Biographies and Obituaries
In loving memory
Alfred Davis Meade
Indiana was not lacking in loyalty during the dark days of the Rebellion, when the ship of state was almost stranded on the rocks of the disunion, but contributed her full quota of brave, valiant men to assist in preserving the integrity of the government, prominent among them was the late Alfred Davis Meade, of Daviess County, Indiana. He was loyal to his country in the hour of peril and extremity, and this was demonstrated on many bloody battlegrounds. He was its stanch supporter in the times of peace, and at the time of his death there were few soldiers in Daviess County as widely and favorably known and none would boast of a more honorable record. The ranks to the noble organization to which he belonged, in the days of his youth, are fast being decimated by the one indivisible foe, and it is fitting that in every publication of this kind special tribute be paid to those who served during the greatest civil war known in history.
Alfred Davis Meade was the son of William and Delilah (Hayes) Meade, both of who were natives of Maryland and early settlers in Washington Township, Daviess County, Indiana. They were ardent members of the Christian Church. Delilah (Hayes) Meade died early in life, and after her death her husband remarried. Two children were born to the first marriage, Alfred D. and Joseph, the latter of whom now lives retired in Washington, Indiana. The half brothers of Alfred Davis Meade are: William, Ruso, Emanuel and Sentony. The late Alfred Davis Meade had a very limited education, consisting of a few months spent in township schools. He improved his opportunities by home study and was a well-informed man. After the Civil War, he returned to his father's farm and helped to operate it for some time. Mr. Meade was married on September 12th, 1865 to Sarah Shaw, who was born on July 12th, 1845 and died March 28th, 1879. Sarah Shaw was the daughter of Piney Shaw, an early settler of Barr Township.
After the death of his first wife, Mr. Meade married Mary E. White. She was born on August 17th, 1843 in Dearborn County, Indiana, and is the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Bonham) White. They both died when Mrs. Meade was a very small child, and she remembers nothing of them.
In 1877, Mr. Meade purchased a hundred and thirty acres of land in Harrison Township, Daviess County, Indiana, and later added eighty acres of more land to this farm. He lived upon this farm happily through out his life and farmed until his death. His widow, Mrs. Mary E. (White) Meade, and a son William, still live upon this place. Alfred Davis Meade belonged to the Grand Army of the Republic, and to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The Meade family are all members of the Christian Church. By his first marriage six children were born to Alfred Davis Meade: James B. who was born on July 10th, 1866 and is a farmer in Harrison Township; Minnie, who was born December 26th, 1867, and burned to death (house fire I wonder?) at the age of twenty eight; Giles W., who was born June 19th, 1871 and died young, as did Charles E. who was born on April 19th, 1873; Edward E. who was born January 9th, 1875 and is a farmer in Rieve Township; and Frank S. who was born July 15th, 1878 and lives at Bicknell, Indiana. By the second marriage four children were born: Sarah E. who was born on July 27th, 1880 and died in infancy; Annie R. who was born on January 24th, 1882 and married Edward Johnson, and they live in Portland, Oregon with two children, Marie and Alfred; William A. who was born on May 7th, 1885 and lives on the farm with Mrs. Meade; Martin l. who was born on March 18th, 1888 and married to Grace Cummings and they live in Martin County and have two children, Milton who was born on March 4th, 1911, and Lucile who was born on January 11th 1913.
Alfred Davis Meade lived a life of rare usefulness in the community where he was an active farmer for many years. He was a stanch Republican and was highly respected by the citizens of Daviess County, and was well known through out the County.
Contributed by: Donna Tauber