William Kirker
William Kirker was born January 24, 1791, in the vicinity of Pittsburg, Penn., the son of Governor Thomas Kirker and Sarah Smith, his wife. He was the eldest son and child of a family of thirteen. He married Esther Williamson and died February 10, 1857. His father moved to Manchester in 1792 and lived there until 1794 when he located on the well known Kirker farm in Liberty Township. In the War of 1812, he was a First Lieutenant and after the war, he was made a Colonel of the Militia, which position he held until near the time of his death. He was County Commissioner in 1825 and again in 3832. He was made an elder in the Presbyterian Church at West Union in 1826, his father being an elder in the same church. He was a delegate to the Presbytery from his church from September 29, 1826, many times, until April 5, 1854. He was always courteous and kind to everyone and was noted for his philanthropy. Judge J. C. Coryell said of him that he was the most useful man in his community, and that the poor, the widow and the orphan lost their best friend when he died.
His wife, Esther Williamson, was born cn June 4, 1797, and died January 4, 1880. He had a large family of children whose descendants are scattered throughout the United States.
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