John G. Birk

As printed in 1912

JOHN W. BIRK, M. D., was born in Crawford county, Ohio, March 3, 1874, a son of Christian F. and Martha S. (Volk) Birk. He is a grandson of John G. Birk, a native of Wurtemburg, Germany, who came to the United States in 1845. After residing for a time in Albany, N. Y., John G. Birk removed to Tuscarawas county, Ohio; but he did not remain there long, as in 1847 he came to Bucyrus, where he established a harness making business, which he carried on for many years and which is still flourishing. He became a prominent citizen and served as treasurer of Crawford county from 1874 to 1876. His death took place Nov. 10, 1888.

In 185 1 he married Miss Joanna Kuhn, who was also a native of Germany and a representative of one of the pioneer families of Crawford county, her people having come to this section of Ohio in 1836. She died in October, 1893, having attained the age of 65 years. In their family were the following children: Christian F., father of Dr. John W. Birk; George M., who is engaged in the drug business with his brother, Christian; Emanuel R., who is now proprietor of the harness shop established by his father and is doing a very extensive business; Lewis C, who is foreman in the harness store; and Elizabeth, wife of F. P. Donnenwirth, a retired citizen of Bucyrus, O.

Christian F. Birk was educated in the common schools of Bucyrus, which he attended until he was 14 years of age. He then began assisting his father in the harness shop, where he mastered the business, which he mastered in all its details. For several years he was a partner with his father in the enterprise, which was carried on under the firm name of J. G. Birk & Son. For 53 years the business has been continued as the Birk's Harness Store, and is one of the most successful commercial institutions of the city, being now conducted by two of the sons of J. G. Birk, as above intimated.

In 1892 Christian F. Birk, in connection with his younger brother, G. M. Birk, established a drug store, which they are still conducting. They carry a large and well assorted stock of goods and conduct their business so as to retain their patrons and build up their trade. Their sales are constantly increasing and the proprietors enjoy a good income. Christian F. Birk is also connected with the Board of Trade. In Bucyrus, in 1873, he was married to Miss Bertha S. Volk, a daughter of William F. Volk, who came to Crawford county about 60 years ago. They had three children — John W., Carrie Elizabeth and Edna, of whom Carrie E. is the wife of G. W. Kerr, of Wrightsville, Pa., and Edna, at one time a teacher in the public schools, is now the wife of Otho Kennedy. Mrs. Christian F. Birk died Aug. 10, 1898, a month after her son, John W., had sailed for Cuba on military service and while he was on the island.

Mr. Christian F. Birk is connected with the Knights of Pythias fraternity and with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He belongs to.the German Lutheran church and in politics is a stalwart Democrat. When only 23 years of age he was elected to the city council and after an interval he was chosen, in 1896, for a second term of two years. He served as city marshal from 1884 until 1890 and in the latter year entered upon a four years term as county sheriff. His fellow townsmen conferred upon him the highest honor within their power when in 1898 he was elected mayor of Bucyrus, and two years later they again called him to the same position, a fact which indicates how faithfully he had served them, his administration being practical, progressive and beneficial. His public career has been epitomized as follows: "Public spirited, he has withheld his support from no measure that he believes will promote the welfare and substantial advancement of Bucyrus, and his discriminating mind enables him to judge correctly of the value to the city of any measure introduced. Over the record of his public life and private career there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil, and he is rich in those qualities which win and retain personal friendships."

John W. Birk, the direct subject of this article, was educated in the common schools. He graduated from College of Physicians and Surgeons, University of Illinois, in 1901. Previous to this, however, he had seen military service, being first lieutenant in Company A, Eighth O. Vol. Inf., during the Spanish-American War, and was present at the surrender of Santiago. He began the practice of medicine in 1903, locating in Bucyrus in that year. He was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Curtis, who is a daughter of Dr. Geo. Curtis of Hawley, Pa., and the family consists of one child, Margaret H. Dr. Birk and his family are now residents of Chicago, Ill. He belongs to the Masons and the Elks.

As printed in History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.