Meharry - Alexander
Source: Saturday, February 25, 1899 Location: Omaha, Nebraska Paper: Afro-American Sentinel
The Meharry family, for whom this college was named, are the descendants of Alexander and Jane Meharry who were of Scotch-Irish ancestry. They were married in Cavan County, Ireland in the Spring of 1794 and soon after sailed for New York, where they arrived in safety after a voyage of 13 weeks. They resided in Pennsylvania until 1798, when they fitted up a family flatboat and floated down the Ohio River landing at Manchester, Adams County, Ohio. They purchased a farm in the dense forest and at once proceeded to clear the ground and make for themselves a comfortable home. While returning home from a camp-meeting in 1813 Alexander Meharry was struck by a falling tree and instantly killed.
After this sad bereavement, the management of the farm devolved upon the mother, who was a woman of great energy and ability. Only 30 acres had been cleared and from the products of this small farm she contrived to support a family of 8 children. She was an earnest Christian and after the death of her husband, continued family prayers night and morning. Her children, reared under these influences, all became honored and useful citizens.
Hugh, Jesse, David and Samuel MeHarry moved to Tippecanoe County, Indiana where they bought land for $1.25 per acre and in the course of time by industry and economy, they accumulated moderate fortunes, a considerable portion of which was devoted to religious and philanthropic purposess.
Rev. Alexander Meharry ws for many years an earnest and successful minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and also served as Presiding Elder and financial agent of Ohio Wesleyan Univeristy.
He selected the site upon which the Meharry Medical COllege now stands but before he could execut ehis plans for promoting the work of the college he was called from his labor to his reward. After his death his widow, Mrs. Eliza Meharry, not only carried out his benevolent purposes, but also contributed of her private means toward carrying on the work.
All of the five brothers above mentioned aided in the work of establishing and supporting the institution which bears their honored name. Samuel Meharry, the last surviving brother died at Lafayette, Ind on the 30tth of last March, in the 88th year of his age. He was honored and loved by all who knew him and in his last will he did not forget Meharry Medical College, which had from the time it was established, been the subject of his sympathy, prayers and benefactions. - typed by kbz