Robert L. Kilpatrick

As printed in 1881

ROBERT L. KILPATRICK, retired officer of United States Army, Springfield. Among the many prominent men who adorn history, none are more worthy of mention than those who fought, and suffered for their country’s rights. During the late rebellion, when the question was whether this glorious Union should be preserved or destroyed, thousands answered their country’s first call, pledging themselves to die, if need be, in maintaining the Union; and among that number was our subject, Col. Robert L. Kilpatrick. He was born in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland, April 20, 1825; he joined the British army as volunteer, April 21, 1841, and served in said army until March 3, 1851; was in foreign service all that time, except one year; left the regiment at Bermuda Islands and came to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he learned ornamental painting and imitation of woods and marbles. In 1861, April 21, in the first call for troops, Mr. Kilpatrick raised a company of 101 men, and was assigned as Co. B, 5th O. V. L; served as Captain in said regiment until April 17, 1863, when he was mustered in as Lieutenant Colonel, and commanded the regiment in several engagements; he lost his right arm in the battle of Chancellorsville, on the 3d day of May, 1863, while in command of the regiment; he received two other wounds in the same battle; joined the regiment again in January, 1864; was mustered cut of the regiment Aug. 7, and, in October of the same year, was appointed Captain of a company of cavalry of the Veteran Reserve Corps, and was Assistant Provost Marshal of the Military District of Washington; he was mustered out of the Reserve Corps June 30, 1866, and appointed Captain in the regular army July 28, same year; he received brevet rank of Major and Lieutenant Colonel of the regular army, and was retired with full rank of Colonel Dec. 15, 1870. He was taken prisoner on the retreat from the battle of Ft. Republie, Va., June 9, 1862, and was held in Salsbury and Libby Prisons about three months. He was married, in October, 1855, to Margaret Lang, also a native of Paisley, Scotland. In 1871, they came to Springfield, and have permanently located here; their residence is on the southeast corner of Yellow Springs and Washington streets. Should any one who reads this sketch call on the Colonel, they will find him a very pleasant and affable gentleman.

THOMAS J. KIRKPATRICK editor Farm and Fireside, Springfield. Thomas J. Kirkpatrick was born in Dayton, Ohio, on the 23d of September, 1855, being the second of three children, all boys—the oldest dead and the youngest living. When 4 years of age, his father left for the Paocitie Coast to engage in mining, being a mining expert; for many years he was believed to be dead; though the first years of absence he contributed to the family support, yet to his mother was due not only the greater part of his sustenance during boyhood, but the guidance and formation of his business habits and moral character; the labor of her hands secured to him the benefits of education. About June 1, 1870, feeling unwilling to longer burden his mother, he entered the United Brethren Publishing ‘House to learn the printing business, being then 15; after remaining a year, his uncle, P. P. Mast, offered him a situation in his office, in which he was installed on Jan. 1, 1871; his experience in the printing business secured him the control of P. P. Mast & Co.’s private printing office, which they put in the following spring; in the subsequent fall, Mr. Mast announced, in Mr. Kirkpatrick's presence, his intention to employ a stenographic amanuensis, which position, at Mr. Kirkpatrick's request, he held for him, and, acquiring the art in three months, Mr. Kirkpatrick occupied and held the position until the summer of 1874, when, expressing to Mr. Mast his desire to pursue a legal course, his benefactor again came to his aid, defraying his expenses at the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, Ohio, for two years, at the end of which time Mr. Kirkpatrick discovered that his natural bent was not in the direction of legal attainments, and he returned to Springfield in June, 1876, and occupied the position of Mr. Mast's private secretary. On May 8, 1877, he married Miss 5. Corinna Reid, of Jackson, Mich., who is but two months his junior: Mr. and Mrs. Kirkpatrick’s parents are living. In August, 1877, to Mr. Kirkpatrick was awarded the editorial chair of the Farm nd Fireside, a new agricultural and home journal started by P. P. Mast & Co., since which time he has filled with admirable success this position, and in June, 1879, he and his co-laborateur. Mr. J. S. Crowell, the young and enterprising manager, and, to a great extent. creator, of the establishment, were constituted equal partners with P. P. Mast in the Farm and Fireside office, and the business of the paper is now assuming stupendous proportions. Mr. Kirkpatrick is one of Springfield's rising young men, and is in the avocation for which nature has best fitted him; he is quiet, genuine, clear-headed and industrious, with an unblemished character and splendid prospects. Mr. Kirkpatrick is a man of earnest convictions and fixed principles, to which he lives fully up and adheres undeviatingly: he is a strong and wholesome moral element in the community, and eminently fitted by nature and culture for his position.

As printed in The History of Clark County Ohio, (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.