Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 843
HARRISON D. MEECH

Harrison D. MEECH, a farmer of section 31, Calhoun Township, arrived in Harrison County with his parents, September 12, 1855, and settled in Calhoun Township when his father, William S. MEECH, purchased the I. G. GATES store property and engaged in the mercantile business, continuing in the same a short time, and then took his brother, Erastus W., in as a partner, when the firm was known as W.S. & E. W. MEECH. This partnerhsip continued until 1858, when the stock was sold to George THORPE, and moved to Jeddo. In 1863 W.S. MEECH operated a store, and in the spring of 1864 H. D. MEECH was taken in as a partner, and this firm continued to do business until 1874, when they went out of trade, submitting to the powers that be (the building of new railroad towns and other causes.)

William S. MEECH, the father of our subejct, was born in Hinesburgh, VT, November 19, 1814, and was the son of Erastus and Annis (LOCKWOOD) MEECH, and was of Welsh descent. Erastus was formerly a farmer near Hinesburgh, but later conducted a hotel at Cambridge, VT, which he sold to his son, William S., in 1842, and he operated it four years, then moved to St. Alban's Bay, VT, now famous as a summer resort, and was engaged in the hotel, stage and livery business about seven years. He was next found operating a hotel for two years, known as the St. Lawrence Exchange, at Potsdam, St. Lawrence County, and then spent several years traveling through Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa, looking for a location, and finally selected Calhoun. In the spring of 1859, he, with Mrs. MEECH, fitted out three yoke of oxen and started for Pike's Peak (which at that time was all aglow with gold excitement), loading their wagon with groceries and provisions. After getting part way across the plains, they met scores and hundreds returning from that region, who gave anything but a flattering account of that much talked of land, and Mr. MEECH would have returned from Ft. Kearney but his good wife, full of brave and daring disposition, said: "No, let us go forward, and, if we are robbed, someone will have a good time eating up our provisions." They returned that autumn, and in the spring of 1860 they started out on a similar expedition; and in the spring of 1861 his son, Harrison D., went with him and drove four yoke of oxen, covering a distance of over sixteen hundred miles. His father followed the same business in 1862, and in 1863 Harrison D. followed freighting.

The father of our subejct, W. S. MEECH, died December 29, 1888. His wife's maiden name was Sylvia M. DEAN, and by this marriage there were two children�Helen F., now Mrs. R. G. FAIRCHILDS, of Monona County, Iowa, and H.D., our subject, who was born in Cambridge, VT, June 4, 1843, and with his father, remained in hotel life, attending a select school in St. Alban's Bay, and after coming to Harrison County, Iowa, acquired a good business education, having been pressed into the harness when twelve years of age. He had the care of the farm, while his father was running the store, and when eighteen years of age made his first trip across the plains, all of which made his a varied business career.

He was married October 25, 1864, to Maggie ELLIS, a native of Virginia, and the daughter of William and Eliza S. ELLIS. She is the fourth of a family of five children, and was born July 2, 1842. By this marriage union two children were born�Frank E., October 13, 1866; and Helen F., May 31, 1870, both at home.

Mr. MEECH and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which he has belonged twenty-four years.

Politically our subject is a believer in the general principles of the Democratic party, but on account of their liquor plank he has left their platform and votes with the Republicans.

Mr. MEECH now owns five hundred and fifty-nine acres of land, one-third of which is under the plow, twenty acres in first-class timber, and the balance in pasture land. The place is provided with a substantial farmhouse.

Frank E., son of our subject, attended the district schools in Calhoun Township, Missouri Valley High School, and took a six years; course at Simpson College, at Indianola, Iowa, graduating June 21, 1888, as a classic. He has since taken the post graduate couse, and the degree of A.M. was conferred upon him in June 1891.

Helen F., only daughter of our subject, graduated from Missouri Valley High School, attended the Woodbine Normal, attended college at Decaur, IL, and also a musical college one year, and has taught at Little Siouix and other places. She is now taking a musical course at Omaha and also follows teaching music.

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