Eliza C. (Fuller) Meek's Estate - 1909-1911

When, great-great grandmother, Eliza C. (Fuller) Meek died on July 2, 1909, she left no will.  Of her seven children, five were living and named in the letters of administration as heirs, and son, David, was named as administrator. Two sons, William Oscar and Solomon predeceased their mother.  Also given were the addresses of the heirs, which was a good clue to further research.

From the estate papers,  quite a bit of information can be gleaned about her financial and personal life.  She still had a farm, or at least some interest in one, because somewhat less than half of the worth of the estate was due to the sale of oats, wheat, corn, hay and clover seed.  She also had money to loan - to her son, John Meek, $500 to finance his mortgage, and to E. E. Root and C.D. Hitt, $200, and to John Brown, $130.

Eliza must have been sickly at the end because a nurse was hired to care for her.  Mrs. Florence Conner was paid $8.50 for her services, and Mrs. Sherman Meek was also compensated $50 for care of the deceased during her last illness.

An interesting mystery to solve was indicated by one line in the debits of the estate.  A telegram was sent to Attica, Indiana concerning the death of Eliza.  Did she have a sibling or other relative who lived there?  Who was informed of Eliza's passing?

By 1911, the estate was settled with each heir receiving $200, with an additional $31.67 later and when a CD was cashed it, they also acquired another $18.91.  Not a huge amount, but a nice sum for 1911, considering her funeral cost much less than that.

 

Samuel and Eliza (Fuller) Meek, Great-Grandparents

Samuel and Eliza (Fuller) Meek were early settlers in Defiance County, coming from Columbiana County, Ohio. They have been designated into First Families of Defiance County, Ohio, having been in the county since about 1853.

 Samuel and his twin, David Cooper Meek, were born either December 31, 1823 or January 1, 1824, (depending on the source) in Columbiana County to James and Anna (Cooper) Meek. They were the first of the couple's fourteen children.  James Monroe was president and the Erie Canal from the Hudson River to Lake Erie had just opened.  Ohio was the frontier.  
Ten years later, Eliza Fuller was born on November 20, 1834, to Samuel H. Fuller and wife, Emily Camp. Eliza was born in either Morrow or Marion County, depending on the source, but the likelihood is that there were border changes between the counties.  They do share a common border.
The Fuller family came to Dekalb County, Indiana, parts of which are only a few miles from the area where Samuel Meek settled in Hicksville Township, Defiance County, in 1853.  Sam and Eliza were married in Dekalb County on May 12, 1855.

They first appear together in the 1860 census together with sons, James, 3, and David, 1.  Samuel had a brother who died in the Civil War named James and, of course, his twin brother was named David -those are possible explanations for the naming.  Farming in Hicksville township, Defiance County, Samuel had land worth $1600 and personal goods worth $200.

During the Civil War period, Samuel lost two brothers to the war, one who died in battle and one who died in Andersonville prison.  The third brother who served, Hiram, was highly decorated and returned home to also settle in Defiance County near his brother, Samuel.

Some time before the 1870 census, the first born son, James, died.  Their family in 1870, consisted of four sons: David, William Oscar, Hiram and Sherman.  Their only daughter, Emily Anna was born in 1871, and the last son, John Emerson Meek, in 1874.  (One son, Solomon, was deceased.)

In 1881, a land transfer was found where Samuel bought 80 acres from A. P. Edgerton, the premier developer of the area around Hicksville. I believe he sold the 58 acres he owned in Section 14 and bought the 80 acres in Section 13, as shown by a comparison between the plat maps of 1866 and 1890.  So he was doing well as a farmer. His sons and daughter married, and settled nearby.

In the 1900 census, it was revealed that Samuel could neither read nor write, but Eliza could and that was probably how he managed.  

Samuel Meek died on August 23, 1902 at the age of 78.  His obituary was found in a compilation of obituaries of Northwestern Ohio pioneers:

"OBITUARY
 Samuel Meek was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, Jan. 1, 1824, and departed this life Aug. 23, 1902, aged 78 years, 7 months and 23 days.  He and his twin brother, David Meek, who departed this life August 10, 1901, were the oldest of a family of 14 children, five of whom are still living.  He settled in this county in 1853, and May 17, 1855, was married to Eliza C. Fuller of Dekalb county, Ind.  To this union was born one daughter and seven sons.  
He joined the church of the United Brethern in Christ in 1870 and remained a faithful honored member until his death.  He was a man of the strictest integrity, and held in high esteem in the community where he lived.  His wife, daughter and four sons survive him.
Funeral services occurred from the U. B. church at Six Corners, Monday conducted by elder J. W. Lilly, assisted by Rev. M. R. Ballinger."

He was buried at Six Corners Cemetery, Hicksville Township, Defiance County, OH.  Eliza died on July 2, 1909 and was buried beside her husband.

