A portrait and biographical record of Delaware and Randolph counties, Ind., containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana, Part 35

Author:
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Chicago, A. W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1474

USA > Indiana > Randolph County > A portrait and biographical record of Delaware and Randolph counties, Ind., containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana > Part 35
USA > Indiana > Delaware County > A portrait and biographical record of Delaware and Randolph counties, Ind., containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana > Part 35

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

He married August 5, 1889, Miss Susie Ryan, daughter of John W. Ryan, of Muncie, and is the father of two bright children, John Rodney and Mildred Ryan. With the excep- tion of a college fraternity, Mr. Marsh belongs to no society or order; he and wife are mem- bers of the Episcopal church of Muncie, in which they are highly respected, and their hands and hearts are ever ready to respond to the cry of distress or want, as well as to plain charity.

PILLIAM E. H. MARSH, the genial and popular proprietor of the Na- tional Hotel, Muncie, Ind., is a native of Chelsea (Boston), Mass., was born May 14, 1860, and is the only child of William E., Jr., and Ellen Maria Winship (Toppan) Marsh, of whom the former was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, November 11, 1836, of English and Scotch parentage, and the latter born at Newburyport, Mass., August 13, 1839, of English descent. William E. Marsh, Jr., was but ten years of age when taken east by his parents. For four years he attended school in Virginia, one year in New York state, and four years in Massachusetts, of the latter period, two years at Harvard university: On finishing his literary education he began his business life by entering the wholesale grocery estab- lishment owned by his father at Cincinnati, and for nine years assiduously devoted his at- tention to acquiring a knowledge of mercantile affairs; the following nine years were passed in real estate transactions at Plainfield, N. J., and the fifteen subsequent years in the hotel busi- ness, for which he seemed to be peculiarly adapted. In 1877 he became proprietor of the Galt House, in Cincinnati, which he conducted until 1892, when he went to Chicago and leased the Hotel Brewster, which he retained eighteen months. He then came to Muncie, Ind., where he is now interested with his son in the National, still retaining his interest in the Galt House, Cincinnati. As a business man he has but few equals, as a host he is unexcelled anywhere, being attentive, hospitable, obliging, and liberal in his consideration of the needs of his guests. The marriage of Mr. Marsh occurred December 1, 1859; to Miss Toppan, and their union, as stated, was fruitful in the birth of only one child, a son. Mrs. Marsh is a consistent mem- ber of the Baptist church, and in politics Mr. Marsh is liberal in his views, relying on his own judgment in such matters, as in everything else.

372

MUNCIE CITY

William Edward Henry Marsh is a gentle- man of splendid executive abilities, and has been thoroughly schooled in all those graceful accomplishments and that pleasing tact that constitute the perfect hotel manager. His boyhood was passed in Newburyport, Mass., and he was educated by private tutors to a high standard in literature and in the German and English classics, which training was sup- plemented by a course of study at the Nelson Business college at Cincinnati. At the age of sixteen he became associated with his father in the management of the Galt House, corner of Sixth and Main streets, Cincinnati, where he became so well versed in his vocation, and in 1890 came to Muncie, Ind., leased the now favorite National Hotel, which he refitted and converted into the elegant, and above all, the comfortable establishment it now is. His in- tuitive apprehension of the wants of his guests and anticipation of their wishes have placed him at the very head and front of hosts, and created a demand for accommodations at his house that at times taxes even his ingenuity to meet. Affable, urbane, and anxious to please, he has won golden opinions from all comers. He is a member of the Knights of Maccabees and the Ancile club of Muncie. In politics he affiliates with the republicans.

3 OHN S. MARTIN, M. D., the profes- sional gentleman whose name intro- duces this sketch, is a well known and highly valued citizen of Muncie, where his skill and medical knowledge are frequently called into exercise. Dr. Martin was born in Johnson county, Ind., November 21, 1851, and is a son of Samuel C. and Jane (Haw- thorne) Martin, both parents natives of Henry county, Ky. He enjoyed superior educational advantages, attending first the schools of his

