New Castle Courier-Times, May 7, 1896 p. 5 c3 Thursday:
Mrs. Joseph Shirk, mother of Joseph Jr., and David Shirk, died at her home in the west part of town Sunday morning at the advanced age of 74 years.
She had been very low for some time with organic heart disease and her death was not unexpected. The funeral was held at 2 PM Wednesday from the residence of and the remains were interred in the Elliot Cemetery. Mary (Margaret) Beeson was born Abt 1822 and died May 3, 1896 in Henry County, New Castle, Indiana. She married Joseph on February 17, 1843 in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.
Submitted by
Amy Miller-Connell and
Ann Miller-Neilsen of Indianapolis, Indiana
great granddaughters of Bessie Spell-Shirk