A farmer again entered public life, engaging on Western railroads as engineer, contractor and surveyor.

The evidence

• “Kirkbride (an active oflScer in the Revolutionary war, as sea captain), and niece of Capt. David Moffatt, a noted man, and Master Warder of Port for twenty years ; they had seven children, four now living ; four of his sons were in the late war and were all honorably discharged ; he was engaged in farming until 1849, when he again entered public life and was engaged on several Western railroads as engineer, contractor and surveyor ; also surveyed the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal, and continued at this business up to within a few years ; he has now retired, and one of his sons is working his farm.”

  1879-history-of-rock-county/18-bios-beloit.md, PDF p. 752 / book p. 756

  Butterfield, C. W., et al. The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc. Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1879. Cornell University Library via the Internet Archive, archive.org/details/cu31924028871585.

  Grade A: Found on a page of one of our sources