William R. KIRKHAM, a farmer of section 5, in Douglas Township, came to Harrison County during the month of March, 1876, and stopped at Reeder's Mills for three months teaching school.

By reading this sketch it will be observed that our subject has followed the profession of a teacher for many years, his ability in this direction causing him to be engaged to teach in Mills, Pottawattamie and Harrison Counties for many terms in succession. After completing his school at Reeder's Mills, and in the month of September, the same year, he was engaged to teach a seven months' school near Missouri Valley, and the following spring taught a three months' term in St. John's Township, as well as a winter school. Seeming satisfied with school teaching , and having many applications, he was again engaged to teach a three months' term in the spring of 1878. Being very scucessful at teaching the young ideas how to shoot, he was engaged in September to teach a nine months' term in the same township. In 1879 and 1880, as well as in 1881, he taught in St. John's Township and Missouri Valley. Seven months of the years 1882 and 1883 he taught in the same place, after which he went into the railroad office at Missouri Valley, and there remained a year and a half, at the expiration of which time he was engaged to teach a three months' term in Pottawattimie County, Iowa, which ended on February, 1885, and the following month he purchased the farm upon which he now lives.

During the winters of 1885-86 he was employed to teach in his home district, which was the last term of school he taught. He commenced as a teach in 1872, in Mills County, Iowa, and in all had taught ninety-two months.

He was born in Hancock County, Ohio, August 9, 1848, and in 1852 removed with his parents to Johnson County, Iowa, and four months later to Iowa County, where they remained four years, and then returned to Johnson County, and then in the spring of 1858 they moved to Ringgold County, Iowa, where he remained until the fall of 1869, then went to Missouri where he engaged at farm labor, and took the census of two townships in Buchanan County, of that State, for the 1870 United States census. In 1871 he came to Tabor, Fremont County, Iowa, where he attended college, after which he went to teaching.

In 1873 he made a trip to Colorado, being gone about seven months, having intended to teach in that section of the country, but finding his profession overdone, he returned and began teaching in Pottawattamie County, after having worked on a ranch for several months.

He was united in marriage June 27, 1878, at Missouri Valley, with Miss Virginia WADE, by whom one child was born — Effie M., born May 21, 1880.

In the fall of 1887 they took a boy to raise; he was from the Orphans' Home at Council Bluffs — William E., born December 16, 1882.

Concerning our subject's father and mother, it may be said that the father [ Dr. Henry Lee KIRKHAM] was born in Genesee County, New York. He practiced medicine for about twenty years, and left the empire State, coming to Ohio, where he remained until he came to Iowa. He was married to Catharine B. MOORE in Pittsburg, PA, about 1828. They were the parents of thirteen children, our subject being the tenth child. Twelve of the family grew to manhood and womanhood.

The mother [Catharine Boylston (MOORE) KIRKHAM)] was born in Springfield, Mass., in 1811, and in 1816 her parents removed to Pittsburg, PA, where she remained until the date of her marriage. Her father [Benjamin MOORE] was engaged at the armory at Springfield, MA, Pittsburg, PA, and then at Harper's Ferry, being in command of the armory. The mother died in Ringgold County, in December [29], 1885, and the father in the summer of 1880 [July 28, 1879].

Virginia (WADE) KIRKHAM, wife of our subject, was born in Wood County, Ohio, October 4, 1856, and when two years old her parents removed to Allen County, where they remained until April, 1875, when they came to Harrison County, Iowa, locating near Missouri Valley, at which place they now live.

Politically, our subject votes with the Republican party, and in religious matters is a Methodist.

SOURCE: History of Harrison County, Iowa Pp. 849-50. 1891.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, May of 2010