C. KIRKPATRICK, Anna Pottery, Anna, was born in Fredericktown, Ohio, December 23, 1814, and is a son of Andrew and Anna (Lafever) Kirkpatrick. His great-grandfather was a native of Scotland; his grandfather, Alexander Kirkpatrick, was a native of New Jersey, and his father, Andrew, was born in Washington, Penn., in 1788. He learned the trade of potter in that State, and came to Anna, Ill., with subject in 1859, where he died April 5, 1865; he was a soldier in the war of 1812. His wife, subject's mother, was a native of Pennsylvania, and died at Vermillionville, La Salle Co., Ill. She was a daughter of Minor Lafever, a Revolutionary soldier, also of the war of 1812, and of French descent. Subject is one of a family of thirteen children, ten boys and three girls, five of whom are now living. His education was limited to the common schools, and at twelve years of age he left home and commenced clerking in a store and keeping books, where he remained for seven years. He then returned home and learned the trade of potter with his father, remaining about one year, and mastering the business before the year expired. After this he went to Cincinnati, and then to New Orleans on a flat-boat, for the purpose of seeing the country, and though receiving but $10 per month, felt well repaid in the strange sights which met his view. This was in February, 1837. Being taken sick on the way, he returned home to Cincinnati, and in May of the same year he went to Urbana, Ohio, and engaged in the pottery business for himself, but after two years there went back to Cincinnati, married, and built a shop at Covington, Ky., where he remained for about nine years. In 1848, he sold out and removed to Point Pleasant, Ohio, where he bought the Lacon Pottery and the house in which Gen. Grant was born, and two of his own children were born there. In 1853, he returned again to Cincinnati, and in 1857 came to Illinois, locating at Mound City, in Pulaski County, where he built a pottery. In 1859, became to Anna, and built the pottery where he is now engaged, and where he has since resided. He was married in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1839, to Miss Rebecca Vance, eldest daughter of Capt. Alex. Vance, who died in 1847, leaving two children — Sarah and Alexander — both now dead. In 1849, he again married, Miss Amy Vance. She is the mother of six children, five of whom are living, viz.: William, Cornwall, Anna, Amy and Edward. Harriet is dead. Of his daughters, Amy is quite an artist. Of her talent, the Chicago Tribune, of March 4, 1883, says: "Miss Kirkpatrick, of the Vincennes Gallery of Fine Arts, a pupil under Messrs. Bromley & Green, has just finished a painting, a scene at Conway Meadows, with the White Mountains in the far distance, which reflects very great credit upon her; also a farm scene, being a composition characteristic of Southern Illinois rural life, etc. These paintings possess unusual merit for one so young, and her teachers and friends are enthusiastic in predicting for her a future." Mr. Kirkpatrick has never aspired to any political office that would materially interfere with his private business. He was a Whig in politics, and afterward a Republican. He relates an incident which occurred when he lived in Covington, Ky. He was a candidate for Councilman against a preacher, and defeated him by one vote. When the result was known, the defeated parson took Mr. K. on his shoulder, and carried him through the streets in front of the polls. He is now Mayor of Anna, an office he has filled for five years previous to this term. A charter member of the Masonic and Odd Fellow Lodges of Anna; he holds the following official positions in the same; Secretary of Anna Lodge, No. 520, A., F. & A. M.; Secretary of Anna Encampment, No. 59, I. O. O. F.; Treasurer and Conductor of Hiawatha Lodge, No. 291, I. O. O. F.; Secretary of Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois Insane Asylum; Director of Southern Illinois Fair Association; Chairman of Committee on Chartered Lodges in Masonic Grand Lodge of Illinois, and King of Egyptian Chapter, No 45, R. A. M.
Extracted 02 Apr 2017 by Norma Hass from 1883 History of Alexander, Union, and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part V, pages 72-73.
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