Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-01-08
COMMUNE ATED.

! q VI OOlStNCE, ! l..
coMMuEIc ATED.
Society has seldom fel, regret more
prevalent, or more sincere, than has been
called forth by the death. Of the Hon.
! THOMAS KIRKPATRICK, on Sun
| day the 10th ult. late Judge of Probate
for the county of Bond. In him, society
| has lost a member, who had cndearcd
himself to it, by a long course OF faithful
and active service; and the church Of
God Oh earth, one who sought its pros
perity and peace, and who bountifully
contributed, by paecept and example, to
It's strength and beauty. IN early life,
of our independence, brought upon him
the vengeful nalignly of the tories, and
he was killed by them, at bis own house,
devolying the care Of q large family upon
!, tae subject oil our present notice. How
vel! he succeeded in the performance Of
this arduous duty, their responsibility
sufficiently answers. IL war, in which
the iroatier inhabitants Of Georgia (where
he then resided) were called to defend
their hard earned possessions, against the
lawless asgressions of a savage and bar
harous foe, he early shared its perils, and
performed the duties Of a missary,
until peace succeeded. He was an early
settler in this state, and by Mating
theindustryo OF ali around him, encouraged
those habits of morality and fiugallty,
which converted the place OF his settle
rnent, from an unproductive waste, into
a blooming and fruitful field, and turned
HE citizens, who composed it, from the
uncertain and laborious pursuit CT hunt
ing, to the advantages and enjoypents OF
industrious husbandry. For the term Of
| fifteen years, from 1905 TO 1918, he dis
charged the responsible duties OF a Judge
Of the Court Of Common Pleas, with ar
ability always satisfactory, and with an
| adherence to justice, equally evincive Of
| the integrity and independence Of his
| mind. He was at tina, time elected a
member ofthe Convention which formed
4
the Constitution of our state, and though
| born and educated under the influence of
different sentiments, was one OF those
who firmly maintained the political truth
that " all men are born free and equal"
Upon his return, he remained quietly in
the bosom of his family, until the last
lie gislature called him to the Office which
he filled at the time of his decease.--
Such was the course of this amiable and
excellent man, when menaced by the
dangers of war, his fortitude and attach
ment to the institutions of his country
urged him to the field. In private life,
he shrunk not fom the performance of
| those duties, which the isccrnment of
his fellow citizens allotted to him !; and
in the quiet scenes OF domestic peace, all
with whom he was acquainted have had
occasion to mark the even and unruincd
tenor of his course. Few have more
faithfully or happily performed the duties
OF the citizen and magistrate. He had
fondness for books, and had acquired a
fund Of useful information on various
subjects, especially religious. For more
than twenty years he was a professor Of
the Christian religion, the benign spirit
otwhich was seen in his daily intercourse,
free from austerity and exempt from BIZ
gotry. He awaited the messenger of
death, with patience and resignation, and
embraced him with the checsfu.ncss of
hope,