The obituary for Eliza C. Fuller (Meek) was found in a collection of old obituaries, mostly from the Hicksville, Ohio,newspapers.  From Pioneers of Northwest Ohio, this undated article:
"MEEK
Eliza C. Fuller was born in Morrow County, Ohio, November 20, 1834.  In early life, with her parents, she removed to Dekalb county, Ind., where she was converted to the christian life and joined the M.E. church.  She was married to Samuel Meek, May 17, 1855, and with her husband, located on their farm one mile south of Six Corners, shortly after which she transferred her membership to the Six Corners U. B. church, where her membership was continued until her death, being a member of the church approximately thirty years.  This marriage was blessed with 8 children, 7 sons and 1 daughter.  Three sons and her husband preceded her in death, her husband dying about seven years ago, since when her home has been among her children.  For several years, she has been afflicted with paralysis and for the past six weeks, she has been almost entirely helpless.  For years she took pleasure in reading her Bible and hymn book.  She said she wanted all to meet her in heaven.  She passed away in death July 2, 1909, at the age of 74 years, 7 months, 12 days, leaving four sons, one daughter, two sisters, one brother, with other relatives and friends to mourn and follow. Funeral service was conduced from Six Corners church Sunday afternoon, Rev. J. F. Miller officiating." 

It is possible that one of the sons continued farming the home place, but by 1913, it was time for the estate to be settled.  At this point, I have not checked out the sale of the farm, but I did find a sale bill for the Samuel Meek farm goods.  Published in The Tribune, Hicksville, Ohio, on Thursday, January 30, 1913:

David Meek - Emily's Oldest Brother

The first son of Samuel and Eliza (Fuller) Meek, David was no doubt named after his father's twin brother of the same name.  Born on November 5, 1858, near Hicksville, David was enumerated in the census with his parents in 1860, 1870, and, at age 21, in 1880.

His obituary stated that he taught school for awhile, but eventually went back to his farming roots.  In the 1900 Federal Census, David was a boarder in the home of Isiah and Emma Miller with their two small children, Melvin and Milo. At 41, David was single and working as a farm laborer in Carryall Township, Paulding County, Ohio.

At some point, David purchased a cottage on Lake George in Fremont, Indiana.  I could not locate him in the 1910 census, but in 1920, he was boarding still in Carryall Township, Paulding County, Ohio, but now with Clyde and Gladys Strubing and their little son, Darrel.  David's was listed as having no occupation at the age of 61.

On the back of photo: "Uncle Dave's cottage on Lake George"

 

Again, I could not locate David in the 1930 census. David Meek never married and he lived his last days with his family.  In 1940, at the age of 82, he resided with Horace and Elsie Meek and Horace's brother, Clarence ("Sammy") on a farm north of Hicksville in Newville Township, DeKalb County, Indiana.  Horace and Clarence were the sons of David's younger brother, Sherman.

On May 13, 1941, David Meek died in the hospital in Hicksville, Ohio.  His obituary appeared in the Hicksville News-Tribune on May 15th:

"PARALYTIC STROKE IS FATAL TO DAVID MEEK
Was Born Near Six Corners and Was Lifelong Resident of This Neighborhood

David Meek, aged 82, passed away Tuesday morning at The Community Hospital where he had been taken May 9th after having suffered a paralytic stroke the day before at the home of his nephew, Horace Meek, about five miles north of Hicksville on the Spencerville road.

He was born November 5th, 1858, in Hicksville township,near Six Corners, a son of Samuel and Eliza Fuller Meek, pioneer residents of that neighborhood.  He grew to manhood and spent the greater part of his life in this community.

As a young man he taught school a short time, and followed farming until about twenty-five years ago when he retired and has since made his home at Lake George, near Fremont, Indiana, during the summer months.

Surviving him are a sister, Mrs. Emily Kline of Newville township; a brother, John Meek of Bryan; also several nieces and nephews. The remains are at the Perkins & Reeb funeral home, where funeral services will be held at 2:30 Thursday, Rev. J. H. Townsend of Frontier, Mich. assisted by Rev. Paul D. Chiles, officiating.  Burial at Six Corners cemetery."

(Mmmmm...Why Rev. Townsend of Michigan?  Relation?  Neighbor?) 

Emily Anna Meek Kline -

Emily Anna Meek was the only daughter of Samuel and Eliza (Fuller) Meek.  Born on October 25, 1871, she joined a family of five brothers - David, Solomon, William Oscar, Hiram and Sherman T.  She was the youngest child until the sixth and final sibling, another brother - John - was born in 1874. It would seem that Emily was named after both her grandmothers: Emily for her maternal grandmother Emily Camp Fuller and Anna for Anna Cooper Meek, her paternal grandmother.

