| Notes |
- FTDNA #448641
CHARLES KIRK MCFARLIN 1892 - 1977 by; Peter F McFarlin - 2008
A MID-WEST START
According to secondary and family sources (# 1), the first child of William and Margaret (Wiltsie) McFarlin was Charles Kirk McFarlin, born June 17 1892 in Topeka, Kansas. However, no official Kansas birth record has been found, even after Pete r F McFarlin (PFM) visited the Center For Historical Research (while passing through Topeka, Kansas in October of 2007) where he searched the Kansas vital records. This lack of recording may be due to Kirk's father William's transient profession a s supervisor of railroad maintenence for the Atchison Topeka and Sante Fe branch of the Rock Island Line. Also, his parents did not own any real estate in Topeka and environs during the years 1890 to 1894, either. So, the birth record was probabl y just not recorded. Possibly Margaret had Charles Kirk with assistence from the AT&SF RR company itself: "Harmony between managers and employees has been in every way encouraged. For years a reading-room and library system was maintained along th e line, and a splendid hospital service is now in effect." (# 2)
MCFARLINS MOVE EAST
William and Margaret McFarlin were living in Davenport, Iowa in the mid to late 1890's when he was offered a good RR engineering position back in New Jersey (connected with Frank Hyde and others), with the Lackawanna system (ibid #1). William an d Margaret brought young Kirk east with them in the late 1890's and moved into a home at 16 Hawthorne Ave in East Orange, New Jersey. The June 1900 US census for that address lists; "Charles K McFarlin, age 8 b Kansas, June 1891-(-2?), at school" . He was living there with; William K McFarlin ("chief engineer; Delaware, Lackawanna and Western RR") b OH Mar 1861, Margaret W McFarlin b IL Sept 1864, and Margaret's mother, J Mary W Wiltsie, b NY July 1832. (The McFarlin's soon had a second so n in Dec of 1900; Donald, born there in East Orange, NJ - PFM's father).
EDUCATION
His uncle Kirk relates to PFM in 1974 that Kirk's mother "...did one great thing for my brother and I; she was anxious for us to have the best education. The family always provided books you know, as a background...and my father took care of the h igher education part of it."
"Kirk McFarlin completed his preliminary education at East Orange (N.J.) High School and then went to Williams College, where he graduated B.A. in 1912, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he was graduated B.S. in civil engineerin g in 1914....McFarlin belonged to Psi Upsilon and was a charter member of the Delta Delta chapter at Williams College". (# 3)
TRIP ABROAD
In the summer of 1913, at the age of twenty-one, Kirk escorted his mother and younger brother Donald on a four month European trip. Kirk's passport application (dated May 29, 1913) describes him as; 6 ft 0 in, brown eyes, dark hair, born june 17 1 892 in Topeka, Kansas and that he was living at suite 22, 19 Haviland Street, Boston (likely his address while attending MIT). A photo given to PFM by his uncle Kirk in 1974 shows a Swiss Alps hiking scene of young Donald McFarlin (age 13) and the ir mother Margaret on an open field trail with the Jungfrau mountain in the background. The photo was taken by Kirk. The three returned to NYC Sept 23 1913 from Naples, Italy via the SS Princess Irene. All gave their address then as; 170 Glenwoo d Ave, East Orange, NJ.
MEETING THE FOLSOM FAMILY
About 1913 and 1914 the William McFarlin family of East Orange had met and became acquainted with the Edmund Franklin Folsom family of Brookline, MA. William's son Donald (b 1900) and Edmund's son Eddie (b 1899) both had attended a summer camp nea r Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. The boys became friends and about 1913-14 young Donald visited the Folsom home in Brookline (where Donald met his future wife - Margaret Folsom - Eddie's little sister - age seven). Through the two familys' a cquaintance, Donald's brother Kirk also met Margaret's older sister, Mary Folsom. Then, in 1917-18 Mary and Kirk had likely met in Brookline/Boston while Kirk was studying engineering at The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
WORLD WAR I
WW I in Europe was declared in 1914 (while Kirk was at MIT) and the United States became involved in 1917. Just before he registered for the draft in 1917, Kirk returned from a trip to Jamaica to NYC March 1st on the SS Carville.
