Biography of Phillip Kirk

Phillip Kirk, son of William Kirk (born 1788 Eng. Died Mar 28, 1851) and Susann Clift, was born at Arnold, Nottinghamshire, England on Jan 10, 1817.

He married Mary Ann Taylor (born Nov 28, 1820, died May 5, 1895), daughter of John Taylor and Mary Ann Bradbury (born Mar 2, 1799, died Feb 1878) of Arnold Eng.

While living in England he worked at a knitting factory.

His conversion to the Latter Day Saint religion was the result of a dream. He dreamed that as he was standing at this gate, he saw two men coming down the road toward him. He spoke to them and asked them in when they told him they had a message for him. Then he awoke.

Several days later he saw the two men of his dreams coming toward him as he stood at his gate. They told him they had a message for him and he asked them into his home. They were Latter Day Saint missionaries and in due time Phillip, his wife and family with the exception of the oldest son were baptized into the church.

The townspeople were so enraged at Phillip that they made his image and burned him in effigy in the public square. However, this didn’t change his mind about the "Mormons" and in April 1862 he sent three children, James, Joe and Ann to Utah with a group of Saints.

Phillip, his wife and three other children came to Utah in the Capt. Rollins Company. They arrived Spet 15, 1866. James had re-crossed the plains to assist them to Utah. The oldest son John remained in England.

They came to Tooele, where they made their home.

Phillip engaged in farming until his loss of sight caused him to give it up. He held the position of High Priest in the Church at the time of his death.

By Bertha McCuistion