Robert Stewart Kirkpatrick
Robert Stewart Kirkpatrick was born December 31, 1851, and named after his maternal uncle, Rev. Robert Stewart, for nineteen years pastor of the U. P. Church at North Liberty. He attended the District schools and the North Liberty Academy, and finished his education at the latter place in 1871. He went to clerking in 1868 for George A. Patton, at Harshaville, and worked for him for about three months. Then he clerked at North Liberty for his brother, John P. Kirkpatrick, in 1870. He went to Illinois in March, 1871, and staid there a few months, and was engaged in farming. He returned to Wayne Township in the Fall of 1861, and then clerked for George A. Patton until February 26, 1873, when he was married to Sarah Agnes Laird, daughter of Captain Samuel Laird. After his marriage, he farmed his father's farm until August, 1873, and then removed to North Liberty, and engaged in the produce trade until March, 1875, and in that year and for about two months afterwards, he clerked for his brother, John P. Kirkpatrick. Then he removed to Mattoon, Ill., and lived there until 1876, but came back that Fall to North Liberty, and went to clerking again for George A. Patton, and staid there until March 3, 1882. Then he removed to North Liberty and ran a huckstering wagon until December, 1882, when he started the general store where he is now and has been ever since.
Mr. Kirkpatrick has always been a Republican, and in 1883, was a candidate for Clerk of the Courts of Adams County, but was defeated by George W. Pettit He is a member of the U. P. Church at Cherry Fork. He has a son, Charles E., who conducts a store at Harshaville, under the name of Charles E. Kirkpatrick & Co., composed of his father and himself. That store was opened May 19. 1897. His daughter Mayme married P. K. Phillips, who works for her father. His second son, Earle, is at home and assists in running the store. His daughter, June Bell, is a student of Monmouth College, one of the brightest girls of her community, and bids fair to accomplish much in the school she attends.
From "History of Adams County, Ohio from its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time"- by Nelson W. Evans and Emmons B. Stivers - West Union, Ohio - Published by E. B. Stivers - 1900