McMaken - Theodore
Source: H. W. Beckwith Montgomery County, Indiana History
(Chicago: HH Hill, 1881) p 234
McMECHAN, Theodore, dentist, Crawfordsville, was born in
Tippecanoe County, Dec 19, 1841 and is the son of Dr. JG
McMechan, who appears in Franklin Twp of this
work. Dr. McMechan, the subject of this sketch, had the
advantage of the common school and also attended Wabash
College several terms. After he began life he worked in
the drug business at painting and in a drygoods store. In
1861 he enlisted in Co I 11th Ind Vols for 3 months.
After coming home from the war he studied dentistry in
Crawfordsville awhile, then clerked two years in a
wholesale drygoods store in Leavenworth, KS.
He then returned to Crawfordsville, where he finished the study of
dentistry, and in 1865 began practicing in Muncie,
Delaware County, remaining there two years. Since then he has
resided in Crawfordsville, where he has successfully
practiced his profession and established a high
reputation among his fellow citizens. He was married June
2, 1870 to Miss Helen C. EATON. They have one child,
Maud, b. 1872.
Dr. McMechan is a member of the Grand Army of
the Republic, The Knights of Pythias and in politics is a
staunch Repubulican. He was appointed Deputy city clerk
and served 1 1/2 years and in May 1876 was elected to
that office which he held two years. We close this brief
memoir with the following resolution and comment
published in the Crawfordsville "Journal" Sept 4, 1880:
"Next Monday Theodore McMechan who has filled the office
of city clerk during the past 6 years, will retire and
give place to his successor, WT MILLER. In his retirement
the city will lose a faithful, efficient and painstaking
officer. We believe it is the universal verdict that he
has performed the duties of his position, which were
multifarious and complex in their character, faithfully
and well and to the satisfaction of all with whom he came
in business contact. He leaves the office in good shape
and will turn over the books to his successor as neat as
he received them from the hands of TD BROWN. As a
testimonial of the esteem in which he is held by the city
council, that body, on last Monday evening adopted the
following resolution and ordered it spread on the
records: 'Whereas the term of office for which Theodore
McMechan was elected is about to expire, and the mayor
and common council recognizing and feeling the loss the
city will sustain in losing from her clerk's desk and
counsel so efficient an officer; therefore be it resolved
that we tender to him our sincere thanks for the manner
in which he has conducted the business of the office, and
gladly award him the meed (sic) of praise justly due to
an efficient officer, and sincerely trust that prosperity
may attend him in all after duties of life. " On his
retirement to the shades of private life, Dr. McMechan
will resume the practice of dentistry, in which
profession he has proven himself to be as proficient as
he has proved himself in the temporary avocation of city
clerk."
==============
Source: 1878 Montgomery County, Indiana Atlas p 54
McMECHAN, Theo; Crawfordsville, City Clerk.