Contributed by Charlene Saunders:
O.A. KIRKPATRICK, a prominent and intelligent citizen of Wea Township,
Tippecanoe County, was born on the old homestead where he now lives, the
date of his birth being March 7, 1848. His parents, W.P. and REBECCA
(COMPTON) KIRKPATRICK, were natives of Ohio, the father born in Ross
County, a son of MAJOR JAMES KIRKPATRICK, and the mother born in Fayette
County, a daughter of GEORGE and SOPHIA (REEVES) COMPTON. They were
married in Fayette County, Ohio, in 1844, and the same day of their
marriage started on horse-back for Tippecanoe County, and settled on
section 36, Wea Township, where the father died July 24, 1853, leaving a
widow with three children, named--SERENA, FLORIDA and O.A., the subject
of this sketch.
In his political views he was a Democrat. He was an active and zealous
worker in the Methodist Episcopal church, and was one of the most highly
esteemed men and ackowledged to be the greatest financier of the
township where he made his home. O.A. KIRKPATRICK grew to manhood on
the home farm, being reared to farm work. He received his primary
education in the district school, which was supplemented by a course of
study at Stockwell College and the Northwestern Christian College, now
Butler University, at Indianapolis. At the age of twenty years he went
to Champaign County, Illinois, remaining there eighteen months, when he
went to Carroll County, Indiana, where he spent nine years.
In 1878 he returned to the old homestead in Wea Township, where he has
sixty-three acres of fine land, well improved and under a high state of
cultivation. For twelve years he has followed the teacher's profession
with success, and ranks among the popular teachers of the county. He
was united in marriage September 5, 1883, to MISS VIOLA JOHNSON, of
Stockwell, a daughter of JOSEPH JOHNSON, a prominent pioneer of
Tippecanoe County. MR. and MRS. KIRKPATRICK have one child, a daughter
BESSIE, born September 1, 1884. Politically MR. KIRKPATRICK affiliates
with the Republican party. He has served Wea Township as assessor, and
in 1886 was land appraiser, performing the duties of this office in a
very able manner. He is a man of strict integrity, fair and honorable
in all his dealings, and by his cordial manners and genial disposition
has made many friends.
Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Tippecanoe County, Indiana
p. 555