Captain George S. Kirker
Captain George S. Kirker, the youngest son of Gov. Thomas Kirker, was born on the old Kirker homestead in Liberty Township, Adams County, Ohio, February 7, 1813. He was married in 1840 to Mary M. Cunningham, daughter of William and Ellen Doak Cunningham, of Virginia descent. Their children living are Sarah Ellen, unmarried and residing at the old home; Charles E., Marv F., wife of A. P. Mclntire; William C. who resides on the old homestead; Ora, wife of Edwin Morrison, of Pawnee City, Neb., and India A., residing at Axtell, Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Kirker lost six children in infancy. Mary M. Kirker was born March 17, 1817, and died at Manchester, Ohio, April 13, 1887. George S. Kirker lived his entire life on the farm in Liberty Township except the last four years, in which he made his residence in Manchester. He died September 15, 1879. He was highly respected wherever he was known. He was a man of great public spirit. If any measure was proposed or projected for the public benefit, he was always favorable to it and always supported, it with great enthusiasm. He was a manly man. Whatever was just, whatever was upright, whatever was for good, he was for. He was the means of having the pike from Cherry Fork to Bentonville built, and but for his influence, its construction would have been delayed for years.
From 1863 to 1871, he, Crockett McGovney and Dr. D. M. McConaugh engaged in the pork packing business at Manchester. It required a great deal of nerve and capital to go into that business and carry it on, but Kirker had both. It was the largest and most important business carried on in Adams County while it lasted, and its being carried on was a great public benefit to the county. True, the partners lost money, but the people who dealt with them did not.
George S. Kirker was a prosperous and successful farmer and stock raiser. No man in the county took more pride in fine stock than he did and those who knew him in his prime knew that he never was happier than when riding a fine horse. He was always fond of horseback riding and usually had a saddle horse with a fancy gait. At fifty years, he was a large man, with very black hair and a full black beard. He had a fine presence and impressed strangers as a man of importance. In his business dealings, he was direct and straight to the point and was the soul of integrity and fair dealing. His industry and energy were untiring.
When there was any business to be done, Mr. Kirker never rested until it was done. He was a most jovial, agreeable companion. He was full of humor and liked to give it play. He was fond of a good story. He was one of those whom others like to ask to take the lead and when his judgment approved, he never hesitated to take it. When he did take it, the business went forward to a conclusion and usually to a successful one. He was always in good spirits and his presence and manner put those about him in good spirits. He was always inclined to take a cheerful view of things and to believe that a poor or bad condition of affairs could be bettered. He was plain in his dress, in his speech and in his manners, but he believed in getting at the substance of things. He was a man of strong will power and great tenacity of purpose. He would not undertake any matter or enterprise unless it was within reason that it could be carried through and that he could bring it to a successful issue. He had excellent judgment, and if it ever failed him, it was because of the influence of matters upon which he had not calculated.
In the period of his business activity, he was a most valuable element in the community. If any one was to lead in any project, he was usually selected as the one, and he never failed, when called upon, either to under take the work placed upon him or to bring it to a fortunate conclusion. He was a natural leader in the circle of his acquaintances. It was this fact which made him a Captain in the 141st O. V. I. He was a strong Republican in his political views and could not have been anything else. He, however, unlike his distinguished father, had no taste for political office, and he never held any but that of Infirmary Director from 1863 to 1866. He accepted this because his name added strength to the ticket on which he was and because he lived in the same township in which the infirmary was located. His known sympathy for the poor and needy urged his candidacy and induced him to accept the office. Then again, his contest was made in the middle of the war when patriots were discouraged and when strong men needed to come forward and encourage the war. There is no man risen up in Mr. Kirker*s place with all his sterling qualities. He set the world an example of life and character which ought to be remembered and perpetuated, and an example which, if followed, would increase the sum total of pleasure and contentment here, and happiness and hope for the future.
From "History of Adams County, Ohio from its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time"- by Nelson W. Evans and Emmons B. Stivers - West Union, Ohio - Published by E. B. Stivers - 1900