 In 1979 S. Kirk & Son was purchased by the Stieff Company, which renamed itself Kirk Stieff.Kirk was born in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, apprenticed in 1810 to James Howell in Philadelphia, and partnered from 1815-1820 with John Smith in Baltimore with their shop at 212 Market Street (later known as 106 Baltimore Street).On March 18, 1817, he married Albina Powell.