WI BIO - Kenosha Co - ZIRBES, Peter
History of Racine and Kenosha Counties, Wisconsin. Chicago: Western 
Historical, 1879, p 726

Peter ZIRBES, farmer, Section 25; P. O. Brighton, Kenosha County, Wisconsin, 
was born in Prussia in January 1825. He came to [the Territory of] Wisconsin 
in 1846, and located in Canfield Township, Milwaukee County, where he 
commenced farming. He lived there until about 1856, and then removed to the 
city of Racine [Racine County, Wisconsin; Wisconsin became a State 29 May 
1848] and engaged in the brewing business. He remained there until 1866, and 
then came to Brighton Township [Kenosha County, Kenosha], located and bought 
a farm, and engaged at farming, which occupation he has vigorously following 
ever since.

In 1850 Peter ZIRBES was to married Miss May SHAEFFER, a native of Prussia. 
Peter and Mary (SHAEFFER) ZIRBES have had no children. He was elected Town 
Supervisor in 1875, re-elected in 1876, and filled the office those two 
years. Peter ZIRBES owns eighty acres of land which is very productive, and 
has good barns and a comfortable house. Peter and Mary (SHAEFFER) ZIRBES are 
members of the Brighton Roman Catholic Church. [St. Patrick's Catholic 
church in Brighton, built in 1846, ceased to exist in 1883, when it was 
destroyed by a tornado. The church was rebuilt as St. Francis Xavier 
Catholic Church, which still exists. This biography was published in 1879, 
before St. Patrick's was destroyed.]

Submitted by Cathy Kubly