My Genealogy Hound

STEPHEN S. KIRKHAM. In making mention of the leading farmers of Harmony Township, Clark County, the name of Mr. Kirkham appears rightfully prominent as that of a man who has been no unimportant factor in developing its agricultural resources. Possessed of more than ordinary intelligence, energetic, persevering and progressive in his ideas, he has always set his mark high and has never been content with ordinary attainments. In addition to general agriculture, he has made a specialty of stock-raising and has managed both his farming and business affairs with that sound judgment which seldom fails of success.

The subject of this notice commenced the battle of life at the early age of eight years and since that time has fought his way unaided in the world. He furnishes an admirable illustration of the results of persevering industry and resolution under difficulties and drawbacks. He was fortunate in obtaining a good education — largely through his own efforts — and at an early age chose farming for his life vocation. He has resided on his present farm since April, 1868, when there fell to him by inheritance from the estate of his cousin, John Mattinson, one hundred and sixty-two acres on section 33. Subsequently he purchased forty-five acres. To this he has since given his undivided attention, effecting most of the improvements upon it, repairing the old buildings and erecting new ones and proving the truth of the adage that there is fully as much credit in being able to keep property as there is in earning it.

Mr. Kirkham was born in Green Township, Clark County, this State, April 14, 1844, and is the son of John and Ann (Slee) Kirkham, both of whom were of English birth and ancestry and born near Appleby Parish, Bougate, Westmoreland County, the father June 8, 1815, and the mother, January 4, 1816. They were married May 3, 1837, and nine days later started for the United States. In July, that year, they located at Lisbon, this county, where they lived four years. They then removed to Green Township, where the father died September 13, 1846, leaving six children. These were named respectively, John J., Ann, Anthony, Ellen, the wife of Clark Whiteley, Stephen S., our subject and William M. The maiden name of the paternal grandmother of our subject was Ellen Jaques and John was her only child. After the death of John Kirkham his family returned to the vicinity of Lisbon where they lived until 1850, and then removed to the western part of Harmony Township which has since been their home.

The mother of our subject was a daughter of Stephen and Ann (Mason) Slee, who were natives respectively of Westmoreland and Cumberland Counties, England. Grandfather Slee was a carpenter by trade and to him and his good wife there was born a family of six children, viz: Sarah, the wife of Thomas Watson; Jane, Mrs. Nicholson; Anna, Mrs. Kirkham; Mary, Elizabeth and Anthony. The only son came to the United States after the close of the Civil War. Four of the daughters remain residents of their native England.

John Mattinson, the cousin of Mr. Kirkham before spoken of, was the son of John and Elizabeth (Jaques) Mattinson who accompanied the Kirkham family to Clark County. Besides the property already spoken of Mr. Kirkham received a goodly amount from his father’s estate, which included eighty acres of land. Mr. Kirkham is noted for his liberality and bears the reputation of being one of the most public-spirited men of his township. He is a sound Republican, politically, but has too much self respect to become an office-seeker. He, however, in the fall of 1889, was elected Land Appraiser, a position unsolicited by him and is discharging the duties of this office in a manner creditable to himself and satisfactory to all concerned.