Bessie Belle Kirby
1887–1947

When Bessie Belle Kirby was born on June 6, 1887, in Lonaconing, Maryland, her father, John Randolph Kirby Sr. (1863-1907), was 24 and her mother, Hannah Susan Arbogast (1863-1937), was 24. She had four brothers and three sisters. She died on July 5, 1947, in Cumberland, Maryland, at the age of 60, and was buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, Cumberland, Maryland.

Kirby Rites
Final rites were conducted this afternoon in the Hafer Funeral Home for Miss Bessie B. Kirby, 69, of 29 Browning Street, who died Saturday in Allegany Hospital. Rev. C.K. Welch, pastor of Evangelical United Brethren Church, officiated and burial was in Rose Hill Cemetery, Pallbearers were George and Edgar Arbogast, Edward Duckworth, D. C. Mangus, O. G. Zellner and Thomas Gray.

Published Tuesday, July 8, 1947 in THE CUMBERLAND EVENING TIMES, Cumberland, Maryland on page 5, col. 3.

OBITUARY
Mrs. Bessie B. Kirby
Miss Bessie B. Kirby, 69, of 29 Browning Street, died this morning in Memorial Hospital where she had been a patient one week.

She was a daughter of the late John R. and Hannah (Arbogast) Kirby of Lonaconing, but had resided in Cumberland for 35 years. She was employed at the Celanses plant.

She is survived by Mrs. Bertie Davis and Mrs. Mary Carter, both of Wheeling, W. Va., and Mrs. Elsie Miller, city, all sisters. Two brothers, William Kirby and George Kirby, both of Cumberland, also survive.

Miss Kirby was a member of United Brethren Church.

The body will remain at the Hafer Funeral Home until Tuesday, when services will be held there at 2 p. m., with Rev. C. K. Welch in charge. Interment will be in Rose Hill cemetery.

Published Saturday, July 5, 1947 in THE CUMBERLAND EVENING TIMES, Cumberland, Maryland on page 8, col. 5.

U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
Name: Bessie B Kirby
SSN: 217105839
Birth Date: 6 Jun 1887
Death Date: 5 Jul 1947
Claim Date: 14 Aug 1947
Type of Claim: Death Claim
Notes: 16 Sep 1977: Name listed as BESSIE B KIRBY

1940 United States Federal Census
Name: Bessie Kirby
Age: 48
Estimated birth year: abt 1892
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birthplace: Maryland
Marital Status: Single
Relation to Head of House: Sister
Home in 1940: Cumberland, Allegany, Maryland
Map of Home in 1940: View Map
Street: Browning Street
House Number: 29
Inferred Residence in 1935: Cumberland, Allegany, Maryland
Residence in 1935: Same Place
Resident on farm in 1935: No
Sheet Number: 8A
Occupation: Twisting
Attended School or College: No
Highest Grade Completed: Elementary school, 6th grade
Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 40
Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker in private work
Weeks Worked in 1939: 10
Income: 200
Income Other Sources: No
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
William Kirby 38
Harry Kirby 35
Bessie Kirby 48
Elsie Wilson 40
Harry Wilson 20

1930 United States Federal Census
Name: Bessie Kirby
Birth Year: abt 1888
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birthplace: Maryland
Marital Status: Single
Relation to Head of House: Daughter
Home in 1930: Cumberland, Allegany, Maryland
Map of Home: View Map
Street address: Cresap Street
Ward of City: 6 pt of
House Number in Cities or Towns: 51
Dwelling Number: 83
Family Number: 89
Attended School: No
Able to Read and Write: Yes
Father's Birthplace: Maryland
Mother's Birthplace: Maryland
Able to Speak English: Yes
Occupation: Trained nurse
Industry: Hospital
Class of Worker: Working on own account
Employment: Yes
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Hannah Kirby 64
Bessie Kirby 42
Elsie Wilson 30
William Kirby 27
Harry Kirby 24
Harry Wilson 10

1920 United States Federal Census
Name: Bessie Huby
[Bessie Kirby]
Age: 32
Birth Year: abt 1888
Birthplace: Maryland
Home in 1920: Cumberland Ward 3, Allegany, Maryland
Street: Cressap Street
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Daughter
Marital Status: Single
Father's Birthplace: Maryland
Mother's name: Hannah Huby
Mother's Birthplace: Maryland
Able to Speak English: Yes
Occupation: Nurse
Industry: Private Fam
Employment Field: Wage or Salary
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Hannah Huby 54
[34]
Bessie Huby 32
Mary Cartey 27
Elsie Wilson 20
William Kirby 18
Harry Kirby 14
A Mary Carter 7

1910 United States Federal Census
Name: Bessie Kirby
[Bessie Kerby]
Age in 1910: 22
Birth Year: abt 1888
Birthplace: Maryland
Home in 1910: Election District 24, Allegany, Maryland
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Daughter
Marital Status: Single
Parent's Name: Hannah Kirby
Father's Birthplace: Maryland
Mother's Birthplace: Maryland
Native Tongue: English
Occupation: Servant
Industry: Private Family
Employer, Employee or Other: Wage Earner
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Out of Work: No
Number of weeks out of work: 0
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Hannah Kirby 45
Bessie Kirby 22
John Kirby 20
Mary Kirby 17
George Kirby 14
Elsie Kirby 11
William Kirby 8
Harry Kirby 4

1900 United States Federal Census
Name: Bessie Kirby
[Ressie Kirby]
Age: 12
Birth Date: Jun 1887
Birthplace: Maryland
Home in 1900: Lonaconing, Allegany, Maryland
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Daughter
Marital Status: Single
Father's name: Randolph Kirby
Father's Birthplace: Maryland
Mother's name: Hannah Kirby
Mother's Birthplace: Maryland
Occupation: View on Image
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Randolph Kirby 38
Hannah Kirby 36
Bertie Kirby 15
Bessie Kirby 12
John Kirby 10
Mary Kirby 7
George Kirby 4
Elsie Kirby 1