CYRUS QUINN KIRKPATRICK was born in Adams County, Ohio, Sept. 8, 1822, and is of Scottish descent. His great-grandsire, WILLIAM KIRKPATRICK, resided in Scotland from the date of his birth until the year 1750, when he crossed the North Channel to Ireland, making his home on that island until the year 1756. In the year last named, he, with his wife and family of three sons–ANDREW, ROBERT and WILLIAM, embarked for the American Continent in order to better their condition in life, as well as to gratify an innate taste for travel and adventure. They settled in the wilderness of Virginia, east of the Alleghany Mountains. It would be difficult to portray the wild state of the region in which they settled. The most necessary articles were scarcely to be obtained by any means, and the luxuries of life were marked by a total absence. The father was by trade a blacksmith, and brought with him a small number of implements with which to carry on his trade. This proved fortunate, as he was compelled to erect a forge and manufacture a supply of nails sufficient to secure the roof to his new house. The hammer used by him on this occasion is still in possession of the subject of this sketch, and is a valued heirloom. Here the family continued to suffer under the hardships incident of their isolated situation for a number of years. Finally, the struggle for American independence began. The three sons, having inherited from their ancestors a love of country and an unconquerable spirit of heroism, determined to stand or fall with their adopted country. They accordingly enlisted in the American army, and like their great ancestor, ROGER KIRKPATRICK, of Scotland, proved themselves valiant advocates of the cause of freedom. ROBERT fell at the battle of Brandywine. About the close of the war, ANDREW married ELIZABETH BROWN, a lady of Welsh descent, much younger than himself–he being at that time about 45 years of age. To them were born seven sons, the second of whom–Absalom, was the father of the subject of this sketch. ANDREW acquired a comfortable estate east of the mountains, which he subsequently sold and removed to what is now West Virginia. Shortly after his removal to that point he he returned on business to his former home, and during his journey he met with the family of a former neighbor who had fled from home to evade the payment of his debts. The family and goods were in the custody of a son-in-law, who was arrested and held to bail for his appearance at court, to answer the charge of conveying away the property of the debtor. The family were in great distress, being among strangers and without a protector, and besought MR. K., as an old friend, to assist them. Being naturally of a kind and confiding disposition, he was induced by fair promises to sign the bond. The man was released, and stole away during the night, leaving MR. K. to pay the bond and the amount of the debts which would have been liquidated by a sale of the property, which obligation he discharged with characteristic honor. After discovering the whereabouts of the swindler, and believing him possessed of plentiful means, he instituted suit and expended a large sum of money in a vain endeavor to recover what he had lost. This consumed the greater portion of his property, and in order to make a new start he determined to remove to Ohio. About the year 1800 he constructed a family boat in which he placed his household goods, three horses, some poultry and his family, setting sail on the Monogahela River, about the mouth of Cheat, floating down this river to the Ohio, and down that stream to the mouth of Brush Creek, in Adams County, Ohio, where he disembarked and settled. But the infirmities of age had worn sadly upon his vigorous constitution, and he was greatly discouraged. Thus he never recovered the fortune so rudely swept away. In 1810, ABSALOM KIRKPATRICK married ELIZABETH VANPELT, whose father was from Holland, and whose mother was of French descent. They started in almost abject poverty, but with vigorous constitutions, clear consciences and a firm resolution to gain a competence. After struggling a few years against the hardships of their position, they amassed a sufficient sum to enable them to purchase fifty acres of land. The father erected a cabin, made a small clearing, and began to prosper. As the years sped, eight children were born to them. They became gradually more prosperous; the small cabin of earlier days was superseded by one more pretentious, built of hewed logs, two stories in height, with stone chimney and a stairway on the exterior. The father, having entered upon married life in circumstances nearly akin to indigence, felt an overruling desire to spare his children the same experience, and be able to assist them as they arrived at maturity. His Ohio farm, however, offered but little opportunity for consummating this desire, and he recognized the necessity of removing to a region where the