Miami County, Ohio Genealogical Researchers -- Sponsored by the Computerized Heritage Association


    D. C. MEEKS

    D. C. MEEKS, president of the School Board of Lost Creek Township, is a prominent farmer and the owner of eighty-two acres of land which has been in the family name since title was acquired from the Government in pioneer days. He was born in this-town ship January 13, I851, and is a son of David and Eliza (Knight) Meek, his father not using an " s " in the spelling of his name. Bazel Meeks, the grandfather, was born and reared in Pennsylvania and came to Ohio in the pioneer days. He acquired of the Government a large tract of land in Miami County, some 800 or 900 acres in all, for which lie paid $1.25 per acre. He was blind during the last forty years of his life, and died at the home of his son, David, at the age of ninety years.

    David Meek was born near New Lancaster, Ohio, and came with his father to Miami County, when quite young. He lived, at home until his marriage, then purchased 213 acres in Lost Creek Township, where they began house keeping. He finally had 427 acres in one block, a tract of 186 acres north of Addison, and a quarter section of coal land in Perry County, Ohio. The last nine years of his life were saddened by the same affliction which had affected his father that of blindness, and his death occurred in a little house which the subject of this sketch built for him on the home farm. He died January 5, l896, aged eighty-nine years, and his widow survived him about fifteen mouths, dying at the age of eighty-five years. She was Eliza Knight in maiden life and was born on what is known as the Theodore Rogers farm in Lost Creek Township. Her father, David Knight, was one of the pioneers of this community. Mr. and Mrs. Meek became parents of the following children: Martha, Isaac, Louisa, and Diana, all deceased; Watson; Johnson K., who was drowned near Troy, at the age of forty seven years; Emma, wife of R. D. Evans of Columbus Ohio; David Corbly, whose name heads this record; Washington Riley of Columbus Ohio; and Louisa. Isaac, Martha and Watson died of diphtheria about four days apart.

    David C. Meeks attended the school in the home district, which was badly crowded with its eighty pupils. Later the family moved to Troy in order to afford the children better educational advantages, and Diana Meeks was one of the four who formed the first graduating class of the Troy High School. David C. also attended the high school, and later the Nelson Business College at Cincinnati, Ohio. He continued to live with his parents until his marriage, then for a period of ten years rented and farmed land. Then he purchased of his father 213 acres, on time payments, and as the tract was heavily timbered it was necessary to make a clearing before he could erect a home. He sold off 130 acres, of which he had cleared all but sixteen acres. He has always followed general farming and has been very successful; he is progressive and public spirited, and by employing modern and approved methods in his work has met with exceptional results. In politics, he is a Republican and for fifteen years serve d as township trustee. He has been president of the school board for the past five years.

    October 10, 1875, Mr. Meeks was united in marriage with Miss Lydia McGalliard, a daughter of Isaac and Mercy (Fuller) McGalliard, and their children are as follows: Cora F., who died at three years; Earl A., who married Orma Haulman and has a son, Lloyd ; Venna Pearl, wife of H. A. Smith, by whom she has a daughter, Madge Aileen; Riley O., a landscape gardener at Columbus; Forrest D.; and Ruby C. Religiously, the family belongs to the Baptist Church.

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