USA > Ohio > Adams County > Caldwell's illustrated historical atlas of Adams County, Ohio. 1797-1880 > Part 10
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SOIL.
This is one of the most fertile townships in the county, with well cultivated farins 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 Ilill'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. Ile came some time from 1794 to 1796. Ilis well known old homestead, still remains in the family.
After him others soon followed. Among these carly families, were James, Joseph and Zachariah Wade, Needham Perry, who became a prominent citizen, was a Judge, etc., Alexander Malarra, Rev. Thomas Odell, Richard Askren, David Robe, John Mahaffey, George Dillinger, Bezeleel Gordon, Col. John Lodwick, Daniel Marlatt, James MeGovney, Conrad Fester, Lewis Coryell.
These parties all came about 1800, some a year or two before, and sonie 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 March 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.
Tho 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, Irave successfully carried on this store, which is the only one in the place.
POST MASTERS.
The following are the Postmasters : 1st, Robert Patton, 20, William R. Marshall, 3d. James Rea, 4th, Wilson Ellis, and 5th, Jolin Bishinger, present incumbent.
EARLY RECOLLECTIONS, REMINISCENSES. ETC.
The first horse mill was built by William McIntire, on the property now owned by A. Il. Mahatley'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 now belong- ing to Jolin Kleinecht. . Mrs. Dodson, an English woman, taught the tirst school in it.
Though there were plenty of Indians, yet here, when the first settlers came, they committed no aets.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 the of whites to keep property from their clutches. Horses woro kept in a part of the house, or a room adjoining it. William Crawford, who was one of tho carly settlers. had a room made at one end of his house, to keep a valuablo 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 flve church organizations exial- ing in the township, as follows :
1. Methodist Episcopal church, at Brier Ridge. This is, per- haps, the second church built. A log 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 honse, built 1-70.
5. Liberty Chapel, M. E., new frame house 30x40, cost $ 100. bnilt 1879.
THE KIRKER FAMILY.
THOMAS KIRKER .- Thomas Kirker, whose name is so promi- nently identified with the early settling of Adams county, atul 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, in 1790, married Sarah Smith, who was born in 1771. This marriage occurred in Pennsylvania, twenty miles trom Pittsburg. A few years after this event, he removed to Kentucky, where he remained a few years, then moved to Man- chester 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 of his deccase.
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 so 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. Ile left to a numerous family the precious inheritance of a pure and spotless character, a 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 poi- icy 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 the land been covered with the bean- tiful farms and happy homes of a happy and prosperous people.
When steps were taken to call a convention to form a consti- tution for the new State, Thomas Kirker was seleeteil as one of the delegates to that body, trom Adams County, and discharged the important duties of the trust committed to his care, with fidel- ity and honor.
He was elected a Representative to the first General Assem- bly, that met under the new constitution. This body met at Chil- licothe, the first Monday in December, 1803. Ile was elected to represent his district as Senator iu the second, third, fourth, fifth. sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth and thir- teenth 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 al 1809 and 1810. Ilis district for the greater portion of this tinte 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. Ile was after- wards cleeted Senator in the twentieth, twenty-first, twenty- second and twenty-third General As_ _ mblies, from 1821 to 1824.
By virtue of his office as Speaker of the Senate he filled the office of Governor of the State from March 4, 1807, to December 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 added 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.
Ile was a member of the Presbyterian Church of West Union, from the time of Its organization until his death, serving us an «Ider in it for more than twenty years. All his sons, sove'Die, have also served as elders in the same church.
Ile reared a family of thirteen children, tive sons and eight daughters.
Tho following is the family record :.
William-born Jan. 24, 179] ; married Esther Williamson. Jolin-born April 18, 1793, an invalid.
Janus-born Feb, 9, 1795 : married Elizabeth Ellison. Elizabeth-born Jan. 20, 1797 ; married Joseph Campbell.
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF ADAMS COUNTY, OHIO.
