Nevada Genealogy Trails Storey County James Quirk Biography

JAMES QUIRK. Storey county figures as one of the most attractive, progressive and prosperous divisions of the state of Nevada, justly claiming a high order of citizenship and a spirit of enterprise which is certain to conserve its development and marked advancement in the material upbuilding of the section. The county has been and is signally favored in the class of men who have controlled its affairs in official capacity, and in this connection the subject of this sketch demands representation as one who has served the county faithfully and well in positions of distinct trust and responsibility. He is now serving as sheriff of Storey county, having been elected for six successive terms to that important office. He has resided in Virginia City during the past twenty-six years, and has gained for himself an enviable reputation as a reliable and honorable citizen.

A native of the state of Illinois, Mr. Quirk was born in Lasalle county, on the 11th of June, 1843, and is of Irish ancestry. His parents. John and Johanna (Courtney) Quirk, were both natives of county Kerry, Ireland, and in 1830. soon after their marriage, they bade adieu to the Emerald Isle, sailing for Boston, Massachusetts. For a number of years they remained in the old Bay state, and in 1837 removed to the west, taking up their abode in the young city of Chicago, which only a few months before had been incorporated as a city. Mr. Quirk purchased lots there that are now worth a large fortune. Later, however, he traded his town property for a farm near Galena, Illinois, where he reared his family of eleven children, nine of whom reached years of maturity, while five are still living. The father died in 1853 at the age of fifty years, and his wife survived him for a long time and departed this life on the 19th of January, 1898, at the very advanced age of ninety-eight years.

James Quirk was reared upon the old family homestead in Illinois and pursued his education in the district schools near by. In 1863 he left his native state and went to Montana, being one of the early miners in the noted Alder Gulch, where Virginia City, Montana, now stands. Placer mining has been carried on now in that gulch for a distance of fifteen miles and millions of dollars have been taken out, and still the work of mining is carried on there very successfully. Mr. Quirk made money, but like many other mining men lost it in other mining speculations. In 1876 he went to the Black Hills and engaged in prospecting in the Wind River valley. He was on the Custer battlefield before the soldiers were buried, and saw the terrible effects of the desperate engagement in which the gallant General Custer and his men met death. There were fifty men in Mr. Quirk's party, and their horses were stampeded and they had several skirmishes with the Indians, but none of the white men of the party were killed.

Mr. Quirk returned from his prospecting trip to Virginia City, and for sixteen years worked, in the Yellow Jacket mine under his brother, Thomas Quirk, who was foreman, and during a period of that time James was shift boss. In 1892 he was called to public office, being elected sheriff of Storey county and, as before stated, he has been elected to that position continuously since and at the close of his present term will have filled the office for twelve years. No more worthy official has ever been known in Storey county than this gentleman, who is fearless and faithful in the discharge of his duties and most loyal to the trust reposed in him. In connection with the office of sheriff he is ex-officio county assessor. During the earlier part of his services as sheriff it became his duty to capture a number of criminals, which he always succeeded in doing without taking life, and he has taken as many as five prisoners to the state penitentiary at one time. He now has in his custody the United States prisoners who are in jail for the violation of the federal law. Under his regime crime has greatly diminished in this section of the state, for he is a constant menace to the evil-doers, while the law-abiding citizens have great faith in him as a protector of their rights and interests.

Mr. Quirk was happily married to Mrs. Ann Burk and their union was blessed with one son, Franklin, who was born at Gold Hill. Mrs. Quirk departed this life in 1891, and her remains were interred at Gold Hill. In his political affiliations Mr. Quirk has been a life-long Democrat, and is a stanch believer and advocate of the principles of bimetallism. Fraternally he is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He has spent over a quarter of a century in this locality, and is an affable gentleman, of cordial, genial manner, and has many friends, and at the same time has made a splendid reputation as an officer, whose course has ever been above reproach.