Kirker, Gov. Thomas, Homestead
SW of West Union on SR 136, West Union, OHGovernor Kirker Homestead is important in Ohio as the home of Thomas Kirker, the second governor of Ohio. Thomas Kirker was born in Tyrone Co., Ireland in 1760 and immigrated to Lancaster Co., Penn. in 1779. In 1790 he moved with his new bride to Kentucky and in 1793 joined the small company of men and women at the fort at Massie's Station (present-day Manchester, Ohio) on the Ohio River. After the defeat of the Shawnee at the Battle of Fallen Timbers, Kirker was the first to settle permanently outside the stockade in 1795. He first built a log house as was the custom in those days, but in 1805 Thomas Metcalf build him a home of hewn stone. Metcalf later moved to Kentucky and became governor of that state. The Kirker home was built about 250 feet from Zane's Trace, which was blazed through Ohio in 1797.
Kirker was a popular man and was elected as one of Adams County's three representatives to the Ohio Constitutional Convention in 1802. After statehood, Kirker served in the Ohio House of Representatives from 3/1/1803 to 4/16/1803. He then served in the Ohio Senate for 10 sessions from 12/5/1803 to 2/16/1815 serving as Speaker of that body for 7 of those sessions. Kirker became Ohio's second governor by succession after Governor Tiffin resigned that position on March 4, 1807. Kirker finished Tiffin's term until December of 1807 and served an additional term as governor until December 1808 when the gubernatorial election between Nathanial Massie and Return J. Meigs failed. (Meigs had won the election but was found technically ineligible to run and Massie then refused to take the office.) Kirker served again in the Ohio House from 12/15/1816 to 1/28/1817 serving as Speaker. He was again elected to the Ohio Senate and served from 12/3/1821 to 2/8/1825. He was a presidential elector in 1824. Governor Kirker died in 1837 and is buried within sight of his home in the Kirker Cemetery.
The Kirker Homestead was visited in July 1863 by Confederate soldiers under the command of General John Hunt Morgan. The rebels were after horses but failed to find any as a result of the Kirkers being forewarned of the enemy's approach. George S. Kirker, the youngest son of the governor, owned the home at that time. George Kirker served in the Civil War as Captain in the 141st O. V. I.
The Homestead has been in the Kirker family since 1805.
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.