Randolph  County,  Indiana

Amos  F. Meeks


            It is a pleasure to anyone, whether a farmer or not, to look over a well improved and finely kept landed estate like that of Amos F. Meeks, of Monroe township, Randolph county, for he is a man who believes in keeping abreast of the times, in adopting, so far as practicable, the most approved twentieth century methods in general farming and stock raising. As a result of his long years of husbandry here he has about solved the question of scientific farming as we know and understand it today. He has always stood for progressiveness, not only in material things, but political, educational and moral matters, being always an advocate of wholesome living both in private and public life, and while laboring for his individual advancement he has never been found neglectful of his duties to his neighbors and the general public.
            Mr. Meeks was born in Delaware county, Indiana, December 9, 1856. He is a son of Amos and Levina (Thomas) Meeks, and is one of a large family of seventeen children, only four of whom survive at this writing, namely: Jacob, who is farming near Parker; Matilda married Henry Wright, a farmer of near Paris, Illinois, and they have ten children; Isadore married John C. Huffman, a farmer of Delaware county, Indiana, and they have two sons; Amos F., of this sketch.
            Amos Meeks, father of the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, was born in Virginia where he grew to manhood and received his education in the schools of the early days. His father lived and died in the Old Dominion. Amos Meeks and Levina Thomas were married in Virginia, she being from an old family of that state also, and there she spent her girlhood and received a similar education to that of her husband. He was a great student in his early life and prepared himself for a teacher which profession he followed successfully for a number of years. He finally brought his wife to Delaware county, Indiana, and later moved just across the line to Randolph county where his son, Amos F., now resides, his farm lying partly in each county, and here he became a substantial general farmer and stock raiser and spent the rest of his life, dying in 1877. Our subject who has always followed farming, has kept the home place well improved and well tilled and is carrying on general agricultural pursuits and stock raising successfully. He grew to manhood on the farm and received a common school education.
            Mr. Meeks was married June 10, 1880, to Flora Minton, a lady of many commendable attributes of head and heart, who has been of great assistance to her husband in his life work, for she possesses rare business judgment and is talented along many lines, highly educated and keeps fully abreast of the times in all current matters. She is a wide reader of the world's best literature and is an excellent conversationalist. She often appears at public functions, and is a lecturer for Purdue, doing farmer's institute work, and has spoken at DePauw University and before other learned bodies, her addresses always being entertaining and instructive, forcefully and gracefully delivered, and her themes always vital and timely. She is a daughter of Harley C. Minton, a popular commercial traveler, and whose family consisted of but two daughters, Mrs. Flora Meeks, and Mrs. C. H. Mason, of Columbus, Ohio.
            The union of Mr. and Mrs. Meeks has been blessed by the birth of one child, Flora Ethel Meeks, born May 21, 1891. She is a young lady of culture, refinement and pleasing personality, a favorite with the best social circles wherever she is known. She was graduated from the Winchester High School, also DePauw University, Greencastle, Indiana, having made brilliant records in both for scholarship. She is at this writing teaching mathematics and English in Lincoln school, West Winchester, and is giving eminent satisfaction. Mrs. Meeks was reared in her native community and received excellent educational advantages, and she taught for a period of fifteen years in the schools of Randolph and Delaware counties with much success. She is now engaged in Purdue extension work-agricultural. Her great grandfather was a captain in the Revolutionary war, in the cavalry service and was a gallant fighter for the liberty of the colonists. He was a minister in the Methodist church and under his ministry the late Bishop McCabe was converted. Two uncles of Mrs. Meeks were soldiers in the Civil war.
Past and Present of Randolph County, Indiana, 1914.
Contributed by Gina Richardson

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