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OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS

A Part of Genealogy Express

 


WELCOME
to
ADAMS COUNTY, OHIO
HISTORY & GENEALOGY
(IN PROCESS)
 


 


Source:
Caldwell's Illustrated Historical Atlas
of
Adams County, Ohio

Publ. 1880

CHAPTER XIII.

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP.
p. 23 - 25

     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

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