(By Judy Ann Fields from the People’s Defender 1967)
Thomas Kirker was born in Tyrone County, Ireland in 1760. At the age of 19, he came to this country with his parent and settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. His father died a few years later, leaving a wife and five or six children.
In 1790, Thomas married a 19-year old miss by the name of Sarah Smith. After their marriage, they decided to move to the Kentucky frontier they had heard so much about. From there they moved to Manchester and around 1794 to Liberty Township, on what is still the Kirker farm. It is believed that the Kirkers were the first permanent settlers in that area.
Thomas Kirker was a man that the community could rely upon for sound judgment and unbiased opinions. His integrity and honesty was well-known and was soon put to work for this new land.
He devoted his best energies in opening up the material resources of the new and undeveloped country that he had adopted to his heart. He helped in shaping the institutions and policies of the new commonwealth that the previous wilderness had blossomed into. The rugged forest land was becoming beautiful farms with nice homes and 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. At that meeting, important duties of trust were committed to his care. He was elected as representative to the first General Assembly that met under the new consitution. This body met in Chillicothe the first Monday in Decembe,r 1803. By the influence of his office as the Speaker of the Senate. Thomas Kirker filled the office as governor of the state from March 4, 1807 to December 8, 1808 for the term for which Return J. Meigs had been elected, after Governor Edward Tiffen then resigned to become a United States Senator. Meigs was declared ineligible because of the state requisite on length of residency.
Kirker was elected to represent his district as Senator at the Second through Thirteenth General Assemblies of Ohio. With the exception of two years, he was the presiding officer of this body from 1806 to 1814. His district for the greater part of the time was composed of Scioto and Adams Counties. He was elected to the House of Representatives from Adams County in 1816. In 1824, he was chosen Presidential elector and aided in casting the vote of Ohio for Henry Clay.
He was a member of the Presbyterian Church of West Union from the time of its organization until his death. He served as elder for more than 20 years.
Thomas and Sarah Kirker were the parents of 13 children; William married Esther Williamson, John, born in 1793, was an invalid, James married Elizabeth Ellison, Elizabeth married Joseph Campbell, Sarah married Robert Pogue, Mary married Ralph Vorhes, Thomas married Jane Stevenson; Margaret married Dr. Alfred Beasley,; Nancy married Rev. J. P. Vandyke; Jane married Daniel B. Evans; George married Mary Cunningham, Rebecca marred Dr. D.M. McConahaughy and Martha married Franklin Beasley.
Governor Kirker died on February 19, 1837. His wife died on August 20, 1824. They are both buried in the Kirker graveyard in Liberty Township.