Sarah -loon Dre. 21. 17US ; .. irr. A Robert Pogne. Many-born Der. 16, 1800: Marrice Ralph Vorhins. Ilona -- born Ang. 20. 1803 : marieil dine Stevenson. Margaret-burn Jan. S. 1806 mat iel Dr. Alfred Beasley. Nancy -teon Dec. 15. 1508 ; toarried Bry. J. P. Vamlyke. tanım-born Der. 15, 18H1 . married Daniel B. Evans. George S .- born Feb. 7. 1813: married Mary M. Cunningham. Rebecca-born December 5, 1811; married Dr. D. M. MeCona- hanghy.
Martha-born Der. 18. 1816 : married Franklin Beasley. Of these thirtren children bid six survive. Elizabeth. (Mrs.' chapbeID who lives in Ripley. Mary ( Mrs. Thompson. ) Nancy. Mi- Vandyke) who live at Pheasant Ridlgs. Hamilton County, Of's Jau. (Mrs. Evans.) Ripley. Rebecca, (Mr-, M. MeC'ona- le, ogly M.mchester. Martha. (Mrs. Beasbey.) St. Louis, Mo. 6. w. Kirker died February 19, 1837. His wife died Angust 1 5. 1:21. They sleep in the Kirker grave yard.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
J. Il. Kixesi .- The ancestors of the subject of this skrich werr Virginians, His paternal grandfather, Thomas Kincaid, Was børn. December 13, 1744, served in the continental army dur- ing the Revolutionary struggle, fought at Brandywine, German- town. aml in many other battles of the war. The malernal grand father, John Hannah. also, served in the Revolutionary war, and swam the Brandy wine. Thomas Kineall, after the Revolu- tion, married, and removed to Maysville. Kentucky, where he lived awhile. then moved to Liberty township, and died in Win- chester. While be lived in Kentucky, his son John, who is the father of the subject of our sketch, then a young man, came over to Manchester and took np his quarters in the storkaile, which was then just built. This was probably early in 1791. Here, he seems to have remained until 1800, for we find that he married Miss Sally Hanna, the Rev. John Danlevy, a Presbyterian minis- trr. lwing the officiating clergyman on the occasion. Mr. Kimrabl, with his young wife, immediately moveil to Liberty township, which was then almost an unbroken wilderness. They settled near where the Kirker grave yard has since been made, but pres- ently bought the farm where his sou, J. II. Kincaid, now lives. Thi- farm they cleared up. and here they reared a family and Beed through life. Mrs. Kincaid died October 224, 1824. The dercase of Mr. Kincaid occurred April 3, 1834. They both lie buried in the Kirker grave yard. John Kincaid being one of the first settlers in the township, became early identified with its interests, He soon became a nseful and influential citizen, and dil mnch to develop the resources of the country. Ile was selected to till the office of Justice of the Peace, being one of the first in the county. was held that position. This office he held many years. Hle served in the war of 1812, as the Colonel of a regiment. In 1827. he was elected to the office of Associate Judge of the county, which he tilled to the time of his death. At the time of his decease he was the nominee for Congress, for his district. After the decease of Mr. Kincaid, his son,
J. II. KINCAID-Became the owner of the ohl homestead of his parents. On this farm he was born, October 14. 1813, where he grew up to manhood. He worked and helped his parents clear it np. receiving such au education as the schools of the country at that day could give. He was married August 7, 1834, to Barbara I ap renre, They reared a family of nine children-tive sons and .. daughters, besides three that died in early years. Of the -urviving children, three of them are married. One of the .I. W. Kincaid, served in the army throughout the rebellion. is in the 91st Regt. O. V. I., which participated in many of .ard fought battles of the war. In 1865, Mr. Kincaid suffered d domestic affliction, by the death of his wife, which ocenrred Mat.nary 10th, of that year. He married for a second wife, Miss June MeNeilan, December 23, 1867. This ladly was the daughter ( IR v. William MeNeilan. She was born in county Tyrone, Ire- land. Detober 23, 1833, aml came over with her parents, who em- igrate! to America in 1842. They settled about three miles north uf' We-t I'nion, where her father died December 23, 1876. fler toother still survives, and lives in West Union. After a long and irsel'al life, Mr. Kincaid and his amiable wife, are passing their remaining days in peaceful quiet on his beautiful farm, where he was born, surrounded by every comfort that can be desired.
