Major Kirby and Mary Elizabeth Durant Kirby

Four Generations
Left to right: Eulalie Earle Cannon, Carrie Kirby Earle, holding John Burns Cannon, Jr., and Major Kirby

Augustus Hilliard Kirby
(January 1, 1829—June 8, 1917)

Mary Elizabeth Durant
30 Oct 1830—23 May 1879

Major Augustus Hilliard Kirby came to Spartanburg from Pacolet in 1837 when he was eight years old. He and his brother Govan inherited the land on Kirby Hill from his father. Major Kirby's house was on the corner where the US Post Offce now stands, on Church Street. He had extensive pastures for cattle on Church Street; Caroline said he was known for his "money and his cows." A. H. Kirby was one of the earliest members of Central Methodist Church and established the Sunday School program there. He later became one of the first members of Bethel.

Major Augustus Hilliard Kirby, the son of John T. Kirby and Martha "Patsy" Peterson, was born on 1 Jan 1829 in Spartanburg County and died on 8 Jun 1917 in Spartanburg. He is buried in Oakwood Cemetery.

Augustus H. Kirby married Mary Elizabeth Durant, daughter of John W. Durant and Sarah Green Sweet, on 21 Sep 1852 in Lincolnton, North Carolina, where her uncle, Henry Hill Durant, was serving as a Methodist preacher. Mary Elizabeth Durant was born on 30 Oct 1830 in Horry District and died on 23 May 1879 in Spartanburg. She is buried in Oakwood Cemetery with her husband and with Uncle Charlie and Aunt Eva, Aunt Joda and Aunt Sabie, and John Durant Kirby, a child who died as an infant.

Children from this marriage were:

Addria Eugenia Kirby: 25 Jul 1853—5 Feb 1921. Married Rev. Chreitzberg. She also is
buried in Oakwood Cemetery (?).

John Durant Kirby: 23 Feb 1855—31 Aug 1855, buried in Oakwood Cemetery.

Mary Josepha (Joda) Kirby: 27 Jul 1856—15 Jan 1941, buried in Oakwood Cemetery.

Sarah Elizabeth (Sable) Kirby: 26 Dec 1858—17 Jan 1936, buried in Oakwood Cemetery.

James Henry Kirby: 19 Jan 1861—20 Feb 1904 in Woodruff, South Carolina at age 43.

Dr. William Augustus Kirby: 20 Aug 1863—21 Jan 1920 in Cottage Grove, South Carolina.

Carolina Virginia (Carrie) Kirby: 23 Sep 1865—4 Aug 1933 in Hendersonville, North Carolina at age 67, and was buried in Oakwood Cemetery. Married Rev. Alson B. Earle.

Reverend George Franklin Kirby: 7 May 1868—7 Nov 1965 in South Carolina at age 97.

Pattie Durant Kirby: 24 Aug 1870—11 Apr 1952, buried in Oakwood Cemetery. Married Rev. Ed Jones.

Charles Chalmers Kirby: 21 Sep 1872—17 Mar 1944, and was buried in Oakwood Cemetery.

Augustus next married Elizabeth B. Huitt.