native county, and subsequently pursuing the higher branches of learning in Franklin col- lege, in which institution he made commenda- ble progress. After completing his literary educatiou, Dr. Martin began teaching, which profession he successfully followed for seven years, leaving it only to begin his medical studies with Dr. J. D. George, a well known and successful practitioner of Franklin, Ind. With a laudable desire to increase his knowl- edge of his profession, the doctor entered the Cleveland(Ohio) Homeopathic Hospital college, graduated in 1883, and immediately thereafter located in Muncie, where he has since prac- ticed with flattering success and financial profit. He began the practice at Indianapolis some time before completing his professional course in the above institution, and since locating in the gas belt his abilities have been recognized beyond the limits of Delaware county, and he is now one of the leading rep- resentatives of his school in this part of the state. The doctor's personal characteristics have won him many friends, and among his professional brethren he is recognized as a man of energy and determination, fully abreast of the times and active in upholding the dig- nity of the healing art. He is of good person- al presence, has an unblemished character, and is a man of high moral and social stand- ing among his fellow citizens of Muncie. Dr. Martin is a member of the Indiana institute of Homeopathy, also of the American institute, in the deliberations of which body he takes an active part, and of which he is now serving as treasurer. He is a prominent member of the K. of P. and Red Men fraternities, and exer- cises the elective franchise in behalf of the democratic party. The doctor was married, in 1874, to Miss Laura A. Clark, daughter of John R. and Keziah Clark, of Johnson county, Ind., the result of which union is one child, a son, Samuel Albert Martin. Mrs. Martin is a

J.S. Martin M.S

375

AND CENTRE TOWNSHIP.

member of the Presbyterian church of Muncie, and is a lady of social prominence in the city.

S AMUEL MARTIN, retired, was born in Clarke county, Ohio, July 29, 1827, and is a son of Stephen R. and Nancy (Kirkpatrick) Martin. His father was born near Cincinnati on October 11, 1804, and was a son of Samuel Martin, a native of New Jersey, who settled in Clarke county, Ohio, in 1805, where he entered a tract of land, and also entered a tract of land in Miami county. Stephen R. Martin moved to Delaware county, Ind., in 1834, and settled upon a farm in Hamil- ton township, and entered several tracts of land. He was one of the originators, the treasurer, and a director in the Granville pike, and a stockholder in the Bee Line railway. He was one of the original stockholders of the Citizens' National bank of Muncie, and a trustee in the Christian church for many years. He was a democrat, and was trustee of his township. His first wife died in June, 1867, and he remarried to Susan Spoor, of Iowa, who survives him. His family consisted of six daughters and two sons. The living are : Samuel, Phœbe, Ellen, Mary, wife of John Pittinger, of Hamilton township, and Emily. Stephen R. Martin died October 19, 1877. Samuel Martin was reared in Delaware county, and received his education in its early schools. When twenty- two years of age he went to California, where he spent several years in farming and mining, and then returned to Delaware county. In 1857 he married Miss Mary Williamson, daugh- ter of Peter Williamson, of Hamilton town- ship, and cleared a farm in that township, upon which he resided until 1879, when he moved into the city of Muncie, and engaged in the manufacturing of pumps, under the firm name of Puckett, Smell & Martin. He was also a

member of the hardware firin of Martin, Young, & Kessler. In 1886 he withdrew from all active business, and has since lived a retired life. He is a stockholder in the Co-operative Gas com- pany, and has large real estate interests in the city. Politically a democrat, he has repre- sented the First ward in the city council ; is a member of the A. F. & A. M. chapter and com- mandery. He and wife are members of the High street M. E. church, and he is the present treasurer of the same; also one of the trustees, and was a member of the building committee.

O SCAR L. MEEKS, the gentleman for whom this biographical sketch is pre- pared, is a native of Delaware county, Ind., born December 7, 1853. the son of Isaac Meeks. He grew to manhood in his native city, in the public schools of which he received a practical English education, and, having early manifested a decided preference for mechanical pursuits, entered a furniture factory, and while still a boy became profi- cient as a workman. The proprietor of this factory was his father, Isaac Meeks, with whom Oscar L. subsequently effected a co-partner- ship, and the firm thus constituted continued until the destruction of the establishment by fire, which event occurred a short time before the senior member's death. Mr. Meeks then engaged with the Bandey Planing Mill com- pany as foreman, in which capacity he has since continued. He is a skillful mechanic, familiar with all the details of the business with which he is connected, and is one of the highly respected citizens of Muncie. Politically a republican, he cast his first vote for Benja- min Harrison for governor; and religiously a Methodist, he is one of the leading members of the High street congregation of Muncie. Mr. Meeks was married in June, 1876, to Miss

376

MUNCIE CITY

Alice Kemper, daughter of William Kemper, to which union three children have been born, namely: Bessie, Emily and Harold, the first named of which is deceased.

