James M. Kirby, born December 1, 1830, in Kentucky, was a notable farmer and stock-raiser in Morgan Township, Dade County, Missouri. He was the son of Tully C. and Nancy (Hernington) Kirby and the fourth of eleven children. At nineteen, Kirby enlisted in the Mexican War, serving in the Third Regiment Mounted Infantry of Missouri. During the Civil War, he joined the Home Guards and later the Enrolled Militia, eventually becoming captain of Company E, Seventy-sixth Regiment. In 1850, he married Mary J. Grisham, with whom he had twelve children. A Republican, Kirby owned 370 acres of land and was active in local politics and the Masonic Lodge. He and his wife were members of the Baptist Church.
James M. Kirby, a farmer and prominent stock-raiser of Morgan Township, who is located then miles northeast of Greenfield, is a native of Kentucky, born December 1, 1830, and the son of Tully C. and Nancy (Hernington) Kirby. (For further particulars of parents, see sketch of Fred W. Kirby, which appears elsewhere in these pages.) James M. Kirby was the fourth of eleven children born to his parents and remained with them until nineteen years, of age, when he enlisted for the Mexican War, and was a soldier under Capt. McNair, in Company A, Third Regiment Mounted Infantry of Missouri, and served nine months. He had two older brothers in the same war, one serving eighteen months in Old Mexico, and the other in New Mexico until the close of the war. James M. Kirby was discharged at Independence, Mo., and returned to Dade County, of the same State. In 1861, he joined the Home Guards of Missouri, and a short time after enlisted in the Enrolled Militia, being elected first lieutenant of Company E, Seventy-sixth regiment a short time after enlisting, in which capacity he remained for eight months, when he was promoted to the rank of captain, and held this until the close of the war. He was at Springfield in 1864, when that city was attacked by Gen. Marmaduke, and was in a severe skirmish at Greenfield also in 1863. Previous to the Civil War, in 1850, he married Miss Mary J. Grisham, a native of Tennessee, born February 24, 1830, and the daughter of John and Mary Grisham, both deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Kirby were born twelve children, eight living: John T., Joseph D., William M., Nancy F., wife of John A. McConnell; Elnora, wife of John B. McConnell; Cora; Lula, wife of Alfred Smith; and Carrie. Mr. Kirby has resided on his present property, which consists of 250 acres of land, since 1877, and aside from this is the owner of 120 acres in another tract. He is a good citizen, and an influential and well-to-do farmer. He is a Republican in politics, and was appointed register of veterans of Dade County soon after the close of the war; was also appointed assessor of the county at one time. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Dadeville, and he and wife are members of the Baptist Church.