"During the war he served as a lieutenant in the US Navy Air Force as a meteorologist in Europe" (ibid.# 3). In October of 1918, Kirk visited an Irish Manor house outside the city of Cork, known as Farron, and related to his nephew Peter, in 1974 , a story of 'Bringing in the Spurs', which Kirk had learned there. "This is an early Scot's tradition of serving only spurs at the dinner feast, which was the signal that the larder was empty and that the clan must take off for the lower midland s country whence came the food of the mountain people."
MARY FOLSOM
Kirk and Mary Folsom corresponded while Kirk was on US Naval duty in France in 1918. He sent this postcard from Nice on Christmas day:
(postcard here)
Kirk went back to Paris the next week, sending the following postcard December 31, 1918 to Maryabout his travels. As seen in the last line, he almost lost his life from a German 70 mile artillary shell which landed just 200 feet away!
(postcard here)
BUSINESS CAREER
After returning from his duty in Europe, Kirk began his career in 1919-20 as an engineer with the Barrett Co., New York City, a manufacturing company with research facilities. He soon become vice-president of Hensey & Co., New York City (exporter s and importers). The Jan 1920 US census finds Kirk enumerated at his parents home at Eastwood Street (off of Glenwood Ave), East Orange, NJ. Also living there are his father William (a railroad contractor) and his mother Margaret and younger brot her, Donald. In their garage at the rear of the property are living five various servants; chauffeur, cook, nurse and two maids. Charles Kirk is listed as an exporter with employees.
Later that year, Kirk's Sept 1st, 1920 application for US passport, shows that he is intending to leave the US from New York on the Gen G W Goethals Sept 9th. Walter R Hensey of Hensey & Co Inc (export and importers of food, wheat and explosives ) writes; "This is to certify that Charles K McFarlin, our vice president, is proceeding to the West Indies in the interests of our business, visiting Haiti, Santo Domingo and Cuba. In view of future travel in Europe during the life of this passpo rt, in the interests of our business, he has also specified on his passport application Great Britian, France, Belguim, Switzerland, Holland, Spain and Italy." (PFM notes, however that no 1920-1927 passenger arrivals from any of these places wer e found in the records for Charles Kirk McFarlin, and it may be surmised that he did not travel as planned.)
PARENT'S SEPARATION
Uncle Kirk relates to PFM "...it was in 1921 or '22 that my father and mother separated. My father set up single living in an apartment...My brother went with him. He lived at a small family hotel in East Orange and my mother lived variously in th is area here (Maplewood), always by herself, never with us .She was a very strong-minded person and she enjoyed living by herself. I think preferred that...She held extremely good social positions in the Oranges - in East Orange.
"She was extremely well-thought of. I think she was president of the Women's club, or whatever, up to the time when the break came and then she moved to Maplewood, and I accompanied her and lived with her until Adelaide and I were married. And i t was, of course, through having moved into that area that I came to meet Adelaide and resulted in our being married...I became interested (in Christian Science) as early as 1918-20's and in turn I was able to assist Adelaide to become intereste d and this has made quite a foundation for both of us ever since...We don't carry it to the limits that many people do, but it is our dominent thought and it has, in our opinion, been of tremendous value to us over the years. And, for that I am en tirely indebted to her (Margaret), because you don't come by this often on your own, out of a clear blue sky. For some people, it does, but for me it came through her and for Adelaide, it came through me." (ibid.# 1)
MARY AND KIRK 1921-1925
Mary Folsom and Kirk McFarlin continued seeing each other during 1919 and the early 1920's. Dated photos show them together, sometimes with her mother Margaret , either at Mary's home in Brookline (above), or at the McFarlin's summer place, canoei ng on Lake Placid in New York (photo at right). Kirk often wore his Naval uniform at these times.
Mary's description of their times together, just after her return from her own trip abroad in October of 1924, shows them meeting, either in NYC, when he was working at the National City Bank, or at his mother's home in Montclair, NJ, where they " practiced with their clubs" until it was too dark to hit the golfballs. They often dined together at his home or out with friends. Kirk taught Mary to drive his car and they went "riding" in it with various friends, once going to Boonton to pick u p his brother Donald from his work there. They sometimes took his mother Margaret to the weekly lectures that she often attended.
