Not much can be found about John Kirk beyond what appears in a few newspaper articles.
His bottles are considered rare. The example we have shows no glassmaker marks. He started his bottling works business in South Bend in 1885. It was located at 600 S Scott Street. We do not have South Bend directories covering the years from 1885 up to the time of his death in 1893, so the exact length of his bottling operation is unknown, though he may have continued bottling close to the time of his death.
Please refer to the articles tab for a more in-depth history.
A new industry has commenced operations out on South Scott Street, near the Lake Shore road, opposite the Standard Oil works. It is a bottling establishment and consists of a new building about 52 feet long and 20 feet wide. The proprietor is Mr. John Kirk, and the business of the concern will be to supply people with fresh bottled Toledo beer this summer.
Application for License.
Notice is hereby given to the citizens of the Second (2d) ward, of South Bend, Portage Township, St. Joseph County, Indiana, that John Kirk will apply to the Board of County Commissioners of St. Joseph county, Indiana, at their next regular session in September, 1886, for a license for one year to sell spirituous, vinous and malt liquors, in a quantity less than a quart at a time, to be drank on the premises where sold. The locality where such liquors are to be drank and sold is on my premises at my place of business, on the first floor of the three-story building known as No. 121 North Michigan street, in South Bend, Indiana, and situate as follows: Beginning 52 feet north from the southwest corner of lot No. 15, in the original plat of the town, now city, of South Bend, Indiana; thence north 19 feet, thence west 70 feet, thence south 19 feet, thence east 70 feet to the place of beginning. JOHN KIRK.
FIRED THREE SHOTS
ONE WILL RESULT FATALLY.
John Kirk, of No. 326 Michigan Avenue, Attempts Suicide by Shooting Himself With a Revolver — Business Trouble Said to be the Cause.
John Kirk, who formerly conducted a sample room at 121 north Michigan street, shot himself three times this this morning at his residence, 326 Michigan avenue, in an effort to end his earthly existence. His recovery is doubtful. The cause is supposed to be business difficulties.
Last evening Mr. and Mrs. Kirk attended a theatrical performance at Good’s opera house returning home afterwards, Mrs. Kirk arose this morning leaving her husband in bed in the sleeping room and some time afterward called him but he did not get up. He was in his usual health, but being out late last evening was tired and preferred to rest. About 9 o’clock Mrs. Kirk started from the kitchen to the bed room when she heard a pistol shot. She rushed to the bed room and on the way heard another. When she reached the side of her husband who was still in bed she saw that he had a revolver and got it away from him without difficulty. Philip Klingel, of the commission house of Schuler & Klingel, 115 and 117 Colfax avenue, was the first outsider to reach the wounded man. He found Mr. Kirk rational and unwilling to say much about the affair further than that he was tired of existence.
Physicians were hastily summoned, Dr. J. W. Hill being the first to arrive followed soon after by Dr. C. A. Daugherty. They found that Mr. Kirk had used a 22 caliber revolver and had fired three shots. The first shot was aimed at the head. It entered in the middle of the forehead and flattened on the skull. The next shot was aimed at the heart. The entire cartridge, bullet and cap, left the revolver but owing to the starched shirt bosom only bruised the flesh above the heart. The third bullet entered the abdomen above the naval and could not be found. It is feared that this shot will cause death although the physicians may be able to save him.
When questioned Mr. Kirk refused to say why he committed the deed. The family consists of a wife, son and daughter and the relations have, it is understood, always been of the most affectionate nature. Mr. Kirk recently sold his place of business at 121 north Michigan street to John and Frank Wolf. It is said that a payment on it is due and that the Messrs. Wolf have not met it. These and other reports lead to the belief that Mr. Kirk was troubled over business complications which caused the deed.
Mr. Kirk came to South Bend some eight years ago from Sharon, Pa., where he ran a bottling works. He established a bottling factory here and later, in conjunction with Thomas Ragan, formerly of the Sheridan house, conducted the Oyster Bay on south Michigan street, near Jefferson. Later he opened the place recently sold.
DIED FROM THE WOUND.
John Kirk’s Attempt at Suicide Proves Successful—Expired This Afternoon.
The physicians attending Mr. John Kirk, of 326 Michigan avenue, who attempted suicide yesterday by shooting himself, have given him every attention but he could not possibly recover as the last bullet entered vital parts. Mr. Kirk would not say what caused him to commit the rash act but said he desired people to understand it was not due to family troubles.
Mr. Kirk died at 20 minutes past 3 o’clock this afternoon. At his request his remains will be taken to Sharon, Pa., for interment.
Mr. Wolf, one of the men who purchased Mr. Kirk’s sample room, at 121 north Michigan street, says that the report that a payment was due on the place and had not been met is untrue.
OBITUARY.
JOHN KIRK.
John Kirk died at 3:20 o’clock Wednesday afternoon at his residence, 326 Michigan avenue. He was born in Luxemburg, Germany, October 8, 1845, and came to the United States when quite young. For a number of years he resided at Sharon, Pa., where he conducted a bottling works. In the seventies he moved here and established a bottling factory afterwards conducting the Oyster Bay on south Michigan street near Jefferson in conjunction with Thomas Ragan, late proprietor of the Sheridan house. Later he opened a sample room at 121 north Michigan street which he ran until a short time ago. He leaves a wife, a daughter, Miss Mollie and a son, Will Kirk. He was a member of the K. O. T. M. and C. K. of A.
The funeral will occur at St. Joseph’s church, east side, at 8 o’clock a. m., tomorrow, Rev. Father Stoffel, officiating. At 10:41 the remains will leave on the Lake Shore road for Sharon, Pa.
South Bend City Directories
1883 — Not listed
1885 — Kirk John, bottler of Finlay’s Toledo lager beer, 600 S. Scott, residence Sheridan House.
We need directory listings between 1886 and 1893.