JAMES MCCLANAHAN .-- Was bov ... September 25, 1814; receiv- oil hi- education in the common s. ils of the country ; after- wanls taught school more or less of the time, for fifteen years. He was engaged for a while in the ipereantile business, but final- Is bought the George Dillinger faria, one of the earliest settled place in the township. Mr. Mellanathan has been all business all his life, and has been eminently successful. Hr has always Fien identified with the public interests of his township. having filed most of the varions township offices, serving three terme is Ja sier of the Prare. He married April 11, 1813, Sopaja, daugh- ler of John BalJridge, a prominent citizen of the county. this lely proved to be a moilel wife, to whose aid and good counsels, Mr. Met 'lavahan attributes much of his succes in life. Their n don has been a happy one indeed. They have proved a family .. Sen ent iren. iwa sen- and five daughters. Your are mar- . two live in Mais county, one in Bowen county. Ohio, and
one in Minnesota. Mrs. Met 'lanalen was born January 12. 1815, being only a few months younger than her husband. They live on a beautiful farm, surrounded with every confort of life.
Jons MrChaxanAN. - Thr. Mcclanahan family is of Irish or- igin. The grandfather of James aml John MeClanshan, whose namur was also John, was married twice. By his first marriage, he had tive children : Andrew, Robert, John, Sydney aml Kliza- beth. Amirew, the ohlest, never came to this country, His ser- ond wife was Elizabeth Thomp on. They were the parents of Four children : William, Martha, Rebrera aml Margaret. this gramleather, John Met 'lababan, bongbi 100 acres of laml of' tien. Massiv, about two miles west of West L'union. He dreded, Sept. es, JSI1. Gifty acres of this land to bis son William, by his sreoml marriage. William marriot Naury Pant, January 15, 1800, aml setthul on his tifty arres, which be cleared up, and on which he lived until his decense in June, 1858. Ile lies in the Cherry Fork cemetery. These were the parents of five children, named Eliza, Samnel, James, John aml Nancy Jane. Of these children, three are dead, Eliza. Samnel and Nancy Jane ; the latter died in early years. John McClanahan, the youngest son, who is the subject of this sketch, was born October 20, 1820. He married Esther Bess, November 20, 1842, who died in 1874. By this marriage he raised four children, two sons aml two daughters. For a second wife he married Nancy May. November, 1871. In 1843, he united with the U. P. church, at Wed Union, of which he has been an exemplary and consistent member. Mrs. McClanahan is also a a member of the same church. Mr. MeClauahan now owas, and lives on the oldl homestead of his father. His house occupies the site of the one in which he was born, and where he has lived all his live. He has a pleasant home. where he and his estimable lady are enjoying the comforts of an industrious, well-spent life, with the respect of the whole community.
WHAJAM AND THOMAS MeGovNEY .- The MeGovmy family of Adams county, is of Irish origin. but in our researches we are unable to trare it farther bark than to the grandfather of William aml Thomas MeGovney, whose names staml at the head of this article. The first information we can get of this grandfather, whose name wels James MeGovney, is when he was a young man in Ireland, and about to embark for America, in 1772. This young man, bifore leaving his native laml. his early home and friends, which Jic was to see no more, was not umindful of the neriteil preparation for his welfare in that distant country in which he was soon to make his habitation, a lonely strange". Among the last thing's he did before starting, was lo go to the church, in which be had always worshipped, and obtain its ree- ontemlation. aml which gave him ihm following rertitirate :
" That James MeGovney, a single man, has lived from his infaury in the bounds of this congregation, and, as far as we know, always behaved himself in a sober. inoffensive manner, and may be admitted to the fellowship of any christian society, where his lot miay fall, is certifiedl in the session of Lisburn, the 21st day of May, 1772."
