"A HISTORY OF THE DAVIESS-McLEAN BAPTIST ASSOCIATION IN KENTUCKY, 1844-1943" by Wendell H. Rone. Probably published in 1944 by Messenger Job Printing Co., Inc., Owensboro, Kentucky, pp. 435-436. Used by permission. [Daviess] ESLIE KIRK: Brother E. Kirk, as he was lovingly known, was the Daviess-McLean Baptist Association's contribution to the work of the Sunday School and Brotherhood Departments of the Baptist State Board of Missions in Kentucky. He was born at Fordsville, Ohio County, Kentucky, on October 6, 1883, the son of John Way and Mary McKinley Kirk, deceased. His paternal grandparents were William and Lucinda Graves Kirk his maternal grandparents, Benjamin and Lucy Gillaspie McKinley. Our subject was reared in the Fordsville community where he obtained his education. In the year 1902 he came to Owensboro and accepted a position as traveling salesman for the F. A. Ames Company, when that company was engaged in the manufacture and sale of buggies, which position he held for eighteen years. During most of this time he served as Superintendent of the Seven Hills and Third Church Sunday Schools. The former for eight years and the latter for about five years. We have no information as to when he became a Christian but presume that it was early in life. He held membership with the Third Baptist Church from 1902 until his death, with the exception of about ten years, when it was with the Seven Hills Church. In the year 1922 he was elected as a field worker of the State Mission Board in the Sunday School Department. He began this work on January 1, 1923, and remained as a very faithful and efficient worker until ill health forced his retirement from that position on January 1, 1937. From 1926 to 1937 he also served as Secretary of the Brotherhood Department in connection with his other labors in the Sunday School Department. He served under Rev. W. A. Gardner in the latter department. He also served as Field Secretary of the Baptist Ministers' Aid Society during this time. Any one of these three positions was enough for one man and we are not surprised that his health failed under the great responsibilities that were his. After being in ill health for some time he departed to be with the Lord on July 10, 1939, at the age of fifty-five. He had been confined to his bed for about two years previous to his death. His co-worker, Rev. W. A. Gardner, said of him in the Western Recorder: "Brother Kirk was a rare character. In his home he was always kind, thoughtful and loving. He was never too sick to smile to his loved ones and speak kindly to those who ministered to his physical needs. His life was a beautiful example of Christian conduct, manifesting the spirit of the Master in his attitudes toward his associates and others. He was loved by all of us at the State Board headquarters, and by Kentucky Baptists. He was thorough and painstaking in the fellowship service, always upholding Christ, the Church, the pastor and the superintendent. He left pastors stronger with their Churches wherever he went. Few men have such ability to say just the right words to lead the people to love their pastors. He knew Kentucky Baptists, loved them and worked and prayed for them all the way." On many occasions he labored within the Churches of this and neighboring Associations and as a result the Sunday School and Laymen's work were greatly helped. Brother Kirk left his widow, Mrs. Lula Mae Kirk; their adopted daughter and two grandchildren, Betty Jean and Mary Lou Sauer; and six brothers, to mourn his loss. Secretary Gardner again said: "Kentucky Baptist life was enriched by the service and influence of this man of God, our fellow worker." His funeral was preached at the Third Baptist Church, Owensboro, Kentucky, with Revs. W. A. Gardner and Byron C. S. DeJarnette assisting the pastor, Rev. A. F. Cagle, after which his body was laid to rest in the Elmwood Cemetery to await the resurrection. His wife was ill at the time of his death and her death came in July, 1940. The separation caused by death was only for a season. Kirk McKinley Graves Gillaspie Gardner Sauer DeJarnette Cagle = Ohio http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/daviess/kirk.e.txt