Doctor Kirby began his career by teaching school; taught in Clay county three years, he was connected two summers with the electric light company in Clay Center, Kansas, putting up lines, wiring, collecting, etc., during his college vacation. Doctor Kirby graduated from the Kansas City dental college in 1901. Prior to this he took a year's course of medicine in the St. Louis medical college, but having two brothers in dentistry he was induced through their influence to change his profession. Doctor Kirby was a student of the Emporia State Normal three years, where he took a course preparatory to studying medicine, and we might add was where he met the cause that took effect, and resulted in his coming to Clyde, where he was married June 1901, to Miss Lillian B. Smith, one of the most beautiful young women of Clyde, a daughter of Uriah Smith. She was among the first graduates of the Clyde schools and was a prominent teacher. She has taught in various places, Clyde, Valley Falls and her last two terms were taught in Kansas City schools. She was a graduate of the State Normal and stood exceptionally high in school work. She was also a student for one or more years of the Campbell University, in Holton, Kansas.

Doctor Kirby is a native of Woodford county, Kansas, where his parents, John H. and Mary E. (Dillingham) Kirby were early settlers. The Kirbys were of English origin and settled in Pennsylvania in an early day. The Dillinghams were of Holland descent, and settled in New York. Dr. Kirby's maternal grandfather was a revolutionary soldier. John H. Kirby came to Kansas in 1881 and settled In Dickinson county near the Clay county line where he bought land, raising stock and grain. He died in 1897. Mrs. Kirby lives with her children. Doctor Kirby is the youngest of eight children. Doctor A.H. a dentist of Rock Rapids, Iowa. W.D. a dentist of Beatrice, Nebraska. H.W. who operates a coal yard in Denver, Colorado. Mrs. R.P. Ferguson, of Pueblo, Colorado. Mrs. W.B. Hall, of Marlon, Kansas. C.P. Flyer, whose husband is Doctor Flyer, a dentist of La Crosse, Kansas. Mrs. Grant McCoy who with her family live on the old place.

Doctor Kirby is a member of the Delta Sigma Delta Fraternity, which is an international dental fraternity. He has been a member of this order three years. Doctor Kirby is working with the expectations of making a speciality of straightening irregular teeth and expects to take special courses next year with Doctor Angle, of St. Louis, who is the recognized authority of the world in that line. Doctor Kirby is a Republican in politics and a member of the Young Men's Republican Club. He was raised a Presbyterian but united with the Methodist Episcopal church after his marriage with Mrs. Kirby for she had always been a worker and a member of that church. Doctor Kirby stands in the profession of dentistry, also in social circles and is a rising young man.