The Meredith Family of Morrow County, Ohio

JOHN MEREDITH, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Chesterville; was born Dec. 1, 1804, in Baltimore, Md.; his father, William, was born in England, and came to Baltimore when 29 years old; his mother, Mary Farmer, was also born in England, and came to America about the same time. They were married in Baltimore, and lived there about three years, going from there to Belmont Co., Ohio, and one rear later came to Licking Co., where they bought 100 acres of land,

, which they partly cleared, and in 1814 sold the same for $700, and bought 100 acres in Chester Tp., of Miller & May, where they settled and lived until death. They possessed 150 acres at their death, which became the property of their ten children — John, Nancy, William, James, Thomas, Mary, Sarah, Charles, Robert and Betsy. Mr. Meredith was married in 1829, to Jane, a daughter of John D. and Lena (Davis) Thomas; her parents were born in Wales, and came to Pennsylvania — the father when 17 and the mother when 14. They married in Pennsylvania, and came to Licking Co., this State, in 1809 or 1810, where they rented for about ten years, and came then to Morrow Co. and purchased the 100 acres now owned by Isaac Bowen. The father here died at the age of sixty-two. They had ten children— (infant, deceased), Jane, David, Daniel, Mary, John, Zachariah, Ann, Eliza and Benjamin. Her father was a Baptist minister for over twenty years, of which denomination her mother was a long and faithful member. Mrs. Meredith was born in 1808, in Pennsylvania; she had but little schooling; when they began farming, Mr. Meredith turned the soil with the wooden moldboard, and was perhaps hardly contented to give it up for the more modern improvement; in 1854 he began raising short-horned Durham cattle, and has continued the same ever since, and has been one of the most successful stock-breeders of the State; he has raised several cows which he has sold for $200 each; this is the highest price ever paid for any cow in the county. Perhaps no one is more attentive to his stock than he. This strict attention has won for him praiseworthy success. They have had three children — (infant, deceased), Mary, died when eleven years old; Zachariah, born 1835, and worked at home with his father until he married which was in 1865, to Nancy L. Martin. They are now living in Johnson Co., Kansas, where he has been in the hardware business, and was one term in the State Legislature of Kansas; while here he was captain of Company F., 136 O. N. G., and was called out. Mr. and Mrs. Meredith have been members of the Old School Baptist church for many years, in which they have taken great comfort. He votes the Democratic ticket.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

THOMAS MEREDITH, farmer; P. O., Cardington; is a brother of John Meredith, of Chester Tp., and was born Nov. 30, 1813, in Licking Co., Ohio; his younger days were spent partly in the old log cabin, and partly on the farm. He was married in 1835, to Hannah, daughter of William and Mary Evans; her parents were born in Wales, and came to Chester Tp., this county, at an early day, and while there had quite a family of children; Eliza, May and Hannah only survive. Mrs. Meredith was born in 1816, in Knox Co.; they settled, after marriage, on his father’s farm, and remained there five years, and then bought 100 acres, which is a part of the present farm, and built a log cabin thereon, and began clearing away the forest; he was prosperous, and has added to his purchase until he is in possession of 680 acres of well-improved land, which is the results of their own labors; he began early to deal in stock, and by this means he has obtained his fortune; he bought stock on commission for several years for Dr. Sylvester, Jacob Guriy and Smith Thomas; he afterwards purchased and sold for himself; he has been Township Trustee, and is now serving in the same capacity. His amiable wife is a member of the New School Baptist Church. Their union has given them nine children, six of whom are living— May A., married Minor Herrod, living in Logan Co. this State; Louisa, married L. Kelly; Priscilla, married Marcus Griffith, now in Moberly, Mo. and is rail-reading; Benjamin, merchant in Marengo; James, married Retha Brown, and lives with his father; Emma, married John

Vroom, artist at Moberly, Mo.; three deceased, Elizabeth, William M. and an infant unnamed. He has always been identified with the Democratic party.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JAMES MEREDITH, was born Aug. 12, 1811, in Licking Co., Ohio; his school advantages were limited to those of the log-cabin school house; during his early life his time was occupied at home, assisting in clearing and other duties pertaining to the frontier settler’s home. He took to himself a wife Nov.

13, 1833; she was Rachel, the daughter of Henry and Mary (Thomas) George, who were natives of Wales, and found a home in Pennsylvania when young. After marriage they emigrated to Ohio, he on foot and she on horse-back, bringing a feather bed the whole distance. They had nine children; the mother died in 1829. Mrs. Meredith was born May

14, 1814, in Chester Tp. After marriage, Mr.

and Mrs. Meredith settled on their present farm, containing now about 124 acres, passing through the hardships that only those of pioneer days comprehend. Mr. Meredith cast his first vote for Jackson, with a view to supporting Jacksonian principles, still belongs to the Democratic party. He has been Township Trustee, and both he and his wife are members of the Baptist church. Three children have been born to them: William, Aug. 13,

1834; Henry G., June 1, 1837, and Mary, March 13, 1843. Henry G. was married March 7, 1867, to Minerva Ralston, who was born in June, 1849; they had five children, as follows: Addie, born May 30, 1868; Bryant,

'12 mother died Jan. 29, 1878. H. G. Meredith enlisted in Co. G., 20 O. Y. I., and re-enlisted in Co. C., 15 O. V. I.; he passed through many campaigns and hard-fought battles; was taken prisoner at Stone River, and confined in Castle Lightning and Libby Prison; in the latter place he was wounded by a piece of timber falling on him and breaking both hips while asleep, rendering him unable to move for two months; his term of service lasted for four years and thirteen days. Mrs. Jennett Layton, a sister of Mrs. James Meredith, makes her home with the latter. She was married in 1835 to Thomas Maxwell, and had seven children; he died Sept, 3,1852; she was again married to Joseph Layton; he died in 1857; by him she had one child.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ROBERT MEREDITH, farmer; P. O., Chesterville; was born June 2, 1823; in what is now Morrow Co., he attended school some during his younger days and worked on the farm. He was married in 1846 to Jane, laughter of Walter and Elizabeth (Pugh) Williams; her parents were natives of Wales, and had six children — Walter, David, William, Elizabeth, Mary A., Jane; her parents are members of the Baptist Church. Robert’s wife died in Feb., 1872; he was again married to Sarah J., daughter of John and Jane (Talbet) Blakely; her parents were natives of Loudoun Co., Virginia, and emigrated to Belmont Co., Ohio, in 1823, and in 1836 came to this county, settling near Mt. Gilead; they there bought 160 acres of land of Albert Nickols, and farmer the same until his death; ihe mother in 1841 and the father April 16, 187! the result of the union was six children — Ruth, Letitia, Sarah J., Nancy, Mary and Susan. Mrs. Meredith was born in 182‘J, and was married to Rev. D. Jenkins, who died Dec., 1873, leaving the testimony of having done a great work. Mr. Meredith rented for three years, and then bought seventy-three acres of Henderson Williams,- and improved the same; in the meantime he added forty acres; he sold the same in 1867, and bought 182 acres of B. Shipley, in this township, which he still owns; it is well watered by spring and stream; is finely adapted to stock-raising; he makes a specialty of sheep. It is, perhaps, among the finest farms in the county. His wife owns a house and lot, together with twenty-two acres adjoining town. They reside in this dwelling He rents his farm to John E. George, whom he raised. He has been Township Trustee two terms. He and wife are members of the Baptist church at this place. Honesty and uprightness are two great characteristics with him.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.