Kirkhart, Silas D.

KIRKHART

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 15:51:44

SILAS D. KIRKHART
born Aug 24, 1842, Ohio

Silas D. Kirkhart, one of the leading citizens of Lacona, was born Hillsboro, Highland county, Ohio, August 24, 1842, a son of Joseph and Mary (Duff) Kirkhart. Silas D. was the seventh born of their eight children, of whom we make brief record as follows: John L., a blacksmith of Milton, Iowa, was a soldier in the late war, a member of Company H, Third Iowa Cavalry, and was wounded while in the discharge of his duties; Sarah J., widow of E. Beeman, and a resident of Lacona; Elizabeth was the wife of Jonathan Coddington, but both are now deceased; T. J., of Stafford county, Kansas; Joseph F., of this city, was a member of the Thirteenth Ohio, Company A, and was wounded and taken prisoner; Joseph F., of Lacona; P. H., a resident of Ottumwa, Iowa, served with the Twenty fourth Ohio Battery; Silas D., the subject of this sketch; and Jacob M., also of this city, served with the One Hundred and Sixty- fifth Ohio Regiment.
Joseph Kirkhart, father of our subject, was born on a farm near Lynchburg, Virginia. Early in life he began the occupation of farmer, and in an early day he crossed the mountains into primitive Ohio, where he aided in paving the way to civilization. There he erected a rude cabin, and in that house Silas D. first saw the light of day. There Joseph Kirkhart passed the declining years of his life, having been an honest man and a kind and indulgent father. His first wife died when our subject was six years of age and he afterward married Miss Eliza Kirkhart. They had two children - William W., a freighter of Colorado; and Mary E., of Highland county, Ohio. This wife died when our subject was serving his country in the late war of the Rebellion. Subsequently she married John Walker who has also passed away.
Silas D. Kirkhart received his education in the rude log schoolhouse near his home, attending only during the winter months. Miss Catherine Oldaker was the teacher, and was a good instructor, thoroughly knowing how to apply the rod. Mr Kirkhart early began the battle of life upon his own responsibility. After reaching mature years he emigrated to Fulton county, Illinois. In Van Buren county, Iowa, he enlisted as a private in Company H, Third Iowa Cavalry, and was mustered in at Keokuk. Following his regiment to St Louis, he was present at the capture of General Marmaduke, participated in the battles of Kirksville, Chalk Bluffs, Pea Ridge, Little Rock and Arkadelphia, and at the latter place received a thirty-days furlough and returned to his Ohio home. Mr. Kirkhart rejoined his regiment January 1, 1864, and again visited St Louis and Memphis, proceeded on to Fort Pillow, and covered many hundreds of miles on various marches and skirmishes. Reaching Memphis, they were sent on a raid into Mississippi to points on the Mobile & Ohio Railroad, where they met and severely punished the enemy. They returned to Memphis, again striking the trail of the Confederates, and gave pursuit to a point near St Louis, called Pleasanton, named in honor of the General. They went from there to Fort Scott, on to Carondelet by boat, where the boiler exploded and killed two of Mr Kirkhart's comrades. Another boat carried them to Louisville. There our subject became afflicted with sore eyes, entering the hospital in February and a few days after Lincoln's assassination, in April, rejoined his regiment at Atlanta. He was discharged there as Corporal, September 28, 1865. After the close of the struggle Mr.Kirkhart returned to his home in Ohio, but a short time afterward went to Knox county, Illinois. His next home was in Lewistown, Fulton county, that State, where he secured work in a brickyard, remaining there until 1869. After spending a few years in Richland township, Warren county, Iowa, he came to White Breast township, and in 1878 became a resident of Lacona. Mr. Kirkhart affiliates with the Republican party, having cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. Socially, he is a member of the Masonic order of the Odd Fellows Lodge and of Lacona Post. No .309 Grand Army of the Republic. He has never sought political preference, but has served as Assessor of Lacona several times, was a member of the City Council several years, and was for some time a member of the School Board. Mr. Kirkhart was married in Lewistown, Fulton county, Illinois, by Reverend Morey, to Miss Amanda Kirby. They have had three children, - Effie Jane, wife of Clementine Shupe ,a son of that esteemed pioneer and citizen of Lacona, Isaac Shupe, for many years a popular stock buyer of this city; Sadie, an accomplished young lady of Lacona; and Maude Irene, at home. The family worship in the Methodist Episcopal church at Lacona. Source: A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa, Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1896, vol.1, p.422