Charles A & Helen Meeks Hindman

HINDMAN MEEKS PALMER

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 9/22/2010 at 16:11:13

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

Charles A and Helen Meeks Hindman
By Phyllis A Hindman

Charter Meeks was born in Sussex, England, near Ely, England, on August 11, 1865. He was the son of William and Mary Palmer Meeks. William Meeks was a wheelwright, an old fashion blacksmith. Charter was a painter and decorator; he had learned his trade in London, England. He came to the United States in 1887. After visiting in Buffalo, New York, with his brother, Joe and family, he came to Blyburg, Nebraska, which is now referred to as Dakota City, and made a temporary home with his Uncle George and Aunt Sarah Palmer. He came to the Sioux City area by crossing the Missouri River by ferry boat or ice boat and settled here in 1880. He was united in marriage to Catherine Bell Altemus on November 1, 1892. She was the daughter of William and Susan Altemus of Victondale, Pennsylvania. She had come to this area to keep house for her brother, Robert Altemus, who worked for the Spalding Avery Lumber Company. She was also a seamstress, working from her home.

A daughter, Helen, was born to Charter and Catherine on December 30, 1895. Their first residence was located at 14th and Geneva Street; this house is still standing. In 1898 the family moved to 125 South Myrtle. Helen attended Central High School, graduating in 1915, and from Morningside College, in 1919. She then taught school in Hornick, Iowa, South Sioux City, Nebraska and the Sioux City Public Schools. She was married to Charles A Hindman of Hornick on July 25, 1923. They farmed at Hornick until February 1, 1929. Two of their children were born to them while they lived on the farm., Charles M Hindman, December 30, 1924, and Kathryn Margene Hindman, April 30, 1927. They were flooded out several times before they moved to Sioux City in 1929. Charles was employed by T S Martins from then until 1937. Three more children were now included in their family. Margaret Lorene Hindman, March 7, 1929, Donald E Hindman March 9, 1932 and Barbara Rae Hindman May 14, 1933. Charles was employed by the United States Federal Government from 1937 until 1965. He passed away March 1976.

Four of this couple’s children have moved from this area: Charles M Hindman joined the Navy in 1941, he married Betty Gill, they have two children, William C Hindman, October 20, 1949, and Barbara H Hindman, February 14, 1952 and two grandchildren. They now reside at Lake Elsinore, California. Kathryn Margene Hindman married Milford ‘Curly’ Paul. They have two daughters, Susan Paul, May 25, 1948, and Sandra Paul, August 21, 1950, and three grandchildren. Milford was employed here for many years for Roberts Dairy. They now live at Longville, Minnesota. Margaret Loren Hindman married William L Kersey; he was a barber here before moving to Tucson, Arizona. They have two children: Ann Marie Kersey, December 30, 1952 and Darrell L Kersey, February 11, 1956 and three grandchildren. Mr Kersey is deceased. Barbara Rae married William Simet. They have four children: Richard Simet, November 10, 1954, Karen Simet, July 2, 1957, Charles Simet, October 6, 1960 and William Simet, August 11, 1972, and three grandchildren. They live in Omaha, Nebraska.

The only family members to remain here is Donald E Hindman; he married Phyllis A Newman from Merrill, Iowa. Don has worked in the optical business since 1950, both before and after he returned from the service. They have two sons, Steve A Hindman, February 20, 1958, and Scott A Hindman, January 30, 1961. Both of the boys attended Immaculate Conception Grade School, Heelan High School and graduated from Briar Cliff College. Steve married Mary Ann Kinney, from Waterloo; they have a daughter, Stephanie Joy, and live at Marshalltown, Iowa. Scott married Jeannie Beacom from Sioux City and now lives at Iowa City, Iowa.

Helen resides here in Sioux City. Besides her five children, she as twelve grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren and one adopted great grandchild.