Isaac Meeks is a native of Monongalia county, W. Va., born July 9, 1829. At the age of ten years he, with his parents, Amos and Nancy Meeks, immigrated to Indiana, locating, in the fall of 1832, in the eastern part of Delaware county. They erected a log cabin in the heart of the forest and set about clearing off 150 acres of land. There being a large family (eight broth- ers and seven sisters, and one half-brother and half-sister), there was not enough employment for them on the farm, so Isaac, at the age of fifteen, decided to come to Muncie and learn the cabinet making trade. Being naturally a mechanic, he soon became skilled in his work and entered into a partneship with his brother Robert in the cabinet business, a union which lasted for forty-five years. He married Mary E. McProud, of Randolph county, this state, to whom were born five children-two boys and three girls. In politics he was a strong republican-the party of his father. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for over forty-five years, filling different positions in the church with a true christian zeal, until death claimed him, January 16, 1891.

R OBERT MEEKS .- Without a thought of disparagement for the many excel- lent characters herein illustrated, perhaps none, taken as a whole, are more noteworthy and more favorably and extensively known than the Meeks family. As the oldest representative of that family now living, we begin our group of their biographies with that of Robert Meeks.

The parent stem of this sturdy old pioneer started in the eternal hills of West Virginia.

He is the son of Amos and Nancy Meeks. His mother's maiden name was Means. He was born in Monongalia county, of that state, on July 8, 1822. The educational facilities of that time and place were very meager, and he attended subscription school in winter only. He was the eldest of fifteen children, nine of whom were born in West Virginia. He immi- grated to Delaware county, with his father's family, in the year 1839, when about seven- teen years of age. The whole journey was made in an old fashioned Virginia wagon drawn by four horses, and it occupied sixteen days to make the trip. They located about three miles northeast of what is now the town of Selma, on or near what is known as Sugar Ridge. The country was then simply a vast wilderness, and the next five years were spent in helping to clear up his father's farm, he being the main dependence of his father in this work, as his brothers were younger, and hence unable to contribute much in this direc- tion. He came to Muncie in May, 1844, and began his career for himself as an apprentice with Nottingham & Swain, to learn the trade of cabinet-making, in a two story frame build- ing, located then on the ground where the Boyce block now stands. He worked thus about one year, and about eighteen months later bought an interest in the firm of John Nottingham. The partnership with Swain continued less than a year, when Nottingham purchased the interest of Job Swain. During this partnership, Robert's brother, Isaac Meeks, was apprenticed to the firm to learn the trade also. Still later on, Robert bought the interest of Nottingham, and was then the owner of the shop-building and ground. The firm then became known as R. & I. Meeks, and continued thus to be successfully operated for a series of years, during which time the old sign board, which hung out from the old shop, bearing the letters of this old firm, was

377

AND CENTRE TOWNSHIP.

synonymous with honesty and fair dealing. About the year 1871, James W. Meeks, the son of Robert, became a partner, and the style of the firmn was then changed to R. & I. Meeks & Co. At this time a two. story brick building was erected on the southeast corner of Washington and Elm streets and supplied with engine, boiler, and all the latest improved machinery, and the work of making furniture began on a scale up to the requirements of the times and the increasing demands for their products. In the meantime, Isaac Meeks was in charge of the sales department and storage rooms, located in their brick business block on east Main street, while Robert and his son James were in charge of the manufacturing shops as described.

This partnership between the elder Meeks brothers lasted until the death of Isaac, on the 16th day of January, 1891. It is a curious fact that, while the business of making and selling furniture, in connection with their large undertaking business and funeral directorship, has increased to almost abnormal proportions, Amos Meeks, the old father of Robert and Isaac, nearly fifty years ago seriously wondered what they would do with the vast accumula- tion of furniture after they had once supplied the local demand; when the real fact is, the demand has always increased in a ratio faster than their facilities were able to supply. The factory was run to its full capacity until 1890, when it took fire and was totally consumed. It was never rebuilt, and on January 2, 1892, old uncle Robert Meeks, as he is familiarly called, accidentally met with a fall, by which his leg and hip were broken, which confined him to his bed and house; since which time, owing to extreme lameness, he has lived in retirement, resting as well as possible on his well earned competency. This can certainly be all the better appreciated, when it is con- sidered that Mr. Meeks worked the first winter,

after he learned his trade, and received only seventy-five cents in money, and took the rest due him in other articles. During his term of apprenticeship, he got only his board and the making of one overcoat, and at the end of the first year, as such, he was as good a workman as any man in the shop, and was able, in 1848, to pay $450 for a half interest in their shop and building, and now the entire business of the concern, including undertaking, which he had carried on from the very start, is under the exclusive management of his three sons, James W., William A., and Martin L. Meeks, the last two having joined the firm of R. Meeks & Son in the year 1880, while his youngest son, Jacob Arthur, is associated in business with James Boyce, of Muncie, a sketch of each of them appearing in our lists of biographies. Robert Meeks was married, in 1846, to Miss Sarah Jones, daughter of Jacob and Beersheba Jones, who has been a faithful and devoted wife and mother and a helpmate, indeed, to a worthy husband.

