MEEKER, Theodore Marston - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Hillsboro, Oct 15 - Theodore Meeker, one of the most prominent farmers of Fountain County was burned to death and his body consumed in a fire at the Meeker farm, 5 miles west of Newtown, between 3 and 4 this morning. A large dairy barn, where a number of cows and calves were kept, was entirely consumed and 11 cows were killed. Mr. Meeker had been in the habit of arising early in the morning and going to this barn to get cobs with which to start the morning fire. It is the supposition of the family that the aged man, who was about 60 years old, had gone to the barn, and had fallen, letting the lantern which he carried fall and ignite some hay. Mr. Meeker had been suffering from an illness which, when it came upon him, caused him to fall in a faint,and he probably had one of these spells when he reached the barn. When the family was aroused by neighbors who had noticed the flames, the barn was in flames and the aged man was forgotten in the excitement until the fire was over, when a search revealed the charred bones in the ashes. Mr. Meeker is survived by his widow and three sons. One of these sons is Jacaob Meeker, of St. Louis, recently nominated by the Republicans for congress. The man who met such a tragic death this morning was well known throughout the county and was perhaps the leading farmer in this community. He was a member of the township advisory board and a few years ago was the Republic candidate for representative from Fountain County. He was chairman of the Farmers' Institute for a number of years and was a trustee of Miriam College. He was a member of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company of Fountain and Montgomery Counties.

... Here Thursday Afternoon ... Mr. Meeker who met a horrible death in the manner described above, was in Crawfordsville Thursday afternoon and evening. He transacted business and met a number of friends during the afternoon. His sudden and tragic death came as a shock to these friends who had talked with the well known man only a few hours before learning of the tragedy.   -- kbz