The biographical encyclopœdia of Ohio of the nineteenth century:

BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPzEDIA.
Dr. Jacob Kirby continuously pursued the practice of his
profession in Highland county, in the most laborious, successful and unselfish mnanner. On February 28th, 1825, Dr.
Kirby was united by marriage to Rachel Woodrow, second
daughter of Joshua and Nancy Woodrow, of Hillsborough,
Ohio. From 1829 to 1835 he with Hiram Campbell controlled and edited the Hillsborough Gazette. In I834 he was
elected to the House of Representatives, and in i835 to the
State Senate from the counties of Highland and Fayette.
Moses H. Kirby, the twin brother, studied law with General
Richard Collins, and after- his admission to the bar was
appointed Prosecuting Attorney in 1825 for Highland
county, and continued in that office until I830; he also
represented Highland county in the Legislature in I826,
1827 and 1830. During this last term of service he was
elected Secretary of State, and after the expiration of his
term of office as Secretary, never made Highland county his
home. At this period the dual life of the twill brothers in
their joint and several action and influence in Highland
county ceased; but though separated, their love, like that
of David and Jonathan, was wonderful, as was evinced by
Colonel Kirby's touching remark after the burial of his
brother, "I feel like half of me is gone." Dr. Kirby, by
his marriage with Rachel Woodrow (who was also of
Quaker parentage), became united with a large and influential family, and by the joint birthright of himself and wife
with the Friends, he was always devoted to that people
and they to him. He left surviving him his widow, Rachel
Kirby, and two daughters, Mrs. Ann Smith, wife of Dr.
William R. Smith, and their four children; Lizzie Kirby,
the youngest daughter, and also the children of his second
daughter (deceased), Mrs. Ruth Pugsley, formerly wife of
Mr. Walter Pugsley, all of whom were as profound mourners
at his death as they had been in every relation devoted to
him in his life. On March 26th, I873, he died at near the
completion of his seventy-fifth year. In the relation of son,
husband, and father, he cherished the most sensitive regard
and care, though he studiously abstained from mere displays
in the observation of the world. His character was well
defined by individuality. With a nature exceedingly sensitive, be approached the discharge of every public and professional duty with caution, but yet with a quiet determination and industrious purpose to accomplish whatsoever, on
any occasion, seemed to him to be his duty. Unobtrusive
in his manners, and utterly void of policy, he possessed the
art of attaching to himself, in all classes of society, and
among a wide circle of acquaintances in the State, a peculiar
confidence and esteem. Eccentric in his manners and expressions of thought, he frequently appeared to disdain the
conventionalities of society, yet at the same time he was
Tranylvnia nivrsit hecommnce thepraticeof ed-remarkably refined in his feelings, possessing a keen appreciation of kindness, and almost a morbid aversion to giving
trouble. His innocent unselfish honesty grappled to him
wPther 8 u his prof steel the confidence of all who consulted him,
of eary fftyyeas, mon hs vrios oherpubic utis,whether in his profession or about their troubles, and his
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Quartermaster,, and -was subsequently made Brigade Qulartermaster, serving as such for some considerable time. He
saw service mainly in the Southwest, being present during
the siege and at the surrender of Vicksburg. He remained
in Wooster until the autumn of i864, engaged in the active
control of an extensive legal practice in connection with his
father. At the date last mentioned, he removed to Ironton,
Lawrence county, where he was joined by his father in
i867, and where he has since resided and continued the practice of his profession, and been the recipient of an extensive
patronage. In I867 he was elected Prosecuting Attorney
of Lawrence county, notwithstanding it was a Republican
stronghold, and he was a candidate for the Legislature in
I873. He has ever been identified with the Democratic
party, and cast his first vote for Lewis Cass, the candidate
of the regular Democrats in I848. In religious faith he is
a Presbyterian. Socially he is pleasant and affable. His
integrity of character is unquestionable, and he has ever
been remarkable for untiring energy and industry. He was
nIlarried, I851, to Charlotte, a daughter of Daniel Weaver,
of Wooster.
-o.
fJ IRBY, JACOB, and his twin brother, Colonel
Moses H. Kirby, of Upper Sandusky, Ohio, were
born in Halifax county, Virginia, on May 2ISt,
Aft~.~ 1798, the children of Obediah and Ruth Kirby,
who were of the Orthodox Friends' persuasion.
Obediah Kirby died in i8o8, in Halifax county,
Virginia, leaving his wife and five sons surviving him. In
i8I4 the widow, with her four surviving sons (the eldest,
Samuel, having been killed in the defence of Norfolk, Virgiiiia, in the war of J8l2), removed from Virginlia and
settled in Hillsb~orough, Ohio, where she remained for some
time, until after the marriage of her sons, with whom she
made her home alternately until I838, when she died at the
house of her son John, in Upper Sandusky, Ohio. The
widowed mother bestowed all her energy and means in
giving to her twin sons a liberal education. At an early
age they were sent to a classical school taught by the Rev.
James Gilleland, near Ripley, Ohio, where they were pi-epared for college, and from that school were sent by their
mother to the University of North Carolina, at Chapel Hill,
where they graduated in I8I9. After they had finished
their collegiate education, they returned to Ohio, where
Jacob commenced the study of medicine, and Moses that
of law. During the study of his profession, Jacob was sent
to Transylvania University, Lexington, Kentucky, in the
medical department of which he graduated in I823, Dr.
Dudley being at that time President. After his return from
Transylvania University be commenced the practice of medicine in Hillsl)orough, Ohio, in partnership with Dr. Jasper
Hand, an eminient and highly educated physician from
Philadelphia, and from i823 Up to his last illness, a period
of nearly fifty years, -an-ong his various other public duties,.