Liberty
township
was
taken
from the
north
end of
Sprigg,
and
organized
as a new
township,
Dec. 6,
1817, so
named
from the
popular
attachment
to the
principles,
the
definition
of the
word
implies.
The
election
was
ordered
to be
held at
the
house of
David
Robe,
on the
first
Monday
of the
succeeding
April.
SOIL
This is
one of
the most
fertile
townships
in the
county,
with
well
cultivated
farms
and an
industrious,
thrifty
people.
There
has
never
been an
assignment
made by
any of
its
citizens.
STREAMS.
There
are but
two
streams
of water
worthy
of even
the name
of
creeks.
These
are
Eagle
Creek,
and
Hill's
Fork,
which is
only a
tributary
of the
first
named
stream.
EARLY
SETTLERS.
Settlers
located
here in
considerable
numbers
at a
very
early
day.
Governor
Thomas
Kirker,
was, in
all
probability,
the
first
settler.
He came
some
time
from
1794 to
1796.
His well
known
old
homestead,
still
remains
in the
family.
After him others soon followed. Among the early
families,
were
James,
Joseph
and
Zachariah
Wade,
Needham
Perry,
who
became a
prominent
citizen,
was a
Judge,
etc.,
Alexander
Maharra,
Rev.
Thomas
Odell,
Richard
Askren,
David
Robe,
John
Mahaffey,
George
Dillinger,
Bezeleel
Gordon,
Col.
John
Lodwick,
Daniel
Marlatt,
James
McGovney,
Conrad
Fester,
Lewis
Coryell.
These
parties
all came
about
1800,
some a
year or
two
before,
and some
perhaps
a year
or two
later.
VILLAGES
FAIRVIEW
-
This is
a very
small
village,
located
near the
center
of the
township,
and is
the only
town in
Liberty.
It was
laid out
by
William
Mahaffey
Mar.
15,
1844, on
a plat
of nine
lots.
It
contains
one
store,
two
blacksmith's
shop,
one shoe
shop,
one
German
M. E.
church,
one
African
M. E.
church.
The elections are held in this place, and the only post
office
in the
township,
is kept
here.
It is
known as
Hill's
Fork,
because
of the
creek of
that
name
that
passes
near it.
THE
FIRST
STORE.
Was
started
by
Benjamin
Whiteman,
in 1837,
before
there
was any
village.
Henry
Copple
succeeded
him in
1840,
since
then
William
and
David
Robe,
Mr.
McIntire,
Robert
Patton,
Samuel
Fitch,
A. J.
Mannon,
William
Marshall,
Jacob
Kleinecht,
David
Robe,
Jr.,
William
Ellis,
John
Bishinger,
the
present
proprietor,
have
successfully
carried
on this
store,
which is
the only
one in
the
place.
POST
MASTERS.
The
following
are the
Postmasters:
1st,
Robert
Patton,
2d,
William
R.
Marshall,
3d,
James
Rea,
4th,
Wilson
Ellis,
and 5th,
John
Bishinger,
present
incumbent.
EARLY
RECOLLECTIONS,
REMINISCENSES,
ETC.
The
first
horse
mill was
built by
William
McIntire,
on the
property
now
owned by
A. H.
Mahaffey's
widow,
and the
first
water
mill was
put up
by
Isaac
Foster,
at the
mouth of
Kite's
Fork.
FIRST
SCHOOL
HOUSE.
The
first
school
house
was
built in
1803, on
land
know
belonging
to
John
Kleinecht.
Mrs.
Dodson,
an
English
woman,
taught
the
first
school
in it.
|
Through
there
were
plenty
of
Indians,
yet
here,
when the
first
settlers
came,
they
committed
no acts
of
violence.
They
were,
however,
a source
of
annoyance,
from
their theiving
propensities,
stealing
anything
they
could
lay
their
hands
on.
It
required
"eternal
vigilance,"
on the
part of
the
whites
to keep
property
from
their
clutches.
Horses
were
kept in
a part
of the
house,
or a
room
adjoining
it.
William
Crawford,
who was
one of
the
early
settlers,
had a
room
made at
one end
of his
house,
to keep
a
valuable
horse
that he
owned.
CHURCHES.
The
first
church,
in
Liberty
township
was,
probably,
the log
house
that
stood
near the
cemetery,
on the
old
Governor
Kirker
homestead.
It was
built
about
1800, by
the
denomination
called
"Christians,"
- in
early
years
known as
"New
Lights,"
- but
their
building
has long
since
disappeared,
and
their
organization
ceased
to
exist.
There are at the present time five church organizations
existing
in the
township,
as
follows:
1. Methodist Episcopal church, at Brier Ridge.
this is,
perhaps,
the
second
church
built.
A long
meeting
house
was put
up,
probably,
not far
from
1804;
being a
good
structure,
it
lasted
till
perhaps,
1840, or
thereabout,
when it
was
replaced
by a
brick
house,
which
was
succeeded
by a
frame
building,
erected
some
years
ago.
2. Christian Union Church, near the last mentioned one,
but a
few
years
later.
3. German M. E. Church at Fairview, built 1853 or '51.
4. African M. E. Church, Fairview, plank house, built
1870.
5. Liberty Chapel, M. E., new frame house 30x40, cost
$800,
built
1879.
THE
KIRKER
FAMILY
THOMAS
KIRKER.