Mary (Folsom) Applegate later (1970's) told her nephew Peter (PFM) that she and Kirk were quite serious about each other during this time.
However, in a personal letter from Margaret McFarlin to Mary Folsom dated June 26th 1925 from Maplewood, NJ, Margaret writes; "My dear Mary, Your letter announcing (to the McFarlins) your great and final choice was received with much joyful intere st. Ever since the morning where we took our first walk together and found that we had interests and tastes in common I have had a very warm and especial place in my heart for Mary Folsom....Kirk is now at the Placid Club for two weeks rest & I fo rwarded to him your letter which arrived after he left".
In Kirk's June 21st 1925 response to Mary's announcement (of becoming engaged to Mr Octavius Applegate) he wishes her great joy, too. Then Kirk ends with; "This note comes with it, Mary; my best wishes for every good thing which life can bring. W e shall look forward to meeting Mr Applegate at some future time, and congratulate him now on his very good fortune. Please remember me most kindly to your mother and father, and to the little sister. Cordially, Kirk".
NEW FAMILY WITH ADELAIDE HOLLENBECK
Kirk had met Adelaide Hollenbeck of Maplewood, at a friend's house in NJ while playing bridge. They were married in Maplewood, May of 1926 and took a wedding trip to Lake Placid. Within a year they built their home (designed by Kirk himself) at 2 4 Delwick Ave, Short Hills, NJ. They apparently had a stillborn daughter about early 1928. He then took Adelaide on a trip to Bermuda, returning to New York from Hamilton, June 8th 1928.
"After a period as a trust officer with the National City Bank of New York, he joined the Wood Newspaper Machinery Corp., Plainfield, N.J., as an accountant in 1927" (ibid.# 3). (He later became assistant treasurer in 1936 and treasurer in 1941) . In the May 1930 US Census, Kirk McFarlin; "printing company accountant" is listed as head of family owning his own home on Delwick Lane, valued at $35,000. Also in the household are his wife Adelaide and their German maid, Hilda Reinhauer.
Shortly after the 1930 enumeration was taken in May, their second child, Kirk Charles McFarlin was born in the East Orange Memorial Hospital, 13 July 1930. Then, in Oct of 1933, their last child, Everett Byrne McFarlin was born.
In 1974, while looking at family pictures with PFM, aunt Polly (Adelaide) added "...and that is our little dog that adopted us - Bubbles went eveywhere with us - other pictures; growing up - Everett here, and this is where we went down to Marylan d to Rehobeth Beach - where we went before we had our farm. Now here the two boys are celebrating together...Kirk wanted brother Everett's curls cut 'cause others didn't know if he had a brother or sister. And here is young Kirk - he had just take n the shears and had gone right up through his hair like this."
During the 'thirtys, on weekends and holidays, Kirk and Adelaide often had family come visit to their nice home. His mother, Mrs Margaret McFarlin, would come over from Maplewood as well as his brother Donald and Peggy (Folsom) who had married i n 1932, and also lived nearby in Maplewood. Various photos of the families and children (PHOTOS) (Kirk b 1930, Everett b 1933, Alison b 1934, and Peter b 1937) were taken by Kirk during 1932-37 there at Delwick Lane in Short Hills, NJ.
KIRK'S RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS FATHER
Uncle Kirk told Peter in 1974; "Now this I did want to say to you, which I think is a matter of great interest. As my mother's condition became more and more difficult, it became - I tried to stay out of this affair - I had spent years trying to k eep it together and when it failed (1920-21) I let it go. I mean I stayed away from it. I supported my mother which I thought was the right thing to do. But as the years went on, it became necessary - as a matter of fact, I was the fiscal agen t - everything came through me. My father did his best to offer support until the time when he passed away."
Kirk often visited with his father during the 'twentys and 'thirtys at William's hotel in East Orange. "as the years went on...we came to have considerable respect for each other. We used to visit him down at this little hotel. I'd often stop ther e on a Saturday afternoon. Eventually he passed away very quietly and very quickly, hurrying up a set of stairs to take a train to his office at the age of eighty-two (1943). Bang, just like that."
