James S. Kirk & Company I

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James S. Kirk & Company Candle and Soap Manufacturer
Life Span: 1859-1871
Location: North Water Street
Architect: NA

Halpin & Bailey’s City Directory for the Year 1863-64

Kirk James S. & Co.

John C. W. Bailey’s Chicago City Directory for 1867
Kirk James S. & Co., (James S. Kirk, John Thorn and Isaac Maynard,) mnfrs of fancy and staple soaps, etc. 36 and 38 River
Kirk James, salesman James S. Kirk & Co., h 71 Pine
Kirk James A., (James S. Kirk & Co.,) h 71 Pine
Kirk James S., (James S. Kirk & Co., res. Oakton

Edwards’ Annual Directory in the City of Chicago, for 1870
Kirk James S. & Co., (James S. Kirk, John Thorn and Isaac Maynard,) soap and candle mnfrs, 358, 360 and 362 N. Water

Chicago Tribune, April 6, 1861

Soap and Candles.
Messrs. James S. Kirk & Co. have established, and have an active operation, a very extensive and complete manufactory of Soap and Candles, on a large scale, and of a quality, i the several grades, for which long experience and an excellent reputation won in the same line of business in New York State have abundantly fitted them. They occupy for this purpose the large brick building, Nos. 18 and 20 River street, near the foot of Wabash avenue.

Mr. Kirk, the resident partner and manager of the business here, has recently showed us through the works, which at a liberal outlay they have fitted up with every labor saving appliance and made one of the most complete of its class in the West. Vast steam heated cauldrons, large enough for a chowder pot for Brobdignag; a long double line of candle machines, which turn out thousands of these wicked inventions for illumination; great piles of these manufactured staples of the household, in quantity seemingly sufficient to guard every family in this region against the evils of dirt and dirtiness, all at once declare a manufactory conducted on principles that must give it success.

This is all a move in the right direction. Here we have an abundance of raw tallow, in exhaustless supply from our packing houses and here certainly should it be manufactured on all; principals of ordinary economy, saving two freights, eastward and return. Obviously the question of quality will rule and here after all, and here Messrs. Kirk & Co. have their strong point, as their products, in both articles have won a high reputation in the market, and, indeed, nobe better is offered here. We are glad to note that they find the result of their enterprise, in establishing their manufactory here has, though in a dull time, and one of the general depression, met their expectations, and repaid their outlay. Both instances should encourage others.

Chicago Tribune, May 18, 1867

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.
A Soap and Candle Factory Burnt to the Ground,
Loss $105,000—The Insurance.
Between half-past four and five o’clock yesterday afternoon a fire broke out in the soap and candle factory of James S. Kirk & Co., Nos. 36 and 38 River street, and in less than one hour destroyed the entire establishment and its contents, involving a loss of fully $105,000.

The fire is believed to have originated in the excessive heat communicated from the boiler in the southeast corner of the basement, immediately beneath the counting-room of the building. It is understood that with the masonry upon which it rested the boiler quite filled the space from the foundation to the first floor. After the first discovery, of the impending danger the flames spread so rapidly that in the short space of five minutes the front portion of the first floor was a seething mass of flames.

Extending rapidly to the rear, and the upper floor, the inflammable nature of the entire stock was very soon at the mercy of the conflagration. The steamers arrived at the scene with their usual promptitude, but the fire had already obtained the ascendency, and defied the streams of water with triumphant mockery. Within half an hour after the fire was discovered, the building was considered defunct by the Fire Department, and their attention was devoted to guarding the five-story brick structures on either side of it.

The burned building was or brick, three stories and a basement in height, having a frontage on River street of about forty feet, and a depth of eighty feet, extending towards the river. The firm occupying it also owned it. Mr. Kirk, Mr. Thorne and Issac Maynard constituted the co-partnership. They have long been established in business and are well known for their business integrity and energy. Their trade consisted of the manufacture of soaps and candles, and within the last few months they had added fancy soaps to their line of trade. Their stock was very full, and valued at $97,000. Their loss was entire, except a few boxes of soda. Those in the office had barely time to lock the safe and leave. The safe was removed and preserved with all its contents uninjured.

The adjoining brick structures on either side. including their stocks, were not at all injured.

Still Doing Business.
Messrs. Kirk & Co., with their characteristic energy, have already made arrangements to continue their business. The firm has another factory at No. 919 State street and they may be found for the present at Nos. 310, 312 and 314 North Water street. where they are prepared to fill all orders promptly, and ask their friends to call on them, as they may rest assured that their wants will be attended to as promptly and their interests consulted as fully as heretofore.

Chicago Tribune, May 21, 1867

READY FOR ORDERS.-Messte. James S. Kirk & Company, soap manufacturers, whose extensive establishment on River street was burnt last Friday desire it to be understood, that their other wand-factory at Nos. 310, 311 and 312 North Water street, is in fall operation, and that they are able to promptly fill any orders which may be given them in the came acceptable manner that they have always done.

Chicago Tribune, December 23, 1900

The old Kirk homestead, the scene of some of the most brilliant events in the social life of early Evanston, will be made into a hospital, which is to be operated by the Sisters of Charity connected with the St. Nicholas
Catholic Church.

The property was transferred for a consideration of $35,000, and the work of improvement will be begun at once. at the north end, and The only other hospital in Evanston is situated as the new institution is at the extreme south end it will fill a want that the residents have felt for many years.

When Evanston was made an educational center by the Methodists, James S. Kirk erected at a cost of $25,000 the fine house that will now become a hospital Kirk was a trustee of Northwestern University, an attendant of the First Methodist Church, and a member of its official board until his death. The children in the course of time left the old homestead, and the tragic death of Mrs. Kirk in the Windsor Hotel fire in New York last year left the place without an occupant.

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