land was more fertile. Accordingly, in 1828, he disposed of his farm for four dollars per acre, taking a portion of the amount in trade. One of his friends, MR. WHEELER, had removed two years previously to Tippecanoe County, Ind, and returned to Ohio on business. He expressed a desire to have some good men join him in his neighborhood, and induced MR. KIRKPATRICK to accompany him on horseback to see the country. He was so heartily pleased with the sight which met his eye, that he determined to make it his future home. He entered 160 acres of land at $1.25 per acres, $60 of which was loaned him by his friend WHEELER. He returned to Ohio, and late in the same year collected his household goods and a few farm implements, and with his family and aged mother (his father having died a short time previously) started for his western home. On the first day of December, 1828, he moved to his new farm in Montgomery County, Ind., near the boundary line between that county and Tippecanoe. He left his family with a brother at Shawneetown, and immediately began to prepare his own farm for occupancy. He first dug a well, then built a "camp" of poles, with a stick chimney, in which the family resided until the father was enabled to hew logs and build a cabin 18x26 feet, with a clapboard roof and loft, a puncheon floor, and stick chimney plastered with mud. After the completion of the new house, new furniture was next in order. The father borrowed the necessary tools of JOB HAIGH, near Pond Grove, and constructed bedsteads, tables and stools from walnut and wild cherry lumber, unadorned by paint or varnish. The father never became wealthy, but was enabled to realize the desire which prompted him to settle in Indiana; and as his sons arrived at manhood, each was presented with a small tract of land by him, thereby enabling them to make a fair start in life. He enjoyed the utmost confidence of his neighbors, and was ever ready to render assistance to the unfortunate poor. His house was always open to the homeless and to ministers of every denomination. For many years, it was the place where religious meetings were held by the Methodist congregation. CYRUS QUINN was but 6 years of age at the time of his father's removal to Indiana, but remembers distinctly all the circumstances connected therewith. At that time, the prairie wolves were to be heard nearly every night, and large numbers of deer and wild turkeys were to be seen during the day. Here CYRUS grew to manhood, and continued to work on his father's farm until 24 years of age without any compensation save a knowledge of the fact that he should gain possession of a certain tract of land when he should embark in life upon his own responsibility. At the age of 24 years he began teaching school, and in this occupation remained engaged through seven consecutive Winters, achieving great popularity as an instructor. At the age of 32 years he married MISS SUSAN K. SAYERS, a lady of Scotch-Irish descent, who has proved herself a helpmeet: and to her excellent management and cooperation, MR. K. is largely indebted for his success in life. In the Spring of 1869, MR. KIRKPATRICK was elected Trustee of Jackson Township, which position he filled until the Fall of 1876. This position presented opportunities for a wider field of usefulness in a sphere in which he loved to labor. He always employed the most competent teachers, and made it a rule to visit the several schools of his township, and, by his presence and advice, to stimulate both teachers and pupils to more active exertions. He was personally acquainted with each scholar, and made himself familiar with them, thereby winning their regard and affection. His object was not so much to build expensive graded schools as to elevate the existing district schools to a high standard. He enjoys the consciousness of having done much by his labors as Trustee to improve and build up the schools of his township, and that his influence and example in that capacity were largely instrumental in elevating the schools throughout the county. Combination Atlas Map of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, pg. 48 Kingman Brothers, 1878 The following paragraph is from a biography on CYRUS QUINN KIRKPATRICK from the Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, pp. 644-645. Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1888 CYRUS QUINN KIRKPATRICK...was married February 7, 1855, to SUSAN K. SAYERS, a daughter of ROBERT K*. SAYERS. deceased, who was one of the pioneers of Vermillion County, he having come from Tazewell County, Virginia, in the year 1830. To Mr. and Mrs. KIRKPATRICK were born four children–IDA A., MARTHA, SAMUEL S. and SUSAN. IDA A. married WILLIAM A. McBETH, of Jackson Township, and they have two children, named WILLIAM Q. and REED S. MRS. KIRKPATRICK died March 28, 1884. *Robert Sayers' middle name was Floyd, the K. was a typo. He was my 3rd great-grandfather. Adina