Prior to his father's death, Kirk had managed various parts of his father's affairs regarding finances for his mother. This included the Rife impulse ram water pump company (# 4). "But, after he died, I discovered that he had left this thing in m y hands! And it was all there was for my mother, really. I was then employed, as I had been lucky enough to retain employment through the depression, as a matter of fact. So, I got into the thing - that was '43, and for six years it was my mother' s (source) - it did the trick."
MCFARLIN'S AND FOLSOMS SEPARATE
During the mid-thirties, difficulties arose between Kirk's brother Donald (along with his mother) and Donald's wife Peggy (see Donald's and also Peggy's notes elsewhere). This resulted in Peggy's 1938 return to her family in Wellesley, MA taking A lison and Peter, and in their divorce in 1939. A very sad and difficult time for everyone in the two families. For about thirty years, contact ceased between the New Jersey McFarlins and the Folsom/McFarlins of Wellesley (until 1966).
DELWICK LANE LIFE CONTINUES
Kirk's father had passed on in 1943, and his brother Donald had removed to Washington DC, working for the War Department. Donald remarried about 1942. Their mother, Margaret passed on in 1949, still alone, but well cared for by a personal nurse.
The children, Kirk and Everett continued through local schools and then son Kirk (called 'Peter' by Kirk and Polly - after an early pet rabbit) went on in 1945 to Tabor Academy in Marion, MA graduating in 1949, when he joined the US Marines. Thei r son Everett remained at home.
Kirk Sr designed new parts for some of the Rife pump systems and filed successful patent applications in 1946 and 1949 for these improvements (# 5). He kept his treasurer's position at the Wood Newspaper Machinery Corp until 1954, when he resigne d after twenty-seven years with them and became president of Rife Hydraulic Manufacturing Co. then in New York City, which he moved to Millburn, New Jersey in 1961. He remained active with this company until the month he died, in April of 1977.
SOME TRAVELS AND VISITS
Kirk's earlier trips had included; Europe in 1913 at 21, Jamaica in 1917 at 24, Europe in 1917-18 (WW I) at 26-27, possibly West Indies in 1920 at age 28, and Bermuda in 1928, when he was 38 and Adelaide was 28.. Kirk went with his son Kirk to Gua temala in the late 1950's on a Rife business trip. During the 1970's Kirk and Adelaide took their grand-daughter Claire (McFarlin) Viviani twice to Europe and once to the Far East, while she was in her teens.
Kirk and Adelaide had many visits to and from their families from the 1920's through the 1960's. PFM first visited them in 1966, and Kirk's son Mac (Kirk jr) stayed in Short Hills with them for a few months in 1967 and again in 1970-71. In the 198 0's another grand-daughter, Gina, came for summer visits and even lived there for a year, finishing her high schooling at Millburn High in 1985.
Uncle Kirk writes at Christmastime in 1973 to Peter; "Outside of a possible ten days in Florida in February we have no plans to be away...I am still working full time, and except for a fortnight a year ago in Manila and Taipei, have not been away . We hope that you will come and see us in the spring. I still hope to find some of the family history for you."
PFM did visit again, for two days, in 1974, staying at their Delwick Lane home.
MCFARLIN FAMILY CORRESPONDENCES
Peter and his Wellesley relatives (Peggy McFarlin, the Folsoms and the Applegates) had never had any contact with his father Donald (or any of his McFarlin relatives) since his parent's divorce in 1939. He had always been curious about Donald's wh ere-abouts and situation. Having begun researching his family's genealogy and history some years before, Peter knew that Donald's brother, Kirk McFarlin used to "live somewhere in NJ".
The opportunity to find out more arose when he took a research oceanographic position with Alpine Geophysical Associates of Norwood, NJ. While living temporarily in Riverdale, NJ, Peter looked up and made his first ever (and nervous) phone call t o his McFarlin relatives. Kirk was surprised, but cordial and pleased, to hear from Peter. Thus began a correspondence between uncle Kirk, aunt Polly and Peter that lasted over eleven years between them.
