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Equi-distant from England, Scotland and Ireland, in the Irish channel is the Isle of Man, one of nature's beauty spots, inhabited by a sturdy progressive race, many of whom are represented throughout various portions of the United States. From the town of Peel, one of the principal municipalities of this isle, came William Quirk to the United States in 1867, when but nineteen years old, to cast his fortune in this country. He was born March 6, 1846, the son of Thomas and Eleanor Quirk, and being one of a large family, determined when but a youth to go forth and carve his fortune on foreign soil, so he chose America. He first came to Chicago, where he remained three years, but being a believer in Horace Greeley's advice, "Go west young man, go west", came to Iowa in 1874. After being here a short time he yearned for home once again, doubtless because he had left a sweetheart behind, so he returned to the Isle of Man, visited with home folks, returning to this country in 1875 and rented a farm in Levey township, Sac county. By strict attention to his duties and frugality he was soon enabled to buy eighty acres from the railroad company paying $6 an acre. Later he added to his holdings until now he is owner of 240 acres of the choicest farming land in southern Sac county.
In this connection it may be said that Mr. Quirk and S. Enfield Smith are the only land owners in Clinton or Levey township, and possibly other adjoining ones, who still live on the land which they broke up in years long passed.
In 1880 Mr. Quirk married Miss Margaret Christian by whom he had two sons and two daughters. Mrs. Quirk died four years later and in 1886 while on a visit to his ancestral home he married Miss Elizabeth Hudson, returning to Sac county with his bride in the fall of that year. By his second marriage six sons and daughters were added to his family and today all ten children are alive and prospering.
Mr. Quirk has a most attractive as well as comfortable home on the old Wall Lake road which is the southern boundary of Clinton township. The house sets back from the road amid a forest of trees each one, now of stately proportions, planted by Mr. Quirk's own hands. In his eightieth year Mr. Quirk feels that he can well afford to retire from active farm life, so has turned the conduct of the farm over to two of his sons, while a third one takes charge of the stock, for Mr. Quirk has been in the habit of raising quantities of cattle and hogs and is as well known at the Chicago and Sioux City stock yards as any other stockman in northwest Iowa.
Mr. Quirk's retirement from active farm life does not mean that he does nothing, for his active nature does not permit him many idle moments. His having been an expert market gardener in his younger days causes him to conduct a rare fine garden of his own and he devotes much time to its care.
Mr. and Mrs. Quirk are devout Methodists and were members of the Bethel Methodist church which formerly stood on the Lake View road, but when it was disbanded and the congregation merged with the Wall Lake and Odebolt parishes, they became identified with the Wall Lake Methodist church.
For many years Mr. Quirk has been a consistent member of the Masonic fraternity and while his attendance at lodge is restricted now on account of advancing age he is as ardent a Mason as in his younger days.
In politics Mr. Quirk is a staunch Republican and he studies the leading political problems of the day carefully and keeps thoroughly posted on governmental affairs.
In the twilight of their happy life Mr. and Mrs. Quirk live a contented Christian life, setting those about them a worthy example and number countless friends who deem it a rare gift to be numbered among them.
transcribed by B. Ekse from microfilm