John Howard McKirgan

John Howard McKirgan was born in Bally Lock, Antrim County, Ireland on 1 May 1851 to Alexander and Elizabeth Darrah McKirgan.

At the age of 14, John Howard's parents along with 5 of his siblings left for America.  John remained in Ireland with a paternal aunt on the family farm until the age of 19.

In Bushville, Antrim County Ireland, John Howard McKirgan married Miss Martha Ann McAllister on 11 March 1870 in a Presbyterian Church. 

On 3 July 1870, John Howard and Martha Ann McAllister McKirgan reached Magnolia, Illinois.  They made their home in Magnolia where they raised their 6 surviving children, Margaret, Eliza, Marrietta, Alexander, John Howard, and Daniel. 

John Howard passed away on 29 November 1915 as a result of a hemorrhage of the brain in Magnolia, Illinois.  Martha Ann McAllister McKirgan passed away in Henry, Illinois on 25 March 1928 of natural causes.  John Howard and Martha Ann McAllister McKirgan were laid to rest in Magnolia Cemetery in the McKirgan plot, next to his 3 grand-daughters.  (They are the daughters of Daniel and LuLu Otto McKirgan)