KIRKPATRICK, Gilbert B 1838-1864

KIRKPATRICK, BALL, BURNS

Posted By: Richard K Thompson (email)
Date: 12/2/2009 at 10:17:38

Note: transcribed verbatim from microfilmed copy available at the Fairfield Public Library. This is the full text as published (surnames are in CAPS to conform with the online obituary listing guidelines, the original surnames in the published text are not done in all CAPS):

Fairfield Ledger
Thursday Dec. 1, 1864

DIED- On the 16th of Nov., 1864, of disease contracted in the army, Lt. Gilbert B. KIRKPATRICK, of Jefferson Co., Iowa, aged 26 years, 10 months and 11 days.

Lt. KIRKPATRICK was born in Muskingum county Ohio, January 5th, 1838. His father and family removed to Ft. Madison, Iowa, in 1839, and remained there until the year 1841, when they removed to their present place of residence in this county. The Lt. was the second son of his father's family and, of course, accompanied him in his various removals. For some time previous to the breaking out of the present causeless and wicked rebellion, he was a pupil in Fairfield College, where he endeared himself to both teachers and students by his amiable disposition, his studious habits and his correct deportment. In the spring of 1861 he commenced the study of law under the most favorable circumstances. But when the fall of Sumter electrified the nation and aroused the people to a sense of their terrible danger, he was one of the first to rally around the standard of his country, and help to rescue it from the bands of traitors -

He enlisted as a private in Co. B of the 4th Iowa Infantry, but was soon after made Quartermaster Sergeant, and ,as a reward for his fidelity and good conduct, he was finally promoted to the rank of 1st Lt., the position which he held at the time of his death. A little more than a year ago he was married to Miss Cynthia BALL, who is thus early called upon to make so great a sacrifice in the cause of right. But the widow's God will not forget the tears of those whose dearest friends have fallen in this great contest against wrong, injustice and oppression.

As a man, Lt. KIRKPATRICK was generous and upright; as a friend he was faithful and true; as a patriot he was earnest and disinterested. He entered the terrible contest in which he sacrificed his life with the spirit and determination of a man who acts from principle, and not from impulse or selfishness, hence he refused to quit his post in the army until he was almost on the verge of the grave.

Although he had not formally united with any religious denomination, yet he always manifested great respect for the priciples of christianity. In all our intercourse with him during several years of intimate acquaintance, we do not now remember a single instance in which which we heard him speak lightly of sacred things. A large concourse of people bore testimony to his worth by following his body to the grave. May those who so bitterly mourn his early loss be sustained by the grace of Him who doeth all things well.

A.A.

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*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

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Transcriber note: Lt. Gilbert B KIRKPATRICK was buried at Old Fairfield Cemetery in Lot 36. Later, Joseph and Margaret BALL (parents of Cynthia BALL), died and were buried in this same plot along with a number of other BALL relations. At some point in the 1920's or 1930's (exactly when isn't clear) the BALL family were reinterred in Evergreen Cemetery adjacent, leaving behind the original tall monument for Joseph and Margaret BALL.

Cynthia BALL KIRKPATRICK later remarried to Alexander BURNS and they are buried in this 'new' BALL family plot at Evergreen Cemetery.

Evidently Lt. KIRKPATRICK was not reinterred to the BALL plot, and he remains at Old Fairfield Cemetery in Lot 36, with a simple veterans monument in his honor with the simple inscription:
"G.B. KIRKPATRICK
I Lieut.
CO. B
4 IOWA INF."