Mr. Weber and Governor Kirkwood
One thing that puzzled historian Irving Weber was the possible membership of Governor Samuel J. Kirkwood, whose wife Jane was listed as a member after they transferred to Iowa City from Ohio. There is a listing among the record of probationers indicating that Mr. Kirkwood was received into the church February 7, 1878, by Rev. J. T. Crippin, and baptized that same day. This was customary procedure for newcomers and was usually followed by admission to membership in “full connection.”
There must be another story now well hidden about Gov Kirkwood's life in this church, however, for this notation is entered in the same Record Book: “Removed by letter September 30, 1878,” Jane was active in the Ladies Aid Society and lived to the age of 99 years, but there is nothing more about Samuel in that book.