William Kirk (1890 - 1969)

Born 23 Oct 1890 in Greenfield, Adair, Iowa, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Irene (Irwin) Kirk — married 21 Jun 1916 in Clarinda, Page, Iowa, United States

Died 9 May 1969 at age 78 in Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States

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Biography

William was born in 1890 to David Kirk and Ann Gregg in Greenfield, Iowa.

In 1912, William graduated from Tarkio College in Tarkio, Missouri. Tarkio is about 105 southwest of Greenfield.

In 1914, William earned a Master's in Chemistry from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. His advisor was Dr. Benton Dales. His thesis was titled, "Some Organic Molecular Compounds of Aluminum and Yttrium Group Chlorides”

In 1916, William earned a PhD in Chemistry from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

In 1916, William married Mary Irwin in Clarinda, Iowa. They had at least four children. Clarinda is about 65 miles southwest from Greenfield and about 45 miles from Tarkio.

In 1916, William started working at Dupont Company.

In 1950, William retired from Dupont.

He passed away in 1969.

The Tarkio Avalanche (Tarkio, Missouri) Fri, Jun 23, 1916, Page 4

Mr. and Mrs. D. S. Kirk, Miss Helen Kirk, Mrs. D. C. Wilson and daughter, Miss Elisabeth, James Wilson and Mrs. Walter Rankin were in Clarinda Wednesday to attend the wedding of Mr. William Kirk, son of Mr. and Mrs. D. S. Kirk and Miss Mary Irene Irwin, which took place at the home of the bride, Wednesday evening. John Holmes, who has been at the conference at Lake Geneva, Wis., returned from there to attend the wedding and came hone Thursday morning. An account of the wedding will be given in next weeks Avalanche.

The Tarkio Avalanche (Tarkio, Missouri) Fri, May 3, 1918, Page 1

BACK FROM ENGLAND

Dr. William Kirk, who has been in England for several months doing special work as chemist for the Dupont Powder Co., returned home recently. He and his wife and baby came from Clarinda, Thursday, for a visit with hia parents, Mr. and Mrs. D. S. Kirk.

The Morning News (Wilmington, Delaware) Wed, Jun 7, 1950, Page 1

Dr. William Kirk to Retire After 34 Years With DuPont [on page 10, there is a photo of "Dr. William Kirk"]

Dr. William Kirk, assistant general manager of the DuPont Company's organic chemicals department, said yesterday he planned to retire at the end of the year after a career of 34 years with DuPont.

He will relinquish his administrative post June 15, but until Jan. 1 will continue in the department as adviser to the general manager, John F. Daley. Dr. Kirk lives at 1301 Gilpin Avenue.

Dr. Samuel Lenher, now director of manufacture of the organic chemicals department will succeed Dr. Kirk as assistant general manager.

Dr. Kirk, born Oct. 23, 1890, in Greenfield. Ia., went with the DuPont Company in 1916 shortly after receiving his Ph.D. degree in chemistry at Cornell University.

Except for a year and nine months' spent at the start of his career in the explosives department's eastern laboratory at Gibbstown, N. J., Dr. Kirk's work with DuPont has been associated exclusively with dyes research and manufacture and with DuPont's role in the development, from the dye industry, of the country's vast organic chemicals industry.

He began his part in the development as head of the intermediates division in the Jackson Laboratory at Deepwater Point. N. J., in the middle of 1918 when DuPont was engaged in the long and costly research that eventually led to the manufacture of good dyes, then produced almost exclusively in Europe.

He rose through assignments as assistant superintendent and superintendent of various departments to become, in 1930, assistant manager of the Dye Works, now the Chambers Works.

Dr. Kirk was made plant manager in 1941 and served in that capacity until October,1944, when he was advanced to the assistant general managrership of the department.

Active in Boy Scouts

Dr. Kirk devoted many years to the Boy Scout movement, both while moving to Delaware, and is now a member of the Delmarva Council of Boy Scouts. He also took a leading part in activities of the Synthetic Organic Chemicals Association.

The Evening Standard (Uniontown, Pennsylvania) Mon, May 12, 1969, Page 6

William Kirk Passes Away

Dr. William Kirk, whose daughter is Mrs. James I. Fox of Uniontown, died in Baton Rouge, La., Friday at the age 78.

A retired assistant general manager of the Organic Dept. of Dupont Co., Wilmington, Del., Dr. Kirk was born in Greenfield, Iowa. He joined the company 1916.

He was a graduate of Tarkio College in Missouri and received his masters degree from the University of Nebraska in 1914. He received his doctorate from Cornell University in 1960 [actually 1916].

Surviving are his wife, Louise Lax Kirk; two sons, Dr. William Kirk Jr. of Wilmington, Del. and Robert Kirk of Aiken, S. C.; daughters, Mrs. Fox and Mrs. John D. Johnston of Wilmington, Del.; a stepdaughter, Mrs. Douglas Manship of Baton Rouge, La.; numerous grandchildren, and several great grandchildren.

Sources

• Findagrave profile