Thomas Kirker
THOMAS KIRKER, of Irish ancestry, was among the early settlers in Adams County. He was a man of fine presence, but of limited talents. He was popular with his associates, and a firm friend of Nathaniel Massie. He was one of that coterie of Democrats that brought about the political overthrow of Governor St. Clair in the Territory. He was fond of public office, even filling in interims when a member of the Legislature, as road reviewer, foreman of a grand jury, or as a special court commissioner. He was commissioned by St. Clair, a Justice of the Peace at the organization of Adams County, through the influence of his friend, Nathaniel Massie, and as such became a Judge of the Court of Quarter Sessions. He was a member, along with Darlinton and Donalson, of the first Constitutional Convention. He served many years in the Legislature, both Senate and House, and became the second Governor of Ohio in 1807, acting as such for the term, upon the refusal of Nathaniel Massie to accept the office after his successful contest for it against Return J. Meigs. Governor Kirker, while not a brilliant man, played strong parts in the early history of the county and State. His fidelity to friends and duty seems to have been his chief characteristic. He appears always to have been present to perform his official duties. The early biographers and historians of Ohio were Federalists, and the "Virginia Democrats," as the adherents of Jefferson were termed, were not accredited with the notice they deserved, and hence it is, that a builder of a State, like Nathaniel Massie, is set down as a "surveyor and land jobber." And so it is that the second Governor of Ohio, has not a line of notice in such standard works as "Howe's Historical Collections," while an otherwise obscure lawyer somewhere in "Cheesedom" has pages devoted to the delightful task of making him one of "the immortals."
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
was a native of Ireland. His father lived in Tyrone County, and was a man of small means, but good standing. Thomas was one of a large family, and was born in 1760. Until he was nineteen years old, he lived with his parents in Ireland and endeavored with them to make a living out of the poor soil and against the exactions of oppressive landlords. His father concluded that was too much of an undertaking, and moved to America, settling in Lancaster County, Penn. After a few years of hard work in that county, the father died, leaving behind him a fragrant memory and a wife and five or six children. By constant toil and good management the family made a living and the children acquired some education. From the death of his father in Lancaster County, until 1790 Thomas Kirker left no account of himself. At that time, being thirty years of age and having acquired some little money and seeing a hope for the future, he was married to Sarah Smith, a young woman of excellent family and great worth, eleven years his junior. They remained in Pennsylvania for a short time when stories of great wealth to be made in Kentucky came to them across the mountains, and the perilous journey of moving to the Blue Grass State was undertaken. Indians were on the way, and they kept the small company in constant fear by occasional arrow practice with them as targets. Kentucky proved a failure so far as they were concerned, and in 1794, Mr. Kirker and his wife crossed the Ohio and settled in Manchester, this county. This marked the beginning of his public career, and of his financial success.
In 1796, our subject changed his residence from Manchester to Liberty township in the same county, and settled on a farm, which has ever since been known as the Kirker farm, and on which he died in 1837, and in the cemetery there the ashes of him and his wife now repose. When he moved to Liberty township, his family consisted of himself, wife and two children. They were the first settlers to locate in the county outside the stockade in Manchester, but the county was speedily covered with settlements. The site selected proved a happy choice and soon blossomed with crops that yielded an abundant harvest. Within the next few years, Liberty township was dotted with cabins and the sturdy settlers were tilling the soil. He was a member of the first Court of Quarter Sessions held in the county under the Territorial Government at Manchester, in September, 1797. He was also a county commissioner under the Territorial Government, but the record of his service is lost. Mr. Kirker was the leading man in that settlement, and was usually the foremost in all public matters. By common consent he setled quarrels among his neighbors and acted in the capacity of judge and jury. All his neighbors respected him and looked to him for counsel. His reputation for good judgment in his township spread throughout the county, and when delegates were elected to the first Constitutional Convention in 1802, he was sent as one of them, and at, once, on the opening of the convention, Mr. Kirker took a prominent part in its deliberations.
Thomas Kirker was a member of the lower house of the Legislature from Adams County at the first legislative session March 1, 1803, to April 16, 1803, He entered the Ohio senate at the second legislative session, December 5, 1803, and served in that body continuously until the thirteenth legislative session, closing February 16, 1815. In that time he was Speaker in the Senate in the fifth, sixth, seventh, ninth, tenth, eleventh and thirteenth sessions. From November 4, 1807, to December 12, 1808, he was acting Governor of the State by reason of a vacancy in the office of governor and his then being speaker of the senate. At the fifteenth legislative session, December 15, 1816, to January 28, 1817, he was a member of the House and its speaker. Then he took a rest from legislative honors for four years. At the twentieth legislative session beginning December 3, 1821, he was again in the senate from Adams and served in it continuously until February 8, 1825. On January 17, 1821, he was appointed an associate judge from Adams county, and served until October 30, 1821, when he resigned. In 1824, he was presidential elector, and voted for Clay. From 1808 until his death, he was a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church at West Union, and his son William was also an elder in the same church from 1826, during his father's lifetime.
Mr. Kirker was not a brilliant man, but he was honest, conscientious and possessed of sound judgment and integrity that was unselfish and incorruptible. He was respected, esteemed, and exerted an influence that was felt in the entire circle of his acquaintance. No man served his state better or with more credit than he. Called to high places, he filled them well and went out of office carrying with him the respect of all who knew him. His wife died August 20, 1824. He died February 20, 1837. He reared a family of thirteen children, and has a host of descendants, who are scattered in different parts of the United States. A number of them are residing in Adams County, but most of them are in other localities.
He succeeded Gov. Tiffin, March 4, 1807, when he resigned to enter the U. S. Senate and served to the end of his term. In December, 1807, the election of governor having failed by reason of Return J. Meigs not being qualified and N. Massie declining, he served as Governor one year or to December 12, 1808, when Samuel Huntington succeeded him. The vote stood Huntington 7,293; Worthington, 5,601; Kirker, 3,397.
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