Note:  The information contained in this document was transcribed from information provided by Stephen Kirk.  His e-mail address is:  skirkc@msn.com 

OLD UNION CEMETERY

Lockesburg, Arkansas

Levi Lewis Kirk and his wife, Mary Elizabeth, are buried in the Old Union Cemetery in Lockesburg in Southwestern Arkansas. Besides the graves of Levi and Mary E. are the graves of George W. Doggett, Mary E.’s brother, a son of Levi and Mary E.’s, the first born son of Aubrey H. and S.S. Kirk (he was born and died on the same day), and the second born, S.S. Kirk born on Sept. 16, 1886, died May 11, 1889.

West of the plot are the graves of William Asa Kirk, eldest son of Levi and Mary E. Kirk, and William’s daughter, Irene.

LEVI LEWIS KIRK

Levi Lewis Kirk, according to Emma Thomas (the daughter of William Asa Kirk) was the first mayor of DeQueen. He was, she said, in many ways a stubborn, hard-hearted man, and she told the story of a family rift. When Rebecca Alice fell in love with a young man, DeWitt Wilson, who worked for Levi on his farm, Levi fired him. For some reason, he later re-hired Wilson—then Wilson and Rebecca eloped. Levi never forgave Rebecca.

Rebecca and DeWitt moved eventually to Paris, Texas or near there, and were the parents of four children: William Paul, Stephen Earl, Ethel Sphronia and Eddie. Rebecca Kirk Wilson is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Paris.

William Asa Kirk was also an unrelenting man and when his daughter Emma married against his wishes, he refused to speak to her for many years. Neither would Levi Kirk speak to Emma.

Levi in complexion was fair and had blue eyes. The brown hair and brown eyes in the Kirk family came from Mary Elizabeth Doggett who, according to Emma Kirk Thomas, was part indian. Emma described Levi as being a Hardshell Baptist although he did like to drink and dance.