The Topeka state journal., 1902-03-25

pointed to this. his second pastorate. by
the board of home missions of his de-
| nomination. He came here to find a
membership of but SO people. This he
| gradually worked up to over 200, and
| at the present time there are but about
$50 members. During his pastorate here
he has enrolled 515 names of new mem
bers on the church rolls.
| Upon his coming to Topeka he was
at once placed under great difficulties.
| The church was laboring under heavy
| debt and the membership was so small
as to necessitate the aid of the board
| of home missions in its support The
| church building was small and
| cramped. But through the efforts Of
Rev. MIR. McKirahan the debt was raised
and a commodious addition was placed
to the church, and the affairs of the
| church arranged so that it was made
| self-supporting.
Rev. Mr.. McKirahan has not yet an
nounced what he intends doing after
his resignation takes effect about the
first of May. L put in my resigna-
! ton because am getting old and l feel
| that | need rest. have been in serv-
ice continuously now for over 25 years,
without a let-up, and only occasional
trips of a few days duration, and L
feel that 1 have earned a rest 1 have
not yet determined what I will do. in
the future. 1 may enter business of
some kind within year. or 1 may not
At any. rate do not contemplate leav-
ing Topeka"
Rev. Mr.. McKirahan was born near
Bellaire in Belmont county, Ohio, jan
uary %, 1S47. He went to school at the
public schools of his county until the
age of IL years when he enlisted in the
Union army as private That was a
year before the war was brought to a
close He was in the service for about
272 years after the close of the war.
A +ha f1& 81 - h.. -.
determined he was stationed at Colum-
bia, South Carolina, With his regiment
where they were assigned to police duty.
He had been promoted to a corporal.
and was successfully sheriff, jailer of
the Abbeyville district, clerk of the
court and corporal on duty while the
reconstruction of the government was
IN progress Therefore at the age of is,
he was almost supreme in command of
certain districts of the state until the
time that government was reorganiZed.
Many of the p1eaSanteSt experiences of
his life date back to this time when he
was on police duty, and some of the
warmest friends he has were made by
his efforts in protecting the property
rights of the southern people. He was
also in the region where the famous
Ku-klux band was organized, but never
became involved with them.
He left the army in June, 1856 and
entered Geneva college. Later he went
| to Monmouth college and returned to
| finish his collegiate education at Geneva.
| his eccIeSlaStlcal education was re-
ceived at the Theological Seminary of
| his denomination at Allegheny, Penn
| sylvania. His education received at the
| three colleges required a term of ten
years for the reason that his years of
| college education were interspersed with
| engagements as a teacher in the public
| schools every alternate year
| His first paStorate was at Alexis, o.
| He was appointed there in 1876 and six
| years later was transferred to Topeka
| whree he has remained ever since.
Rev. Mr.. McKirahan was elected and
| served as post commander of his lodge,
Lincoln Post No. 1, G. A R., during the
year. 1897. He has been prominent in
\ G. A. r. circles, and is well known by
| most of the old soldiers of Kansas
At the session of the legislature in1SS7
| Rev. Mr.. McKirahan went before the
| members of that body and secured the
| passage of a bill appropriating money
/ to pay for preaching services at the
\ asylum here. Both of these places he
| has held during the Is years past.
when 1 came to Topeka" he said,
| the town had a population of about
| 10000 Many changes have been ERECT
ed since then. The postoffice building
was then in the course of construction
and only the east wing of the state
| house was completed The west wing
| was nearly finished and the north and
| south wings and the central portion of
| the building had not been begun.
There were no paved streets then
| and the street cars were hauled by
| mules. Only one line extended from
| Gordon street in North Topeka to Tenth
| and Polk with branch spur from the
pcstoftice to the Santa Fe depot"