GEORGE W. MEEK

George W. Meek Civil War Veteran Died Sunday

George W. Meek, a Veteran of the Civil war, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Fred Young, in this city Sunday, aged 90 years and 15 days.

The deceased was born at Elizabeth, Harrison county, Indiana, April 20, 1839.

At the age of two, he, with his parents, came to Illinois and settled at Summum. They drove thru in the wagon which was the modern way of travel in that day. The remainder of his life was lived in Illinois around Astoria, Summum and Colchester, with the exception of about 12 years in Kansas, one year in Missouri and a short time in the army. Farming and threshing was his occupation.

February 26, 1857 he was married to Catherine Shields, who for almost 64 years walked down life’s pathway with him sharing the joys and vicissitudes of life until God called her to her crowning Oct. 24, 1920. To this union nine children were born, six girls and three boys, namely: Jemima J.; Claretta Blanch; Mary Z.; Ulysses G.; Ira J.; Oscar A.; Pauline J.; Bertha T. and Sadie L.

In the fall of 1857 (the year he was married) he and his wife accepted Christ as their personal Savior at a revival held in what was known as the old Baldwin meeting house; and then united with the Union Baptist church at Summum. After locating at Colchester he transferred his membership to the Union Baptist church at that place of which church he was a member until God made him a member of the Church Triumphant.

Mr. Meek was a most earnest and devout Christian and loved the place of worship and delighted to sit and listen to the Gospel as it came from God’s servants in the pulpit. Many times when most of the other people with such age and afflictions would have made no effort to attend the church service, but Mr. Meek would be seen coming in, walking with two canes or in his wheel chair to hear another message from the Lord he so much loved. And as the message came forth few people got more and retained more than did Mr. Meek. Until his eyes failed him he was a great student of the Bible; and with the fine memory he retained the Scripture was a great comfort to him in his last years and it was a joy to him to see a minister come into his home and talk with him on that subject.

In the early part of the Civil war he answered the call of his country and enlisted in Co. H. of the 85th Illinois Infantry, but affliction overtook him and in a few months received an honorable discharge. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic at Colchester.

He leaves to mourn his departure, four daughters, Mrs. James D. Griffin of Colchester, Illinois; Mrs. Fred Young of Astoria, Ill.; Mrs. Martin Seigel of Denver, Colo.; and Mrs. D. W. Glenn of Corona, Cal. One half sister, Mrs. R. B. Elliott of Levant, Kansas; one half brother, James W. Hughes, of Summum, Ill.; eleven grandchildren; twenty-three great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.

A short funeral service was held at the home in Astoria, Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. by Rev. W. R. Seitzinger, pastor of the U. B. Church. Then the body was taken to Colchester where the regular funeral service was held by his pastor, Rev. Jones, assisted by Rev. Seitzinger. Interment in the Colchester cemetery.

Published in the Argus-Search Light on 5/8/1929