Jeremiah W. Kirby

Our great-great grandfather Jeremiah W. Kirby was born about 1838, in Tennessee according to census records.     He was the son of William Kirby and Rutha E. (last name unknown).

Twelve year old Jeremiah appears on the 1850 Knox County, Tennessee census with his parents and siblings.     The census shows William Cerby, 50, a farmer; Ruthy E., 43; Millia M., 23; Abraham R., 21; Susanah S., 20; Archibald S., 17; James M., 14; Jeremiah W., 12; Malinda C., 10; Dicie E., 8; William D., 6 and Martha Jane, 2 years old.    The census indicates the entire family was born in Tennessee.

Jeremiah married our great-great grandmother Mary Ann "Polly" Trott on February 5, 1857, in Knox County, Tennessee.

Mary Ann Trotter was born about 1840, in Tennessee. She was the daughter of William Trott and Elizabeth (last name unknown).     William Trott was born about 1805, in North Carolina according to census.     Elizabeth was born about 1818, in Tennessee.    They appear on the 1850 Knox County, Tennessee census with five children: (1) James Trott, b. abt 1838, TN; (2) Polly A. Trott, b. abt 1840, TN (this was Mary Ann); (3) Louisa Trott, b. abt 1843, TN; (4) Joel Trott, b. abt 1845, TN; and (5) Ganes Trott , born abt 1848, TN.

Jeremiah and Mary Ann appear on the 1860 Knox County, Tennessee census, living in the 16th District.     The census shows Jerry Kirby, 22, a farmer; Ann, 20; James, 3 and John, four months old.    Both of the children were born in Tennessee, probably in Knox County.     Living next door to the Kirby family was Mary Ann's brother, James Trot, born about 1838, in Tennessee.

Between 1860 and 1862, Jeremiah moved his family to Richland Township of Keokuk County, Iowa, where his older brother Abraham R. Kirby was living with his family.    Another child was born to Jeremiah and Mary Ann after their move to Iowa.

On September 1, 1862, Jeremiah and his brother Abraham, enlisted as privates in the Union Army, Company H, 33rd Infantry Regiment Iowa.    Jeremiah was listed as 23 years of age.

Jeremiah "died of disease" on November 26, 1862, in Camp Tuttle, at Oskaloosa, Iowa, during the Civil War.     He probably died of dysentery, which killed many, many soldiers during the War.

Mary Ann apparently died prior to 1870, probably in Keokuk County, Iowa.

The 1870 Keokuk County, Iowa census, Jackson Township, shows their daughter Elizabeth Emiline living with the John Fritz family.    Their son James D. Kirby was living in Floyd County, Iowa,  with the David Banghey (?) family.     We believe their son John died prior to 1870, probably about the same time his mother died.

(Note: Although family records show Elizabeth Kirby was born February 18, 1860, we know that date is not correct.     Elizabeth was not listed on the 1860 census with her family.    The census was dated June 7, 1860.    The 1925 Henry County, Iowa special census shows that Elizabeth Abel was 64 years old and that her father was Jeremiah Kirby and her mother was Mary N. Trotter. Mary's marriage license lists her maiden name as Trott and census records bear this out.)

Child of Jeremiah Kirby and Mary Ann Trott