Joseph Kirkland facts for kids
Joseph Kirkland (born January 7, 1830 – died April 29, 1894) was an American novelist. A novelist is a writer who creates long stories called novels. He was known for writing realistic stories about life in the American West.
Joseph Kirkland was born in Geneva, New York. His father, William Kirkland, was an educator, and his mother, Caroline Kirkland, was also a famous author.
Early Life and Career
Joseph Kirkland started his career as a businessman in Chicago. When the American Civil War began, he joined the Union Army. The Civil War was a big conflict in the United States from 1861 to 1865. He served bravely and reached the rank of major.
After the war, he left the army. He moved to Tilton, Illinois, and in 1863, he married Theodosia B. Wilkinson.
Writing and Later Life
In 1864, Joseph Kirkland started a magazine called Prairie Chicken. This magazine focused on literature from the Midwest. After the Civil War ended, he also became a lawyer. But he continued to write stories and books.
Kirkland is best known for two novels about pioneer life. Pioneer life means the experiences of early settlers moving into new, unsettled areas. His most famous books are Zury: The Meanest Man in Spring County (published in 1887) and The McVeys. These books showed what life was really like for people settling in the American West.
He also wrote other books, including The Captain of Company K and The Story of Chicago. Joseph Kirkland was also the literary editor for the Chicago Tribune newspaper. This meant he was in charge of the newspaper's book reviews and literary sections.
Joseph Kirkland passed away in Chicago when he was 64 years old.
