NELSON VAN KIRK, a prominent contractor and builder, and a well-known citizen of Washington, is a native of the county, born in Amwell township, January 30, 1823, a son of William and Margaret (Bollen) Van Kirk, the former of whom was also a native of that township. The grandfather, William Van Kirk, came from New Jersey to this county, along with other early settlers, bought land which he improved, and died here. He was the father of ten children, none of whom are now living. William Van Kirk, father of our subject, received his education at the subscription schools of his native township, and learned the trades of cabinet-maker and carpenter, which he successfully carried on in Washington borough (whither he had come in 1828) until 1838, in which year he moved to a farm in South Strabane township. He was married to Margaret Bollen, a native of the county, who bore him ten children, of whom five grew to maturity, viz.: Ann Eliza, who died at the age of twenty-five years; Matilda, widow of John Charters; Nelson; Harvey J., an attorney at law, and Margaret, wife of Stephen Reppert, residing in Kentucky. In 1862 the father died, aged sixty-five years, and in March, 1875, the mother passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Charters, in South Strabane township, at the age of eighty-four years. Mr. Van Kirk had served as associate judge for several terms.
Nelson Van Kirk secured a liberal education at the common schools of South Strabane township, and learned the trade of carpenter of his father. In 1846 he returned to Washington borough, where he yet resides. Since the year 1858 he has been a contractor and builder, and has put up a great many buildings in and about Washington. In 1860 he erected, on South Main street, the "Strain building," which has an iron front; in 1861 he built for William Smith the "Iron Hall," on the corner of Main and Beau streets, one of the finest structures in the city; he also erected the National Bank building, the dwellings of Judge McIlvaine and W. P. Hastings, the First and Third Presbyterian churches, in addition to which be put up, at various times, many dwelling houses outside the borough limits, and erected churches at Pigeon Creek and North Buffalo, also the County Home.
In 1854 Mr. Van Kirk was united in marriage with Miss Ann M. Chidester, of West Virginia, a daughter of Ephraim and Mary (Gilchrist) Chidester, natives of Washington county, Penn., the father born in November, 1798, died in 1876, the mother born in 1800, died in 1830. Nelson and Ann M. Van Kirk had a family of seven children, all sons: John, James and Harvey (deceased), and William E., Edward M., George W. and Nelson C. (living). Of these, William E. and Edward M. are both contractors in company with their father; George W. is a druggist in Monongahela City, Penn.; Nelson C. is a clerk in W. P. Hastings' hardware store in Washington; William E. is a member of Washington borough council, now serving his second term.
Of Mr. Van Kirk it may truly be said that he is a thoroughly representative, self-made man, having attained success by his own individual energy and perseverance, and accumulated a comfortable competence, part of which consists of eight dwelling houses in the borough of Washington. Socially, he is genial, whole-souled, warm-hearted and generous attributes he bears with a becoming modesty, in part natural, in part the reflex of the amiability and refinement characteristic of his faithful spouse. A call at the elegant and comfortable home of Mr. and Mrs. Van Kirk will assure the visitor that within its hospitable walls love is king. Mr. and Mrs. Van Kirk are members of the First Presbyterian Church of Washington, Penn. Politically he was first a Whig, and since the formation of the party has been a stanch Republican. For six consecutive years he has served with acknowledged ability as a member of the Washington borough council.
Text taken from page 1050 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed March 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published March 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]