Benjamin Palmer Shirk1

b. 28 July 1831, d. November 1875
Benjamin Palmer Shirk
image from The "Shirk Family"
FatherJacob Shirk1 b. 11 Jul 1806, d. 29 Apr 1877
MotherSusan Stouffer1 b. 24 Nov 1810, d. 23 May 1885
Birth28 Jul 1831 Benjamin Palmer Shirk was born on 28 Jul 1831 in Franklin County, Pennsylvania.1 
Marriage8 Apr 1858 He married Sarah Isabella Moffett, daughter of Thomas Moffett and Ann Elizabeth Davis, on 8 Apr 1858 in Carroll County, Illinois.2 
Military  Benjamin served for 100 days during the Civil War. He was a sergeant at Camp Butler. Records describe him as being six feet tall with blue eyes and dark hair.1 
Cens-Sum  Benjamin and Sarah lived in the community of Mt. Carroll in Carroll County where Benjamin was employed as a clerk and later as a lime burner [?]. Other records state that he was a bookkeeper. The 1870 census stated that he owned real estate worth $25,000. If this was accurate it was a large amount for the time. Sarah gave birth to 7 children.3,4 
  She died in 1872 not long after giving birth to son William who died the following year. 
DeathNov 1875 Benjamin died on the 11th or 12th of Nov 1875 in Cherry Grove, Carroll County, Illinois, at age 44.5,6,7 
Burial He was buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Mt. Carroll.1 

Related Links and Images:

Benjamin and Sarah Shirk monument
Find Oak Hill Cemetery on the Carroll County map (also accessible via the Misc. Locations link in the menu bar at the top of any page).

Family

Sarah Isabella Moffett b. 29 Nov 1839, d. 24 Mar 1872
Children
Last Edited22 Jun 2011

Citations

  1. [S2049] "Shirk Family Genealogy", p. 34-7.
  2. [S1051] "Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900", Illinois State Archives (http://www.sos.state.il.us/GenealogyMWeb/marrsrch.html). Index as viewed in May 2005 states: Benjamin P. Shirk and Sarah J. Moffett marr 4/08/1858 in Carroll Co., citing OMR, p. 127.
  3. [S1030] Benj. P. Shirk household, 1860 U.S. census, Carroll Co., Illinois, pop. sched., Mt. Carroll, p. 1088 (added script), dwelling 1962, family 1818, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Nov. 2004, image 15 of 33; Enumeration includes: Benj P. Shirk, 29, bookkeeper, b. PA; Sarah I, 20, b. VA; Ella M., 1, b. IL.
  4. [S1031] Benjamin P. Shirk household, 1870 U.S. census, Carroll Co., Illinois, pop. sched., Mt. Carroll, p. 172 (B) stamped, dwelling 222, family 222, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Nov. 2004, image 57 of 71. Enumeration reads: Benjamin P. Shirk, 39, lime burner, b. PA, owns real estate of $25,000; Sarah I., 30, b. IN; Nellie M. 11; Harry M. 10; Bennie F. 4; Walter B., 3; Fred E., 2; Hattie, 2/12; all b. IL; Clara Rotten, 14, domestic.
  5. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 49. This source states he died on the 12th.
  6. [S1050] Carroll County Genealogical Society, Carroll County, Illinois Tombstone Inscriptions Vol. 2, Stone reported to state that B.P. Shirk died 11 Nov. 1875.
  7. [S2035] George Wanger, A Genealogy of the Descendants of Rev. Jacob Price, p. 669. This source states he died on the 12th.