.1xs. Beysos, Dis. Minister.
This Lisburn is a town situated on the Lagan river. Ireland, C'e miles S. S. W. of' Belfast, from the barbor of which the ship sailed. The next thing did in preparing for the embarkation. his father, or some other relative, went to the captain of the ship, and paid a balance due on his passage money. as shown by the fol- lowing receipt :
" Received from Mr. Thomas MeGovney, Two Pounds, Two Shillings, aml Three Pence, Sterling, which with One Guinea paid Earnest, is in full for the passage of James MeGovney on board the ship Philadelphia, James Malcom, Master, from hence to Newcastle or Philadelphia, and they are each to have six pounds of bread, six pounds of beet, Fourteen quarts of water, and a pound of molasses every week during the voyage, provided there be not the appearmice of a longer passage than twelve weeks, all in that case, to be brought to such an allowance as a committee, to be chosen out of the passengers, shall think pru- dent." For THOMAS GREG, .
FRANCIS BARRON."
This receipt, which is a printed blank filled out, is given ver- bathn. Unfortunately the descendants of this man have failed to preserve anything like a regular record of the early events in his life, whereby a very interesting aml useful narrative is somewhat marred. We are unable to learn when or where he lamled upon our shores, or what he did for some years afterwards. . We can only gather, that somewhere cast of the mountains, in Pennsyl- vania, that he married a lady named Nancy Crockett ; that he af- terwards moved to Angusta county, Virginia. where he stayed a short time, and then removed to Washington, Ky., where he stayed until the spring of 1705. It is probable that Mr. Mr.Gor- urn married about 1780; that be moved in Virginia in 1783. From Kentucky he came to Adams county in the spring of 1595, aml purchased 1,000 acres of land in Liberty township, where he lived and died. The part of this land on which he settled, after became the property of Alf. Riffle. A portion yet remains in the hands of descend mts. Le reared a family of nine claldren, named Jane, Thomas, Betsy, Peggy, James, Polly, John, William and Robert. Jane married Thomas Foster ; moved to Kanawha Links, where she died. Thomas snarrbol Jane Graban ; lived aml died in Liberty township, ou the farm now owned by his son, Thomas Metiovney. Betsy married Anton Robuck : they lived and die.]
in Liberty township. Peggy martial John Your; they settled three miles north-west of West I'nion, where they died of cindera. James married Elizabeth Douglass ; now live, in fireem tow it- ship. Polly married Adam McGovern ; settled in Liberty, low n. ship, and soon died. John married Nagry tiraham ; settled ural Chicago, Il., where they both died. William never married : liveil in West Union, where he died in 1835, with cholera. Rub- erl married Sally Mason, daughter of Thomas Mason. Thomas. the second child, who maarried Jane Graham, reared a family of nine children, named dames, William, John, Lemnisa, Elizabeth. Morello, Prorkelt. Thomas andl Jone. (Two of those children, ' wit : William and Thomas are the nan's that head this art. «le.) James married Eliza, daughter of Thomas Homes, au' lives three miles north-west of West Union : is farming. and ... married Reberes, daughter of Thomas Hohn :s; removed in 1. to Missouri, where he is farming. Lonisa married Thomas P. ry, son of Judge Perry ; settlol in Liberty township. when .5 died in 1842. Elizabeth married Needham Perry, a son of lad. Perry. Her husband died some years ago, andl she was married a second time, to Joel Weeks. They live in Liberty township. and farm. Morello married James Hohes, son of Thos, Hohim -- : lives three miles north of West Union, who farms. Crockett married Sarah, daughter of Thomas Holmes, He runs a planing mill in Manchester. Jane married Alexander Davidson, who died in the army in 1331. The willow lives in North Liberty.
