Peter Kirk, Esq. tracked the world iron markets diligently. He had to. Kirk employed 1000 men and boys in his integrated iron and steel works in Workington, England. Britain's market share was losing ground to America's burgeoning steel industry. In 1886, he sailed from Workington flush with decades of success in Britain's Victorian era rail expansion. - from the publisher

Biographies, Biography, Community development Washington (State) Kirkland History, Développement communautaire Washington (État) Kirkland Histoire, Iron industry and trade, Iron industry and trade England Workington, Kirk, Peter, Kirkland (Wash.) History, Pioneers, Pioneers Washington (State) Kirkland Biography, Pionniers Washington (État) Kirkl

Intro Introduction Part I: Peter Kirk's Origins One-The Kirk Blacksmiths of Chapel-en-le-Frith Two-New Life in Workington Three-Masterminding Success Four-Bankfield Five-Life Tests Peter Kirk's Mettle Part II: Exiting England Six-Arrive in Seattle Seven-The Kirk Family Move to America Eight-Deciding on the Mill Location Nine-June 1, 1888 Headlines Around the World Ten-The Ironworks Plan Eleven-Family Life Twelve-More Difficulties for the Venture Thirteen-Peter Kirk Forges Ahead Fourteen-Establishing the Mitchell Bay Homestead Part III: Dreams Become a Nightmare Fifteen-Mill Failure Sixteen-Grappling with the Aftermath Seventeen-Family Affairs Eighteen-Pioneering a New Future Nineteen-Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch Part IV: Retirement Twenty-Derailed Twenty-one-New Life in the Islands Twenty-two-Changing Times, Changing Life Twenty-three-Dampening Down the Furnaces Twenty-four-The Final Battle Conclusion Appendix A-Peter Kirk Ancestors Appendix B-Kirk Children & Other Family Stories Notes Glossary Works Cited Index