KIRKPATRICK.--Rev. Jonathan Reid Kirkpatrick was born near
Charlotte, N.C., March 20, 1840, and died at his home, 1205 Catalina
street, Los Angeles, August 7, 1903, aged 63 years, 4 months and
17 days. He was educated in Erskine College, under control of
United Presbyterian Church, in South Carolina. He did not know
the date of his conversion, but had a distinct recollection of
his internal call to preach the gospel. It came in 1859, while
Dr. Calvin Greer preached a sermon on "The Still Small Voice,"
and seven other young men were called the same day. He fought
the call long and bitterly, because his uncle, for whom he was
named, desired him to be a lawyer. He came to Tennessee in 1860,
and there joined presbytery, under the influence of Father McBride.
This dates his connection with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
in which he lived and labored so faithfully till death. He now
learned from his mother that she had given him to the Lord for
a preacher before his birth. Her prayers were answered when he
joined the presbytery. The church he chose was the dominant Presbyterian
church of that section, and two of his granduncles helped in the
organization of the church. Their names were Hugh and Ausen Kirkpatrick.
In March, 1861, he went to the war, having raised a company of
Confederate volunteers. He served throughout the war, and, though
wounded several times, was the captain of the William Henry Lee
scouts at its close. During the war he preached his first sermon
while a prisoner at Point Lookout, Maryland, in 1863. In 1805
he took the oath of allegiance in North Carolina, whither he had
gone at the close of the war. Here he was elected justice of the
peace and county judge in Mecklenburg county. The Polk Academy,
of Pineville, N.C., was founded by him, but he soon went to Texas
and was elected president of the Cedar Grove Institute. He joined
Bacon Presbytery and, while a member of it, organized seven churches
and received one thousand members into the church. In 1881 he
removed to Tehuacana Presbytery and labored there till 1888. where
he organized six churches and received one thousand more into
the church. In 1888 he removed to Lebanon, Ore.; organized one
church, but on account of failing health, he came to California
in 1892, becoming pastor at Selma, where he received 351 members
in three years. Afterward he was called to Downey and has assisted
in the organization of every church of his denomination in southern
California. In 1899 he gave up the active ministry because of
the failure of his health. He removed to Los Angeles, where he
has lived quietly, aiding as a private member the church of his
choice, and preaching as occasion offered. Having organized sixteen
churches and received three thousand people into the church, he
had accomplished in his sixty-three years more than most men can
hope to do. He was a Knight Templar and was connected with the
Albany, Ore., lodge. On November 23, 1865, Mr. Kirkpatrick was
married to Miss Isabella J. McMillan at Chester, S.C. To them
were born ten children, six of whom are living. These are all
members of the church and trying to follow in the father's footsteps.
Deeply grieved, yet with fortitude and submission they, with their
noble mother, are bearing their loss. His funeral was preached
by the writer, assisted by Rev. Mr. Schaefle, of the Congregational
Church, who was a near neighbor and a devoted friend. We laid
him away with Masonic honors in beautiful Rosedale cemetery, where
the grass is ever verdant and the flowers bloom all the year.
He was an affectionate husband, a loving father and an earnest,
devoted Christian. He has fallen asleep, but his works do follow
him.--Will D. Landis, Pastor, Los Angeles, Cal.
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, September
17, 1903, page 382]
Name: Kirkpatrick, J. R.
Occupation: retired
Presbytery: Los Angeles
Place of Residence:
Los Angeles, Cal.
Date: Aug. 7, 1903
Age:
63
[Source: Minutes of the General
Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1904, page 168a]