This is a transcript from the Shenandoah Press, New Market, Virginia, August 18, 1893. It was taken from an address made by Edgar L. Zirkle at the Zirkle Reunion of 1893.This comes to us from History of the Roush family in America : from its founding by John Adam Rausch in 1736 to the present time, p. 678-680.

The first Zirkle who settled on Smith Creek, in Rockingham County, Virginia, was Lewis Zirkle, who located in that region of the county at the beginning of the Revolutionary War. He came from Pennsylvania, that portion where Philadelphia now stands. He carried on a tannery and farming, was prosperous and accululated a large estate. He married a lady by the name of Miss Mary Magdalena Roush, and their issue consisted of four sons and four daughters. He died at the age of seventy years, and his body and that of his wife are buried in St. Matthews Lutheran church graveyard, he having given the ground for the first Lutheran church at New Market, Virginia. At the time he died he owned fifteen hundred acres of ground, a good tannery and fine mill property. His son Lewis lived and died on Smith Creek. His children consisted of six sons and five daughters. He died in his 77th year of age. His sons, Lewis and Reuben, the former oldest Zirkle living, are both present here today. Daniel, his oldest son, lived and died on the old home place four miles southeast of New Market, on Smith Creek, in Rockingham County. His issue consisted of six sons and four daughters. John D., his eldest son, married Sophia Crim, their issue being eight daughters and five sons—in all thirteen children. Lewis married Rebecca Henkel as his first wife and Mrs. Mary R. Walker as his second wife, who still survives him—there being no issue in either case. Ephraim Perry was unmarried. Jacob married Emily Rice, their issue being three children, one son and two daughters. Having become a widow she married John H. Crawford, of Augusta County, both of whom still survive. William [and] Martha Miller, of Winchester, Virginia, their issue being three children, a son and two daughters. Isaac died unmarried. Malinda married Rev. John P. Cline, had nine children, five sons and four daughters. Mary M. married Noah I henkel, their issue being three children, two sons and one daughter. She is the only survivor of his children, being now in the 78th year of her age. Elizabeth died unmarried. Catherine married Cyrus Koiner, their issue being two children, both sons, their elder being G. W. Koiner, a member of the Virginia legislature from Augusta County, and the other, Dr. A. K. Koiner, who recently died in Roanoke, Virginia, being a prominent physician. Daniel, ancestor of the above posterity, died in February, 1850. Another of the sons of that original settler, Lewis Zirkle, named John, moved to Salem, then Botetout County. His children consisted of two sons and two daughters. The brother of that original settler, named Peter, located at the head of the James River.