Emily's father, Samuel was a farmer on a farm in Hicksville Township, Defiance County, Ohio.  Emily attended the Six Corners School, and several newspapers of the time named her as a champion of the spelling bees.  Her scrapbook, featured in this post, also included a number of Rewards of Merit.  Rewards of Merit were popular in the latter part of the 19th century and were awarded by teachers to students who showed outstanding academics, conduct and/ or attendance.

Often called "Emma", Emily Meek received Rewards of Merit that were signed, but not dated, from the following instructors: Rosa Hilbert, Andy Zuber, Etta Sensenbacher, Tildie Bercaw, Samuel Dalrymple, M. M. Hattery, Ella Butler, and M. R. Evritt.  If she went to school just eight years, as was common then, she would have received one every year.  Family lore is that Emily then taught in the Six Corners School for some years, but a recent source also recorded that she once taught at the Crary School in Milford Township.

From teacher's souvenir booklet

In the 1900 census, she was with her elderly parents at home.  But, when she was 30 years old, she married Daniel F. Kline, a newcomer to the area from Hocking County, Ohio.  Daniel was also 30.  The marriage license, dated January 16, 1902, noted that she was a teacher and Daniel was a farmer with his residence in Hocking County.  The couple were married on January 19, 1902, by Rev. Geo. W. Lilly.  Emily's father, Samuel, died the following August at the age of 78.

Emily and Daniel eventually moved to a farm just across the Ohio - Indiana line in Newville Township, Dekalb County, Indiana.  There they welcomed their first son, Boyd, on June 21, 1903.  

Other children soon followed: Hazel in 1904; Ethel in 1906; Gladys in 1908; twins Marian and Mildred in 1909; Maurice in 1912; and Woodrow in 1914. On May 17, 1909, when the twins were born, Marian did not survive the day or could have been stillborn.  Just a few months later, in July 1909, Emily's mother, Eliza, also died at the age of 75.  

The children attended school a mile or so down the road from their farm, at the Newville Center, one room school.  Life was the hard farming life of the Depression days where it was pretty hard scrabble most of the time.

First Row, third girl from left is Mildred Kline and last girl on right is Gladys Kline.  Back Row, fourth girl from left is Ethel Kline  and second girl from right is Hazel Kline.

In 1919, the oldest son, Boyd, died, and in February 1926, daughter Ethel succumbed to tuberculosis. By the 1930 census, some of the children had married and moved out, leaving Gladys, 21; Mildred F. (called "Mid"), 19; Maurice F., 17; and Woodrow (called "Woody",) 15, at home.  Dan and Emily were both 58 at that time and living on the same farm, struggling financially and in their marriage.

On June 30, 1932, Daniel moved back to Hocking County, Ohio, and Emily filed for divorce after thirty years of marriage.  Daniel left the farm to Emily and the children and it is unknown how much contact he had with the family after that. The livestock was sold except for a milk cow and a few chickens and the money split.  Emily wanted $5000 in alimony, but she was awarded $1700 and court costs.  It was not a friendly split.

In the 1940 census, Emily, 68, reported herself as a widow, perhaps a more socially acceptable term than divorced.  But, truly, Daniel Kline was very much alive in Hocking County, Ohio.  Emily was listed as head of the family and with her were only her two surviving sons, Maurice, 27, and Woodrow, 25, both still single.  Maurice noted that he worked on the farm 60 hours a week, and Woodrow had a job as a section hand on the railroad half the year, making $480 in that time.  I would expect that he helped on the farm the rest of the year. 
Emily Meek lived out her life on the farm until she died on May 6, 1942, at the age of 70.
 

 She was buried near her old home grounds at the Six Corners Cemetery.

The Hicksville Tribune, Hicksville, Ohio, carried her obituary on May 7, 1942:

"DEATH COMES AFTER THREE WEEKS ILLNESS
Mrs. Emily Kline Is Taken Unexpectedly at Her Home in Newville Township.

Mrs. Emily Kline, aged 70, died Wednesday morning at her home in Newville township, four miles west of Hicksville.
She had been ill about three weeks, her death being unexpected and somewhat sudden.  Complications and heart trouble are stated to be the cause of the death.
Mrs. Kline was born Oct. 28, 1871, in Hicksville township,near Six Corners, and was a daughter of Samuel and Eliza Fuller Meek.
She grew to womanhood in the local neighborhood, and January 19, 1902, was united in marriage with Daniel Kline of Hocking county.
She had lived in the present home for thirty-five years.
Surviving relatives are three daughters, Mrs. Gladys Impton, near the home; Mrs. Hazel Bennett of Edon, O.; and Mrs. Mildred Cook of Paulding; two sons, Maurice Kline of St. Joe, Ind. and Woodrow Kline at the home; three grandchildren; a brother, John Meek of Bryan.
the body was taken to the Perkins and Reeb funeral home. Complete funeral arrangements had not been completed, as to place and time, but burial will be made in Six Corners Cemetery."