McDonough ILGenWeb

KIRKPATRICK, John Lane, a representative farmer of McDonough County, Ill., engaged in the pursuit of his calling in Bethel and Industry Townships, was born in Morgan County, Ill., May 27, 1841, a son of Joseph L. and Matilda (Sims) Kirkpatrick, his father being a native of Georgia and his mother of South Carolina. His paternal grandparents, Thomas and Mary (Lane) Kirkpatrick, were natives of Georgia, and his grandparents on the mother's side, Mr. and Mrs. James Sims, were South Carolinians by birth, the grandmother's maiden name being Spiller. The great-grandfather Kirkpatrick was killed by Tories during the Revolutionary War. Thomas Kirkpatrick and his family came to what is now the State of Illinois (then a part of Indiana Territory), and settled in the vicinity of what afterwards became Madison County, and in 1818 represented Bond County as a delegate to the State Convention which framed the first State Constitution. Joseph L. Kirkpatrick was born in this locality in 1803, where his family remained until about 1825, when they removed to Morgan County, and there the grandparents, Thomas Kirkpatrick and wife, died. Joseph L. Kirkpatrick, who became a local Methodist preacher about 1832, and later entered the itinerant service, remained in Morgan County until 1870, when he moved with his family to McDonough County, and purchased 274 acres of land in Industry and Bethel Townships, where he passed the remainder of his life, dying about 1876.

John Lane Kirkpatrick, the subject of this sketch, was the seventh born of eleven children, and lived on the paternal farm until his father's death, receiving his education in the public schools of his locality. After reaching manhood he bought 160 acres of the homestead, on which he has since been engaged in general farming, stock-raising and feeding. After being left a widow his mother lived with him until her death, January 8, 1877. Both parents are buried in Camp Creek Cemetery. Mr. Kirkpatrick has made additions to his farm until he now owns 360 acres, having 120 acres of timber and pasture land in Bethel and Industry Townships. Mr. Kirkpatrick met with a very serious accident on June 2, 1860, being shot in the left arm, which necessitated amputation near the shoulder. Nevertheless, he has since attended to his active duties on the farm.

On September 15, 1868, Mr. Kirkpatrick was married to Mary P. Munson, who was born in Rushville, Schuyler County, Ill., where she attended the district school. The children resulting from their union are: Catherine M. (Mrs. H. C. D. Osborn), who died in 1893, at the age of twenty-four years; George Melvin, of McDonough County, and James Garfield, who is at home. Politically, Mr. Kirkpatrick is a Republican, and in religious faith, a Presbyterian. The subject of this sketch is a thorough farmer and a good citizen. He has proved himself faithful and diligent in all the relations of life.

---

Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of McDonough County, compiled by Dr. Newton Bateman, and Paul Shelby, 1907, volume 2, pages 927-928, extracted 11 May 2019 by Norma Hass.