3 AMES W. MEEKS is the eldest son of Robert and Sarah Meeks. He was born in Muncie, Ind., December 14, 1848, and received a common school education, graduating from the Muncie high school in the class of 1870. He had spent most all his vacations and other spare time in the furniture factory of R. & I. Meeks, of which firm his father was a member, and after graduation went into the employ of said firm and worked one year. In the year 1871, he became a member of the firm, when it was changed to R. & I. Meeks & Co.,. and has been actively engaged in this occupation ever since. From 1871 to 1890, he was superin- tendent and foreman of the furniture factory, which was established about 1871, located on

378

MUNCIE CITY

Washington and Elm streets, and is now the oldest active member of the firm of R. Meeks & Sons, which is the oldest furniture and un- dertaking establishment in the county, cover- ing, as it does, a half century of continuous operation, and therefore one of the best and most favorably known institutions in eastern Indiana. Their storage and sales departments occupy the first, second and third floors of their large brick business block, No. 115 east Main street, in Muncie, where they carry a most complete line of the latest style and best made furniture and caskets, and from their well established reputation for honesty and fair dealing, do a very extensive retail business. He and all his brothers are practical under- takers and funeral directors. They furnish a free ambulance, and are often called to the most remote parts of the county. He was married on June 27, 1876, to Louisa C., daughter of Joseph and Mary Hummel. Three children have been born to them- Amelia B., Sarah M. and Robert H. Meeks. He has a beautiful home, and, being a tireless worker and having a taste for horticulture, has beautiful surroundings and all the home com- forts, and takes great delight in showing speci- mens of his home-grown grapes and other fruits. He is a worthy member of the I. O. O. F. and its encampment, and in the lodge he has passed all the officers' chairs. He was one of the incorporators of the Merchants' National bank of Muncie, and is one of the board of directors of the same. Mr. Meeks is also a faithful and consistent member of the High street Methodist Episcopal church, and at present fills the office of steward, and is treasurer of the Preachers' Aid society of the North Indiana conference of the Methodist Episcopal church. Charity never makes a call in vain on Mr. and Mrs. Meeks, and both are untiring in church work, while Sunday schools receive much of their attention.

ILLIAM A. MEEKS, second son of Robert and Sarah Meeks, was born in Muncie, Ind., April 8, 1851, and received the educational benefits of the Muncie schools, graduating in the higher branches in the class of 1870. He worked six- teen months at the harness making trade, then entered the furniture factory of his father and brother in the year 1872, where he continued to work until the steadily increasing demands made upon the Main street store and under- taking department had caused it to grow to such proportions that he was compelled to transfer his help to that department, where he has remained ever since. He became a part- ner in the concern in the year 1881, and by his zeal and efficient help has contributed his full share to the success of the business. He was married on October 17, 1883, to Miss Mary C. Dungan, daughter of ex-Sheriff John W. Dun- gan. Her inother's maiden name was Edith Dragoo, who was a sister to John W. and Will- iam Dragoo, the latter being ex-auditor of Delaware county. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and K. of P. lodges, and is now the recording steward and secretary of the official board of the Methodist Episcopal church of this city.

ARTIN L. MEEKS is the third son of Robert and Sarah Meeks, and was born in Muncie, Ind., October I, 1853, and, like his brothers, grad- uated from the Muncie high school in 1872. In the fall of the same year he went into the furniture factory of R. & I. Meeks & Co. and learned the wood turning trade. Immediately thereafter he took charge of the undertaking business of that firm, and for the last twenty years has had exclusive charge of the same. During this time he has attended personally

379

AND CENTRE TOWNSHIP.

a large number of the funerals that have occur- red at various times in Muncie. He has re- ceived instructions in this art from the most eminent professional embalmers, and keeps up with all the improved methods that are con- stantly being made in the line of his profession. He became a partner in the firm of R. & I. Meeks & Co. in 1881, and now owns a one- third interest in the whole concern. He was married November 21, 1876, to Miss Carrie Clark, daughter of Robert and Fannie Clark, of Delaware county. Four children have been born to them, two sons and two daughters: Arthur C., Earnest S., Mary W. and Fannie, the latter having died October 29, 1887, at the age of eight years, seven months and fifteen days. Martin L. Meeks and family, in com- mon with all of the families of the name, are active and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

