West Union in Adams County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

First Presbyterian Church

Thomas Kirker

— American Presbyterian and Reformed Historical Site —

First Presbyterian Church Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, August 14, 2018

1. First Presbyterian Church Marker

side A

Inscription.
side A
First Presbyterian Church
The First Presbyterian Church of West Union, built in 1810, is known as the "Church of the Governors." Although the date is uncertain, the congregation was organized circa 1800 on Thomas Kirker's land on Eagle Creek, about three miles from West Union. Kirker, Ohio's second governor, was influential in organizing the congregation and raising funds for the construction of the building. Stonemason, Thomas Metcalfe, Kentucky governor from 1828-1832, was awarded the contract to build the walls for $250.00; the total construction cost was $500.00. The first three regular ministers - William Williamson, Dyer Burgess, and John P. Van Dyke - all held strong anti-slavery sentiment that was felt throughout the congregation. During the Civil War, soldiers of the 70th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, a regiment of recruits from Adams County and eastern Brown County, were said to have been temporarily quartered in the church before leaving West Union in 1861.

side B
Thomas Kirker
Born in Ireland in 1760, Thomas Kirker settled in Adams County in 1794 and began a long career as a public servant. A leading man in Liberty Township, he was elected as a delegate to the first Constitutional Convention in 1802. In 1803, Kirker was a member of the Lower

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House of the Legislature from Adams County. Later that same year, he entered the Ohio Senate and served continuously until 1815. As speaker of the Ohio Senate he became acting governor when Edward Tiffin resigned his governorship in 1807 to accept his election to the United States Senate. Kirker filled the vacancy in the governor's office from March 4, 1807 until December 12, 1808. From 1808 until his death in 1837, he was a ruling Elder in the Presbyterian Church of West Union.

(Ohio Bi-Centennial logo)

Erected 2002 by Ohio Bicentennial Commission, The Longaberger Company, The First Presbyterian Church, and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 12-1.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Government & Politics • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the American Presbyterian and Reformed Historic Sites, and the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series lists.

Location. 38° 47.609′ N, 83° 32.634′ W. Marker is in West Union, Ohio, in Adams County. Marker is at the intersection of Second Street (Ohio Route 247) and East Walnut, on the left when traveling south on Second Street. Touch for map. Marker

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, August 14, 2018

2. First Presbyterian Church Marker

side B

is at or near this postal address: 110 South Second Street, West Union OH 45693, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Bell (approx. 0.2 miles away); Adams County War Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Corp. Carey Mc. Moore (approx. 0.2 miles away); Cowboy Copas / The Oklahoma Cowboy (approx. 0.2 miles away); Bradford Tavern (approx. 0.2 miles away); Olde Wayside Inn (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lafferty Funeral Collection (approx. ¼ mile away); Pioneer County Seat / Camp Hamer (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in West Union.

Regarding First Presbyterian Church. First Presbyterian Church was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. This church is also one of 445 American Presbyterian and Reformed Historical Sites registered between 1973 and 2003 by the Presbyterian Historical Society (PHS), headquartered in Philadelphia. Approved sites received a metal plaque featuring John Calvin’s seal and the site’s registry number (PHS marker location unknown).

The following text is taken from the Presbyterian Historical Society website:

Built in 1810, "The Old Stone Church" is the oldest church building still used for regular worship in Ohio. Thomas Metcalf, later governor of Kentucky, did the
Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, August 14, 2018

3. First Presbyterian Church Marker
church's masonry work. An influential figure in establishing the congregation, Thomas Kirker, circulated a subscription list to build the stone church. He later served as the second governor of Ohio. The church is known today as "The Church of the Governors."

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, August 14, 2018

4. First Presbyterian Church Marker

full view side A

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, August 14, 2018

5. First Presbyterian Church Marker

full view side B

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, August 14, 2018

6. First Presbyterian Church Marker

marker as seen from across South Second Street

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, August 14, 2018

7. First Presbyterian Church Marker

the cornerstone

Credits. This page was last revised on March 17, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 15, 2018, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. This page has been viewed 431 times since then and 27 times this year. Last updated on August 21, 2018, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 15, 2018, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. 3. submitted on August 16, 2018, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on August 15, 2018, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.