John Kirkpatrick - Biographical Sketch

Biographical Sketch of John Kirkpatrick
from
Portrait and Biographical Album of Wapello Co., Iowa
by
Chapman Bros., 1887 (pg. 434 )

[John Kirkpatrick] A farmer and stockgrower, living in the village of Kirkville [IA], this county, was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, Aug. 25, 1808, and is the son of Thomas B. and Mary (Henthorn) Kirkpatrick, the former a native of Ireland and the later of Pennsylvania. The father was by occupation a farmer and a man of more than ordinary ability, and was for seven years one of the Associate Justices of Guernsey County, Ohio. He was born May 1, 1775, and died in Ohio Aug. 14, 1851. The mother of John was born Feb. 14, 1783, and died in Kirkville, Iowa, Aug. 16, 1872.

The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm in his native state, and in 1830, was united in marriage with Mary A. Kygar, who was born Feb. 5, 1812, and is a daughter of Daniel and Ann (Henthorn) Kygar, the former of whom died April 27, 1849, and the later June 9, 1859. To our subject and wife were born the following children:

1. Mary A., deceased;
2. Hannah J.; Eliza, deceased;
3. Henry married Agnes Lamme, and lives in Richland Township;
4. Daniel was killed at Mark's Mill, Ark.;
5. Thomas married Martha Hirst;
6. J.M. married Lizzie Zents.

In 1833 Mr. Kirkpatrick moved from Ohio to Illinois, and lived there until 1844, when he moved to Wapello County, Iowa. He made the trip from Ohio to Iowa with three yoke of oxen. On coming to this county, he located on the site of the present village of Kirkville, which he surveyed and platted in 1848. On the 28th day of April, 1850, he started across the plains with an ox-team for California, in company with Daniel Kyger and David Bates, the later dying of cholera while en route. Mr. Kirkpatrick landed in California Aug. 28, 1850. For five months time spent in California, he was too sick for work, and the remainder of the time he spent in prospecting. In 1851 he returned home by way of the Isthmus of Panama, New Orleans and the Mississippi River, landing at home March 17 of that year. In 1863 he drove 200 head of cows to Pike's Peak, his cattle swimming the Missouri River at Plattsmouth, and all other streams in route. He arrived at home from this journey on the 25th day of December, 1863. Previous to the time he went to California, he spent some five years in trading upon the lower Mississippi and upon the coast near New Orleans.

The life of Mr. Kirkpatrick has been an active one. Coming to this county in 1844, he has been a witness of all the improvements that have been made, and few men have been more actively engaged and are better known than John Kirkpatrick. No man in Wapello County enjoys the respect and esteem of his fellow-citizens more that he. Financially he has been quite successful, and in his old age can enjoy life without any of its worry. He is a Master Mason, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and politically is a Republican.