J ACOB ARTHUR MEEKS, the young -. est son of Robert and Sarah Meeks, was born in Muncie, January 15, 1856. He attended the public schools, and graduated from the high school in 1873. His vacations from boyhood had been utilized by clerking in a grocery, and he was thus largely employed by Maddy, Burt & Kirby until 1877. In that year he completed a commercial course in the Miami Commercial college, at Dayton, Ohio. In 1878 he was bookkeeper for a wholesale hat house at Toledo, Ohio. March I, 1880, he entered the employ of James Boyce as bookkeeper in his bagging factory, and on August 1, 1881, he purchased an eighth inter- est in the plant. The day following his pur- chase the entire factory burned down, entailing a heavy loss, as the ratio of insurance was small, and the year following another dis- astrous conflagration occasioned a loss of $20, -

000, principally on manufactured stock. Mr. Meeks continued in the manufacture of bagging with Mr. Boyce until 1885, when they sold their entire plant to the Muncie Bagging com- pany. In the same year he purchased a half interest of James Boyce in the Muncie Handle works, and operated that plant successfully until it was destroyed by fire in April, 1893. The loss, however, was largely covered by in- surance, and in six weeks thereafter the works were rebuilt and ready for operation. They employ a complement of thirty hands, and an- nually make from 50,000 to 75,000 dozen of "D" and long shovel handles. Mr. Meeks is also interested in the Boyce Rivet company, and devotes his entire time to the management of these industries. He was married, in 1879, to Miss Lydia Gray, daughter of J. M, Gray, now a resident of Anderson, and of this union there is one son, Erle G. Meeks.

IRAM MESSERSMITH, real estate dealer of Muncie, was born near the Tippecanoe battle ground, Tippeca- noe county, Ind., September 11, 1840. His ancestors were early settlers of Virginia, from which state his grandparents immigrated to Indiana many years ago, locating in the county of Fayette. His father, Samuel Messer- smith, was born in the year 1807, and early in life. became a skillful manufacturer of edged tools, in which line of work his antecedents for several generations had excelled. Samuel Messersmith married Miss Charity Freeman, a native of New York, and began housekeeping at Metamora, Franklin county, Ind., where Mr. Messersmith for some time carried on a general blacksmithing business. Subsequently he removed to Connersville and worked at his trade, and later moved to the country and for several years carried on farming in connection

380

MUNCIE CITY

with blacksmithing. His next move was to Tippecanoe county, where he resided until one year after the birth of Hiram, at which time he emigrated to Iowa and entered government land in the vicinity of Des Moines, a part of which city now occupies a portion of his origi- nal purchase. Two years later he returned to Indiana and located in Rush county, where, owing to sickness, superinduced by the expo- sure incident to his constantly moving from place to place, he died in the fall of 1843. Six children were born to Samuel and Charity Messersmith, namely: Almarine, Ephraim, Nancy, Sarah, Hiram and Clarissa; of these Nancy and Sarah are dead; the mother still survives and makes her home with her young- est daughter at Connersville. She has reached the ripe old age of eighty-two years and pos- sesses, in a marked degree, her physical and mental faculties.

Hiram Messersmith was but three years of age when his father died, after which event he was taken by his mother to Columbia, Fayette county, where his boyhood days were passed. He worked at various occupations until the age of sixteen, when he learned the plasterer's trade, which he followed at Connersville and vicinity until 1865, in the meantime spending thirteen months in the army. In that year he went to Danville, Ill., and, after becoming comfortably located in that city, returned to Indiana and married, on the 4th day of Octo- ber, 1865, Miss Sarah H. Lister, who accom- panied him to his new home. In 1869 Mr. Messersmith purchased a farm about six miles southwest of Connersville, near his old home, and for eight years thereafter was engaged in agricultural pursuits. He abandoned farming in 1877, and, moving to Glenwood, Rush county, embarked in the drug business, which he carried on for a period of eleven years. Disposing of his drug stock in 1888, Mr. Messersmith came to Muncie and engaged in

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

A portrait and biographical record of Delaware and Randolph counties, Ind., containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana, Part 35

Author: Publication date: 1894 Publisher: Chicago, A. W. Bowen & Co. Number of Pages: 1474

Author:
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Chicago, A. W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1474