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MARKHAM FAIR PRESIDENT 1909

Edward D. Kirk

Edward D. Kirk, born in England on November 9th, 1856 came to Canada at the age of 16.  On December 15th, 1881, at the age of twenty-five, he married Harriet Press, the second daughter of James Press.  They had been married over 65 years when Edward passed away on January 23rd, 1947 .  Their grave is located at St. Phillips Anglican Church Cemetery on Kennedy Rd. just north of 16th Avenue, in Markham.  Edward and Harriet had three daughters, Evelyn, Eleanor and Lily and a son, Frederick, who married Mabel Spoffard.  They had a son John E. Kirk born April 3rd, 1923 who passed away November 8th, 1976. 

The 2009 Fair President, Karen (Paisley) Murphy is related through her paternal Grandmother, Eva Kirk, whose mother Minnie Reesor,  married Joseph Kirk.  Joseph and Edward were either brothers or cousins.

Edward farmed Lot 30 Conc. 5 (Kennedy Rd. & 19th Ave. Markham).  He was a tenant farmer, never owning the land. The house was inhabited, as well, by Eva Kirk and Wm. Paisley and still stands to-day directly across from the Almira Mill on 19th Avenue in Markham. It is estimated that the house was built between 1851 and 1875 and is constructed in the Georgian Cottage style.  The exterior wall material is painted tin panels and is a beautifully maintained storey and a half home with a one storey, full-width verandah with square posts and open railing. Mr. Kirk became a landowner in Markham when he purchased 8-3/4 acres listed as the SW-1/4 of Lot 19, Conc. 6, in 1888 for a sum of $2,100.00, although he continued to reside at Lot 30.

He was a councilor for the Markham Township Council for a period of 5 years from 1908 to 1912 and was an honorary Director of Markham Fair in 2008 serving as a committee of one to solicit funds in Toronto.

Edward D. Kirk was a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons which evolved from the lodges or guilds of the Stonemasons who built the great cathedrals in Britain and Europe.  It is known today as the Masonic Lodge.  Edward was Master, of Markham’s Union Lodge in 1917 and it’s oldest past master when he passed on at the age of ninety-one.

Any bits of information that the reader could pass on to the Archives Committee would be very much appreciated. This Past President was somewhat obscure, with few details available to give us a fuller picture of who he really was.  His commitment to the community however is evident – a legacy passed on to the volunteers of the Fair 1n 2009.