WILLIAM MetforNEY, the second, in the above family. wus born September 24, 1813. fie married Isabella, daughter of Judge McClanahan, May 8, 1830. They have reared a family of seven children, three sons and four danghters, to-wit : Mary Elizabeth, born, 1810, married C. C. Ellis ; lives in Huntington county, Ind. ; farming. Sammel T., born 1843, married Miss Wright; lives in Indiana, druggist. Louisa A., born 1815, married W. F. Me- Daniel ; they removed to Vernon county, Missouri. Elenora, born 1817, married George M. Fulton, who lives near North Liberty. Mr. Fulton is engaged in farming. Isabella, born 1849, married William Gardner, who lives in Huntington county, Ind., engage:l in farming. John M., born 1854, married Belle Mckay; he lives on the old homesteadl engaged in farming. Newton, born in 1857, never married, Mr. McGovney lives on the East Fork of Eagle creek, Liberty township. Ile owns a farm that was first settled about 1800, by Conrad Fester, also adjoining it, a farm settled by Judge Needham Perry, about The same time. He now owns over 450 acres of laml, which is in a high state of cultivation.
THOMAS MeGovNEY, who is the eighth in The family, lives on the West Union and Decatur pike, four miles west of the former place. He owns 250 acres of the original purchase made by his grandfather, James McGovney. This property was also the home- stend of his father, Thomas MeGovney. It is a pretty place, pleasantly situated, and highly cultivated. Mr. MeGovney owns 330 aeres, in all. Ile married Sarah MeNeil, daughter of John MeNeil. They are the parents of four children, three daughters and one son. These children are : Cora A., born November 5. 185G, dieil April 6, 1857. Mary Jane, born February 8. 1858, mar- ried F. M. Morrison, March 1, 1876, died April 5, 1879, leaving a son, named Roy Elmo, who was born January 8, IST9. Margaret Isabel, born December 22, 1800, died January 27, ISUS. They all repose in the Kirker graveyard. John Clinton, born July 20. 1853, living with his parents. Of Mrs. McGorney's ancestors, we can only reach back to her great grandfather, but when, or where. he was born, whom he married or even what his christian name was we know not. All that we can learn about him. is, that Is lived in Kentucky, at an early day. had a wife, and two sons. named Joseph and John. It was in the early settling of tha: State, that Mr. MeNeil lived there. Late in the fall. one season. he, and some neighbors, went a distance into the forests to im' and kill their winter's meat. He took with him his son. Joseph. then seven or eight years old, to ride the park horse and take car. of him, while the party were hunting. One night as they Were lying by their camp tire, they were attacked by Indians and tie whole party killeil-except the boy. who was unhurt. The In- dians, when they had seized him were fiercely attacked by a large dog, by which their grasp upon him was released and he sprang into the darkness of the wools'andl choled his captors, and madr. toward his home as well as he conll. With only his pants , and shirt andl a pair of socks on. accompanied by his faithful dog the little fellow made his way, through the rohl aml snow towanl home, which he rrarheil after bring out three days and nights. almost perished with cold aml hunger. On his road. he had to while a stream that was up to his neck. When night came or. he would seek a plaer beside a log or rock that would be some. pro- tection, where, with the warmth imparted by his dog. who slept with him. he was saved from perishing with the coldl. When he reachol home, his feet werr so badly frozen, they never regained their natural romlition. These two brothers lived in Kentucky. till they grew to manhood auml married. They came together and settled in Wayne township. A.Jums conaty, in the spring of Is11. and each raised a family of ten children. The older of the brothers, Joseph MeNril. was the gravilfather of Mrs. MeGovney and one of his sons named Jedin Me Neil is her father. This Jobn. MeNeil reared a family of four children-all dansl'or -. tremol. Sarah A. (How' Mr-, Meli wen vy). Mary Adaline, Numa Jone. > 1. San Margaret. This family, including Mrs. M .Ganet's fan's.
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