In that first contact of October 1966, Peter asked his uncle Kirk to please contact Donald (in Florida), which Kirk did, but with mixed results. On Jan 27, 1967, Kirk wrote; "My dear Peter; I wrote your father at once about your visit here, an d of your request that I do so. I had heard from him shortly before that time, but he was apparently not able to write after receiving my letter. His condition became critical and in early January he was moved back to the hospital. I am sorry to h ave to tell you that he passed away on January 12 after an illness extending over a little more than a year. ...".
Peter much appreciates all the consideration and help with information which uncle Kirk gave him over the years (see bio notes about PFM, elsewhere).
UNCLE KIRK'S PASSING
Aunt Polly called Peter on the 4th of April, 1977 relating the sad news that uncle Kirk, at age eighty-four, had died April 2nd in a hospital near Millburn, after about eight days care there. He had worked hard at the business recently and had spr ained his back. He had lost some weight and went in for a checkup. Kirk had a benign intestinal tumor removed and was healing well. However, he developed weak blood and died quickly of pneumonia.
Kirk had a private interment with a navy flag at their family cemetery plot in Millburn and a small memorial service was held later in church.
"In politics he was a Republican. His special interests included world geography and earth sciences, meteorology, aviation, travel, and golf." (ibid.# 3)
(Research):GENERAL NOTE:
Peter had various conversations with his mother and her family while growing up and living in Massachusetts, regarding his father, Donald McFarlin and the McFarlin family of New Jersey.
NOTES AND REFERENCES
-(# 1) McFarlin; 1966 - In October, while living in Riverdale, NJ and working at Alpine Geophysical Associates in Norwood, NJ, PFM first ever looked up (and 'phoned) his uncle Kirk and aunt Polly McFarlin. This was followed in November by a visi t from PFM to the McFarlin's home on Delwick Lane in Short Hills, NJ. At that time, uncle Kirk gave PFM a small amount of data and information.
-- McFarlin; 1974 - Many of the McFarlin (McFarland) births, marriages, and deaths, with the names, are from the 1832 William McFarland bible, presented to his grandson, William Kirk McFarland by Wm K's mother, Sarah (Kirk) McFarland, March 9, 189 7 (1877?). Photocopies of the vital records pages in that bible, plus copies of other vital record notes and letters, were given to Peter F McFarlin in 1974, by his uncle, Charles Kirk McFarlin, in Short Hills, New Jersey, who had the bible and no tes in his possession at that time.
-- McFarlin; 9-10 October, 1974 - Personal conversations between PFM and Kirk and Polly McFarlin at their home in Short Hills NJ. These were willingly taped and later transcribed to text. Occasional phone conversations and letters from Uncle Kir k to PFM followed between 1967 and up to March of 1977, one month before Kirk died.
- (# 2) The Atchison Topeka & Sante Fe, by Charles S Gleed, The Cosmopolitan - Feb, 1893.
- (# 3) The National Cyclopedia of American Biography, 1980, V59 p173.
- (# 4) Rife Hydraulic Engine Manufacturing Co, Millburn, NJ; 1965, Water pumps driven only by the water's gravity power.
- (# 5) US Patent Office; patents # 2,572,173 1951(strainer), and #3,037,636 1962 (valve housing).
OTHER SOURCES:
- 1900 census; East Orange, Essex co, NJ ED 180 p 201; Charles K McFarlin a 8 b Kansas, living with his parents and grandmother; J Mary Wilsey - all living at their home at 16 Hawthorne Ave.
- 1910 census; East Orange, Essex co, NJ ED 163 p 266; Charles K MacFarland(sic) a 18 b New Jersey(sic) living with his parents and brother Donald at their home at 180 Glenwood Ave.
- 1920 census; East Orange, Essex co, NJ ED 31 p 70; Charles K McFarlin a 28 b Kansas living with his parents and Donald at 170 Eastwood St (corn. of Glenwood Ave)
- 1930 census; Millburn, Essex co, NJ ED 7-506 p 22; Kirk McFarlin a 37 b Kansas living with wife Adelaide a 29 and maid Hilda Reinhauer a 23, all at Delwick Lane.
- 1977 Soc Sec death index, SSN 150-03-7996
- Various US Passport and immigration records.
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1892 - 1977 (84 years)
