Biography of William Alkire
From HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
W. H. Beers [Chicago, 1883]
Page 299
Prior to the Revolutionary war, four brothers – Monus, Michael, John and William Alkire – emigrated from Scotland to America, and all served in that struggle for independence. Subsequently they settled in Maryland, but finally Michael and William removed to Kentucky, one of the others in Tennessee, and the remaining one in an adjoining State. Our subject was the son of William Alkire, and in the fall of 1799 he came with three of his sons to the Northwest Territory, and purchased 1,400 acres of the Baylor Survey, 464, on Deer Creek, in what is now Pleasant Township, Madison Co., Ohio. The sons erected a cabin and began clearing the land that fall, while the father returned to Kentucky, and in the spring of 1800 brought the balance of the family to their new home. Mr. Alkire was the father of fourteen children – eight sons and six daughters – all of whom grew to maturity. The sons were Robert, Isaac, Abraham, Jacob, Monus, William, Joseph and John. Of the daughters, three married and moved West, one died, while Margaret and Lydia married and settled here. Mr. Alkire died about 1825. Two of the sons, Monus and Joseph, moved to the West and there died. William, in later years, settled near Pendleton, Putnam Co., Ohio, where he now resides. The balance of the children remained near the old homestead all their days, excepting Margaret, the widow of James Dennison, who is living in Pickaway County. With the exception of 194 acres belonging to Mrs. young, the 1,400 acres purchased by William Alkire in 1799 are still owned by grandchildren. Many of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of this worthy pioneer have settled in the West, while a large number are still residents of Madison County, and among its best citizens.
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