Individual Details
James Melton Kirkpatrick
(17 Mar 1876 - 4 Feb 1941)
James Melton Kirkpatrick was born 17 March 1876, Brunswick, Chariton County, Missouri. When he was 19, his father died and the responsibility for working the farm fell on him. He continued to work the form until his brother Harry finished medical school. The family then sold the farm and migrated circa 1903-1905 to California, settling first in Kern County, in the Bakersfield area.
In 1909 the entire family moved to Taft, which was a booming oil town. Jim went to work for Heard's General Merchandise Store in Oil Center. The store later became known as Heard & Painter, when Jim's brother-in-law Charles Clyde Painter, became a partner. Jim himself became a partner in September of 1911. In 1914 he sold his interest in the store and opened his own general merchandise store with another brother-in-law, Peter Cornelius, as partner. In 1920, Jim sold the store and followed several family members to Long Beach, California, where he became a general contractor in partnership with still another brother-in-law, Frank Van Osdal. Jim continued work as a contractor in Long Beach until his death, which occurred on 4 February 1941.
In Bakersfield Jim met Florence Childs, who was a music teacher living with her sister's family. They were married 7 September 1911 in Bakersfield, Kern County, California. Florence was the daughter of Theron Tallman and Emma Augusta (Brown) Childs, and was born 18 October 1887 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. She died 11 June 1975 in Montgomery, Alabama.
There were two (2) children born of the marriage.
In 1909 the entire family moved to Taft, which was a booming oil town. Jim went to work for Heard's General Merchandise Store in Oil Center. The store later became known as Heard & Painter, when Jim's brother-in-law Charles Clyde Painter, became a partner. Jim himself became a partner in September of 1911. In 1914 he sold his interest in the store and opened his own general merchandise store with another brother-in-law, Peter Cornelius, as partner. In 1920, Jim sold the store and followed several family members to Long Beach, California, where he became a general contractor in partnership with still another brother-in-law, Frank Van Osdal. Jim continued work as a contractor in Long Beach until his death, which occurred on 4 February 1941.
In Bakersfield Jim met Florence Childs, who was a music teacher living with her sister's family. They were married 7 September 1911 in Bakersfield, Kern County, California. Florence was the daughter of Theron Tallman and Emma Augusta (Brown) Childs, and was born 18 October 1887 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. She died 11 June 1975 in Montgomery, Alabama.
There were two (2) children born of the marriage.
Events
| Birth | 17 Mar 1876 | Brunswick, Chariton Co., Missouri |  | ||
| Marriage | 7 Sep 1911 | Bakersfield, Kern Co., California - Florence Childs | |||
| Death | 4 Feb 1941 | Long Beach, Los Angeles Co., California | | ||
| Burial | Forest Lawn Cemetery, Long Beach, Los Angeles Co., California | | |||
| Research Notes |  |
Families
| Spouse | Florence Childs (1887 - 1975) |
| Child | Roberta Kirkpatrick (1912 - 1989) |
| Child | James Theron Kirkpatrick (1916 - 1981) |
| Father | Milton Orville Kirkpatrick (1846 - 1895) |
| Mother | Emily Davis Colvin (1850 - 1931) |
| Sibling | Harry Everett Kirkpatrick (1871 - 1949) |
| Sibling | Zephirena Kirkpatrick (1874 - 1958) |
| Sibling | Louella Kirkpatrick (1878 - 1969) |
| Sibling | Minnie May Kirkpatrick (1882 - 1958) |
| Sibling | Stella Belle Kirkpatrick (1884 - 1970) |
| Sibling | Homer D. Kirkpatrick (1886 - 1949) |
Notes
Research Notes
Obituary not found at genealogybank.com or newspaperarchive.com, September 11, 2017.Endnotes
1. Find A Grave.
2. California Death Index.
3. Find A Grave.
4. Find A Grave.