BIOGRAPHY - JOHN MEIKLE
John
Meikle, whose death on the 1st of March, 1886, deprived Piper City of one of
its esteemed and valued residents, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, about
1837. He was left an orphan at an early age and went to live with his
father's brother. At the age of fifteen he became a resident of Waupun,
Wisconsin, with his uncle Robert and for ten years remained a resident of
the Badger state.
During that period Mr. Meikle was married, in Wisconsin, in 1861, to Miss Elizabeth Entwistle, who was born in Liverpool, England, June 1, 1843, and was only four months old when her parents crossed the Atlantic to the new world, establishing their home in Wisconsin, where she resided until her marriage. Her parents were James and Jane (Draper) Entwistle, natives of Bolton, England, who lived for a considerable period in Wisconsin but died in Ford county, Illinois. After losing his wife, the father made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Meikle, passing away at the very venerable age of ninetysix years. Both he and his wife were of French lineage. By his first marriage Mr. Entwistle had two children and by a latter marriage had four children, Mrs. Meikle being the only daughter of the second marriage.
Mr. and Mrs. Meikle began their domestic life in Wisconsin, where they remained for about two years, and then removed to Peoria in 1863. Three years were there passed, after which they took up their abode in Chatsworth, Livingston county, Illinois, in 1866. In 1870 they came to Ford county, settling on a farm in Brenton township, where Mr. Meikle carried on general agricultural pursuits for about ten years, having two hundred and twenty acres of land, which he cultivated and improved, making it a valuable farm. At length he sold that land and bought a tract of land of one hundred and sixty acres a mile south of Piper City, where he resided up to the time of his death. Throughout his entire life he carried on general agricultural pursuits and prospered in his undertakings. He developed the present fine farm which is now the property of his widow, placed good buildings upon it and added all modern improvements and accessories. In addition to cultivating the cereals best adapted to the soil and climate he made a specialty of raising draft horses, both Percheron and Norman, and was the owner of some very fine stock. He took a great interest in fine horses and exhibited at various fairs where he carried off many premiums.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Meikle were born four children: George, now living at Kiester, Minnesota; Maggie, the wife of A. Kiplinger of Piper City; Jennie, at home; and John, who is living upon the old homestead farm in Brenton township.
In his political views Mr. Meikle was a stalwart republican, interested in the growth and success of the party. He held some school and road offices and was most loyal in citizenship, doing everything in his power to promote the welfare and upbuilding of his community. He held membership in the Presbyterian church and lived an upright, consistent Christian life, winning for him the warm regard of all with whom he came in contact. In his business, too, he was energetic, diligent and reliable, and in addition to his home place of one hundred and sixty acres in Brenton township he owned three hundred and twenty acres of land in Livingston county. He possessed many of the sterling characteristics of the Scotch people and his death was an occasion of deep and wide-spread regret, for he had many friends in the county.
For about eighteen years Mrs. Meikle has now resided in Piper City, where she owns a pleasant and well kept home. She also has good income property, including a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Brenton township which she received from her father's estate. She has a wide and favorable acquaintance in the community and the hospitality of many of the best homes is cordially extended to her.
Extracted 19 Oct 2016 by Norma Hass from History of Ford County, Illinois, From Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, author E. A. Gardner, Volume 1, pages 406-410.
