Samuel McCurdy Kirkpatrick enlisted in a Confederate calvary unit on August 29,1862. Before that time, he was a farmer and maker of cotton gins. Samuel and his wife, Sarah Catherine West, had their first child in April of 1863. They named him Clifton.
The war had ended and Samuel and Sarah purchased a large mansion in Cahawba. In addition to their 2-story house, two other 2-story structures were in the rear of the house along with a barn. The Kirkpatrick family called this place home for the next three generations.
Samuel and Sarah had three more children; Samuel, Louise West and Herbert. Samuel was to become an eye, ear, nose and throat specialist; Louise married and moved away; Herbert drowned in the Alabama River at the age of ten and is buried in the town cemetery (you can visit this cemetery). The oldest son, Clifton, stayed in Cahawba and worked with his father building an agricultural enterprise. It became known as Kirk-View Farm.
Clifton married Minerva Graham on October 23,1895. The following children were born to them: Mabel, Graham, Earl, Samuel McCurdy, Mary and Chifton Jr. Earl died in infancy and Mary died at the age of 9.
Clifton Kirkpatrick came to be known as The Duke of Cahawba. He passed away in February of 1930 from pneumonia. He was 66 years old.
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