-
Thomas
Kirker,
whose
name is
so
prominently
identified
with the
early
settling
of Adams
county,
and
which
occupies
so
honorable
a place
in the
history
of his
adopted
State,
was born
in
Tyrone
county,
Ireland,
in 1760.
At the
age of
nineteen
years,
he came
to this
country
with his
parents
who
settled
in
Lancaster
county,
Pennsylvania.
After a
few
years
his
father
died,
leaving
a wife
and five
or six
children.
The
history
of the
family
for the
next few
years is
lost.
The next
we learn
is that
Thomas
Kirker,
is 1790,
married
Sarah
Smith,
who was
born in
1771.
This
marriage
occurred
in
Pennsylvania,
twenty
miles
from
Pittsburg.
A few
years
after
this
event,
he
removed
to
Kentucky,
where he
remained
a few
years,
then
moved to
Manchester
in 1792
or 1793.
In 1794,
he came
to
Liberty
township
and
settled
on the
place,
now so
well
known as
the "Kirker
farm,"
where he
lived to
the time
at his
deceased.
It is believed that Gov. Kirker was the first
permanent
settler
in what
is now
Liberty
Township.
Though
he was
not
possessed
of
brilliant
talents,
he had a
judgment
so sound
and a
mind to
clear,
with a
virtue
and
integrity
so
incorruptible
and
unselfish,
that he
received
an
esteem,
commanded
a
respect
and
exerted
an
influence,
that few
could
do.
The many
honorable
and
responsible
positions
with
which
his
fellow-citizens
entrusted
him,
fully
attest
the
truth of
this
remark.
He left
to a
numerous
family
that
seems to
have
inherited
the good
qualities
of their
ancestors.
Gov.
Kirker devoted his best energies in opening
up the material resources of the new and
undeveloped country in which he had cast his
lot, as well as in shaping the institutions and
policy of the new commonwealth, that was so soon
ushered into being, under the benign influence,
of which the wilderness has blossomed as the
rose, and he land been covered with the
beautiful farms and happy homes of a happy and
prosperous people.
When steps were taken to call a convention to form a
constitution for the new State,
Thomas
Kirker
was
selected as one of the delegates to that body,
from Adams County, and discharged the important
duties of the trust committed to his care, with
fidelity and honor. |
He was elected a Representative to the first
General Assembly, that met under the new
constitution. This body met at
Chillicothe, the first Monday in December, 1803.
He was elected to represent his district as
Senator in the second, third, fourth, fifth,
sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh,
twelfth and thirteenth General Assemblies of
Ohio. He was called to fill the honorable
position of presiding officer over this
distinguished body, consecutively, from 1806, to
1814, with the exceptions of 1809 and 1810.
His district for the greater portion of this
time was composed of the counties of Adams and
Scioto.
In 1816, he was elected from Adams to represent his
county in the House of Representatives.
His ability was recognized by that body by being
at once elected its Speaker. He was
afterwards elected Senator in the twentieth,
twenty-first, twenty-second and twenty-third
General Assemblies, from 1821 to 1824.
By virtue of his office as Speaker of the Senate he
filled the office of Governor of the State from
Mar. 4, 1807, to Dec. 8, 1808, for the term for
which
Return
J. Meigs
had been
elected but declared ineligible - for want of
residence in the State the requisite length of
time.
In 1824 he was chosen a Presidential elector and aided
in casting the vote of Ohio for
Henry
Clay.
It is believed that no man in the State has served it
more faithfully, more honorably, or for a
greater length of time, than did
Governor
Kirker.
He was a member of the Presbyterian Church of
West Union, from the time of its organization
until his death, serving us an elder in it for
more than twenty years. All his sons, save
one, have also served as elders in the same
church.
He reared a family of thirteen children, five sons and
eight daughters. The
following is the family record:
William - born Jan. 24, 1791; married Esther
Williamson.
John - born Apr. 18, 1793, an invalid.
James - born Feb. 9, 1795; married Elizabeth
Ellison.
Elizabeth - born Jan. 20, 1797; married Joseph
Campbell.
Page
24 -
Sarah - born Dec. 21, 1798; married Robert Pogue.
Mary - born Dec. 16, 1800; married __dalph
Vorhes.
Thomas - born Aug. 20, 1803; married Jane
Stevenson
Margaret - born Jan. 8, 1806; married Dr.
Alfred
Beasley.
Nancy - born Dec. 15, 1808; married Rev. J.
P.
Vandyke
George S. - born Feb. 7, 1813; married Mary
M.
Cunningham.
Rebecca - born Dec. 5, 1811; married Dr. D.
M.
McConahaughy.
Martha - born Dec. 18, 1816; married Franklin
Beasley.
Of these thirteen children had ___ six survive.
Elizabeth,
(Mrs.
Campbell)
who
lives in
Ripley.
Mary
(Mrs.
Thompson)
Nancy,
____
Vandyke)
who live
at
Pleasant
Ridge,
Hamilton
county,
Ohio,
Jane,
(Mrs.
Evans,)
Ripley.
Rebecca,
(Mrs.
M.
McConahaughy,)
Manchester,
Martha,
(Mrs.
Beasley,)
St.
Louis,
Mo.
Gov. Kirker died Feb. 19, 1837. His
wife
died
Aug. _5,
1821.
They
sleep in
the
Kirker
grave
yard.
BIOGRAPHICAL
SKETCHES:
J. H.
KINCAID
J. H.
KINCAID
JAMES
McCLANAHAN
JOHN
McCLANAHAN
WILLIAM
AND
THOMAS
McGOVNEY
|