The Kirkpatrick Family of Linn County, Iowa

This well-known mid reiirescnlative tarnier of l-'franklin township, while home is on section 2", was born in West Salem,

Wayne county, Ohio, on the 21st of April, 1853, a son of James and Sarah (Henderson) Kirkpatrick. and was only five days old when his mother died. A sketch of his father appears on another page of this volume. He was only a year and a half old when his father returned to his old home in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and at the age of five he came to Linn county, Iowa, with an uncle, John Ross, his Ijoyhood and youth Ijeing passed on the old homestead in Franklin township, and he is indebted to its district schools for his educational privileges. After leaving school at the age of twenty years he worked on the home farm until 1873, when he rented sixty acres of land and commenced farming on his own account.

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As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN M. KIRKPATRICK.

Prominent among the successful and enterprising farmers of Franklin township is the subject of this biography, who resides on section 22, and is considered one of the most industrious and worthy citizens of that part of the county. He was born in that township January 18, 1861, and is a son of Ja'mes Kirkpatrick, whose sketch appears on another page of this volume. Until about twenty years of age he attended the district schools through the winter months, while the remainder of the year was devoted to farm work. He continued to assist his father in the operation of the farm until a year after he attained his majority, and then rented a tract in Franklin township of his father, on which he resided for four years.

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Mrs. Kirkpatrick is the fifth in order of birth in a family of seven children, the others being Jacob and Moses, both of whom died in infancy; Lizzie, who died at the age of sixteen months; David, who married Emma Kirkpatrick and is engaged in the dry goods business in Mt. Vernon; Alta, wife of Corban Davis, of St. Joseph, Missouri; and Erwin, who married Myrtle Mclntyre and is pastor of the United Brethren church at West Union, Iowa.

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After his marriage Mr. Kirkpatrick continued to engage in farming, and in 1891 purchased what was known as the Lewis Maybower farm on section 22, Franklin township, consisting of one hundred and twenty acres. In 1899 he bought another farm of ninety-eight acres on sections 21, 27 and 28, the same township, and to the improvement and cultivation of his land he has since devoted his energies until he now has one of the best farms in the locality. In connection with general farming he is also engaged in the breeding of thoroughbred shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs. He also raises horses for market, owning an interest in the coach stallion, Ouinn, and is agent for the Page wire fence. Political! he is an ardent Republican, and he has most efficiently served as school director for a number of years. In religious connection he is a member of the United Brethren church.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Linn county- has Cuite a number of enterprising and thorough-going farmers who are giving the greater share of their attention to the raising of fine stock, and thus enhancing materially the value of such in this locality. To this class belongs Robert Kirkpatrick, of section 18, Franklin township. A native of this county, he was born four miles south of Mt. V'vernon, August 21, 1867, and is a son of James Kirkpatrick, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. He acquired his early education in the district schools near his boyhood home, and later attended the business college at Cedar Rapids. After leaving school at the age of twenty-two years, he devoted his entire time to the work of the home farm.

Mr. Kirkpatrick was married in Cedar county, Iowa, March 14, 1895, o Miss Jennie Light, who was born December 5, 1873, in Lebanon county. Pennsylvania, in the same house where her mother's birth occurred. Her parents were Cornelius \V. and Rosie A. (Meyer) Light, both natives of Pennsylvania, where they continued to make their home until coming to Linn county, Iowa, in 1882. Her father at first rented a farm five miles north of Lisbon for one year, and for three years rented anntlier place five miles northwest of Mt. Vernon. At the end of that time he purchased a farm of two hundred acres in Pioneer township, Cedar county, five miles southeast of Lisbon, and there he has resided ever since, having one of the best farms in the locality. In his family were six children, namely: George W. married Estclla Ballard and resides on a farm two miles snulh of Lisbon; Joseph, a twin brother of Get)rge, died in infancy; Katie M. married Ernest Johnson and they lived on the old Johnson homestead in Franklin township;.she died January 13, 1890, at the home of her parents; Sallv A. died February 21, 1896; Jennie, wife of our subject, is next in order of birth: and Eri AT. assists in the management of the Imme farm. Mr. and Mrs. Kirkjxitrick have three children: Pearl M., born August 8, 1896;

Eugene L., born April 9, 1898; and Clara Lucile, born July 8, 1900. Mrs. Kirkpatrick taught school in Linn, Johnson and Cedar counties, and also one term in I-"franklin county.

After his marriage Mr. Kirkpatrick bought what was known as the old Scott farm of one hundred acres on section 18, Franklin township, and under his careful supervision it has become one of the most highly cultivated and best improved tracts in the locality, while it has increased in value one-third since it came into his possession. He has made a careful study of both farming and stock raising, and has been eminently successful in his chosen vocation. He breeds a high grade of cattle and Poland China hogs, and also raises horses, and feeds all the grain that he raises to his stock, having never sold but twenty-five Ijushels, as he believes stock raising to be the most profitable branch of his business. His attention being wholly occupied by his agricultural interests, he finds no time to devote to public affairs, and has always refused to become a candidate for office. In politics he is a Republican. Both Mr. and Mrs. Kirkpatrick attend the Presbyterian church, and receive and merit the respect and esteem of all who know them.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.