonzo served as a Union Soldier in Company L, 6th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry. Serving with him at the same time in the same company were three cousins, Hiram, James A. and Lafayette V. KIRK and another soldier by the name of John DOLES. A story is told that Alonzo, a resident of Mississippi was visiting his cousins in Pocahontas, Tennessee when they were all conscripted into the Union Army.

John DOLES married Martha KIRK on 12 Apr 1866 in McNairy County, Tennessee and a year later married Loretta KIRK on 17 Oct 1867 in McNairy, Tennessee.

All of these clues lead me to believe that Alonzo KIRK is the same person as 16 y/o A. KIRK found on the 1860 U.S. Census at Cockrum P.O., DeSoto County, Mississippi.The head of the household is given as 40 y/o Mary KIRK, born in Tennessee and there are two other children living in the household, 18 y/o Martha KIRK and 12 y/o Loretta KIRK.All of the children are listed as being born in Mississippi.

Families living in the same neighborhood as Mary KIRK and her family included the JACOBS, DROKE, CASON, ALBRIGHT, STEVENS and SHUFFIELD families.

These same families are found living next to one Allen KIRK and his family on the 1850 U.S. Census, Northern District, DeSoto County, Mississippi.

Allen Kirk, 50 y/o M born in NC
M Kirk, 40 y/o F born in NC
H Kirk, 23 y/o M born in TN
E Kirk       19 y/o F born in TN
L Kirk       18 y/o M born in TN
J Kirk       16 y/o M born in TN
E Kirk       14 y/o M born in TN
A Kirk       12 y/o M born in TN
M Kirk       9 y/o F born in TN
A Kirk       7 y/o M born in TN
M Kirk       5 y/o F born in TN
G Kirk       3 y/o M born in TN

The 9 y/o M. KIRK and the 7 y/o A. KIRK line up very nicely with Alonzo and Martha.

Allen KIRK is found on the 1840 Census of McNairy County, Tennessee and the 1830 Census of Hardeman County, Tennessee.Of note, Pocahontas, Tennessee is situated just over the border from McNairy County in Hardeman County.On the same page of the 1840 census is found John KIRK, the father of Hiram, James and Lafayette.This is probably Allen's brother.