David C. Meeks, trustee of Lost Creek township and a prominent farmer, was born on the 13th of January, 1851, in the locality which is still his home, his parents being David and Eliza (Knight) Meeks. The father was a native of Pennsylvania and during his boyhood came to Ohio, where he pur-chased the old homestead for a dollar and a quarter per acre. In Lost Creek township he married Eliza, daughter of David Knight, and for sixty-one years they traveled life's journey together, making their home in Lost Creek township through the entire period, with the exception of two years spent in Troy and ten years in Urbana, in order that their children might have better educational privileges. The father erected the residence upon the old homestead about 1840, making the brick on the farm. In his early life he cut cord-wood for twelve and a half cents per cord, thus making fifty cents a day, all of which had to go in rent for his land, but as the result of his industry he was enabled to secure a clear title to the farm and to add to his possessions from time to time until he became one of the substantial farmers of the community. He had two brothers, Jesse and Eli, who settled in the same locality, and his father, Bazil Meeks, also made a home on the same section, while Dr. J. S. Meeks located in Troy. When forty years of age the father became blind and never recovered his. sight, although he lived to be eighty- three years of age. David Meeks also became blind seven years previous to his death, but his mental faculties remained unimpaired to the last. He died January 5, 1896, at the age of ninety years, his birth having occurred in 1806, and his wife passed away March 28, 1897, in her eighty-sixth year. They had a family of nine children, four of whom died in childhood, while five reached years of maturity, and three are now living, namely: Mrs. R. D. Evans, assistant matron of the Ohio penitentiary, at Columbus; W. R., a merchant of Urbana; and David C. One sister, Diana, became the wife of M. S. Ruthenberg, of Cincinnati, and died at the age of forty-eight years. One brother, Johnson K., was drowned in the Miami river at Troy, when about forty-five years of age. Eli Meeks removed to Indiana and David C. Meeks, the subject of this review, now owns a part of his old farm.

The father of our subject was a Whig in early life, but joined the Republican party on its organization. He prospered in his business affairs and became the owner of four hundred and twenty- seven acres of land in Miami county and one hundred and eighty-four acres in Champaign county. He also invested in a quarter-section of coal land and laid out an addition to the village of McCuneville, Perry county. In his business dealings he was extremely prosperous in early life, but afterward lost much of his money, losing fifteen hundred dollars in the pike and also all that he had invested in the hydraulic canal. In his religious faith he was a Baptist, although he did not become a member of the church until within three years of his death. He was always a close Bible student and was well informed on all scriptural matters.

David Corbly Meeks, whose name introduces this review, spent his boyhood days on the old home farm, save for two years passed in Troy. At the age of five he entered the Troy schools, where he pursued his studies for two years. Later he was a student in the high school at that place and in Nelson's Commercial College, at Cincinnati, from 1871 until 1873. He then returned to the old farm, rented the property and has since carried on agricultural pursuits. About 1885 he purchased his present farm, comprising eighty-two and a half acres, of which he has cleared sixty acres, transforming the tract into richly cultivated fields, from which he derives a good income.

On the 10th of October, 1875, Mr. Meeks was married to Miss Lida McGalliard, a daughter of Isaac McGalliard, of Lost Creek township. Their children are Cory F., who died at the age of three years; Earl, Venna, Riley, Forest and Ruby. The family is one of prominence in the community and the Meeks household is noted for its hospitality. In his political views Mr. Meeks is a Republican and frequently attends the conventions of his party. For seven years he served as one of the township trustees, discharging his duty with promptness and fidelity, and in the spring of 1900 was re- elected for a three-year term. In religious faith he is a Baptist and in the church in Casstown, in which he holds membership, he is serving as deacon. His entire life has been passed in Miami county and all who know him esteem him for his sterling worth.