Notable people · Politician · Governor · Pioneer
Thomas Kirker
An Irish-born settler of Adams County who served as Ohio's second governor in 1807-1808 and spent more than twenty years in the state legislature. He farmed in Liberty Township and is buried on his farm.
At a glance
- Born
- 1760
- Died
- 1837-02-19
- Known as
- Politician, Governor, Pioneer
- Organizations
- Ohio General Assembly, West Union Presbyterian congregation
Life story
Thomas Kirker was born about 1760 in County Tyrone, Ireland. He moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1779, lived for a time in Kentucky and in 1793 settled in Liberty Township, Adams County. He married Sarah Smith in 1790.
He was a delegate to the 1802 constitutional convention and then served in the Ohio House and Senate. He was Speaker of the Senate several times and, in 1807-1808, Ohio's second governor. He lost the 1808 election and went back to farming.
A devout Presbyterian, he was an elder in the West Union congregation from 1808 until his death on February 19, 1837. He served in the Senate again from 1821 to 1825 and was a Henry Clay elector in 1824. He is buried in a family plot on his farm.
Timeline
- 1760: Born in County Tyrone, Ireland (about) (Ireland) source
- 1779: Moves to Lancaster, Pennsylvania (PA) source
- 1790: Marries Sarah Smith source
- 1793: Settles in Liberty Township (Adams County, OH) source
- 1802: Delegate to Ohio constitutional convention (Chillicothe, OH) source
- 1807: Becomes governor (to 1808) (Chillicothe, OH) source
- 1821: Ohio Senate again (to 1825) (Columbus, OH) source
- 1837-02-19: Dies (Adams County, OH) source
What Thomas is known for
- 2nd Governor of Ohio, 1807-1808
- Speaker of the Ohio Senate several terms between 1806 and 1815
Honors and things named for them
- Second Governor of Ohio
Family
- wife: Sarah Smith Kirker
Ohio places
Where Thomas Kirker was born, lived, worked and is remembered, with the ZIP code, town and county pages for each.
- Born: County Tyrone, Ireland
- Lived: West Union area (Liberty Township), Adams County ZIP 45693 · Adams County
- Buried: family plot on his farm, Liberty Township, Adams County ZIP 45693 · Adams County
Further reading
Sources
Confidence. Medium: the main facts were confirmed, but some details (often an address or ZIP code) were not.
- Wikipedia: Thomas Kirker birth Tyrone; Pennsylvania 1779; Adams County 1793; offices; Presbyterian elder; death 1837; farm burial