McMechan (Dr) James G
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 9 June 1899
Wednesday night at 10:30 o’clock at his home on West Pike Street occurred the death of Dr. James G. McMechan, aged 91 years. His death was due to the infirmities of old age. The funeral will take place this afternoon at 4 o’clock at the First Presbyterian Church, the services to be conducted by Dr. Nave. The funeral will be under the auspices of the Masonic fraternity.
J. G. McMechan, M. D., was a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, his parents, John and Sarah (Gavin) McMechan, being residents of that city at the date of his birth, July 24, 1808. His mother was a native of Virginia, his father of Irish birth, but was brought to this country by his parents while very young. The doctor received his primary education at the district school and afterward spent two years at Oxford, Ohio. In 1840 he began the practice of medicine and studied with Dr. Winton, of Crawfordsville, afterward attending lectures at Louisville, Kentucky, and in 1852 graduated at Chicago. He was engaged in the profession for over forty years, and with the exception of four years spent at Dayton, Tippecanoe County, was in Montgomery County all the time. In 1870 he removed to Darlington and engaged in his professional duties, his practice extending over a wide scope of territory. In 1833 he married, in Crawfordsville, Miss Eliza Winton, sister of Dr. Winton, his preceptor in medicine, the ceremony being performed by the Rev. Mr. Thompson. The union resulted in a family of four children: Mrs. M. D. White, Theodore, Mrs. Eva Bless, and Mrs. Marcella Grayson. The doctor helped erect the first college building in Crawfordsville, and was intimately connected with the early history of this city, having served in the city council. He was a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, and all his life was connected with the Presbyterian Church. In politics he was a Republican, and during the war served as surgeon, being present at the battles of Shiloh and Vicksburg. For several years past he resided in this city.
Dr. McMechan’s life was a long and useful one and in the practice of his great profession here in the early days he was a man whose place in the community was indispensable. - thanks so very much to S" for all the work on the obits for this site :)
Source: Indianapolis (Marion County, Indiana) Journal 10 June 1899 p 5
Crawfordsville, Ind, June 9 – The funeral of Dr. JG McMechan was held this afternoon at the First Presbyterian Church, Dr. Nave officiating. The burial services were under the auspices of the Masons. Dr. McMechan was born July 24, 1808 at Cincinnati. He came to this city before 1840 and studied medicine. He has resided in the county ever since, except a year when he lived at Dayton, Tippecanoe County. He was an army surgeon. In 1833 he married Miss Eliza Winton who died a few years ago. Three children survive: Mrs. MD White, Mrs. Marcella Grayson and Mrs. Eva Bless. - kbz
Source: Crawfordsville Review 27 May 1899 p 10
Dr. JG McMechan, the aged father of Mrs. MD White is lying at the point of death at the home of his daughter on West Pike Street. - kz
Source: Crawfordsville Review 10 June 1899 p 1
Dr. JG McMechan died Wednesday night at the home of his son-in-law, Hon. Michael D. White, after a long confinement from the effects of a paralytic stroke. Dr. McMechan was perhaps the oldest citizen of Montgomery County, having been a practicing physician in the county for a period of 58 years, with the exception of four years when he was located at Dayton in Tippecanoe County. Most of his professional career was spent at Darlington, until he became too old to do the hard work connected with the profession. He has been a resident of Crawfordsville for a long period of years and since the death of his wife has made his home with his daughter, Mrs. MD White on West Pike Street where his death occurred. He was a staunch and loyal member of the First Presbyterian Church of this city and for 50 years has been an elder in the Presbyterian Church and always ready to give of time and means to further the interest of the cause, let it be at home or abroad. He was a member of the Masonic Order and has been for over 60 years, which makes him no doubt the oldest Mason in the county. On account of the burning of the early records of the Masonic Lodge the exact date of his Masonic birth cannot be given. Dr. McMechan was born at Cincinnati, Ohio July 24, 1808. His mother was a Virginian by birth and father was born in Ireland but came over to this country with his parents while a small child. The deceased received his education in such common schools as the country afforded 80 years ago and later in life attended the Academy at Oxford, Ohio. He studied medicine in the office of Dr. Winton, Crawfordsville and in 1838 was married to Miss Eliza Winton, sister of his preceptor. He began the practice of his profession in 1840. He later took a course of lectures at the University of Kentucky and still later, in 1852 he graduated from the Medical College at Chicago. He was a practitioner in this city for some years and was among the first councilmen of the infant city. He entered the service of the US as a surgeon, during the civil war and was in the battles of Shiloh and Forts Donelson and Henry. In 1870 he removed to Darlington where he remained for a long time. Dr. McMechan was the father of five children, Laura E, the wife of Hon. MD White of this city. Theodore, whose death occurred but a short time ago, and a well known citizen of Crawfordsville, Eva, now Mrs. Bless of Toledo, Ohio. Mrs. Marcella Grayson of Crawfordsville and Charles W who has just returned from serving the US in the Island of Cuba and is sick at a fort in Alabama, and unable to be present at his father’s funeral. The funeral occurred Friday afternoon at 4 o’clock under the auspices of the Masonic fraternity of which he was a lifelong member. Religious services were conducted by Rev. HL Nave at the First Presbyterian Church. - kbz