Samuel William Meckes

Son of John Meckes and Charlotte Frantz.

Samuel was baptised at Salem Church, Gilbert, Northampton (now Monroe) Co., PA. The sponsors at the baptism of Samuel W. Meckes were John Borger and his wife, Magdalena.

Samuel W. Meckes was a lumberman and farmer. He owned and operated a saw mill with water from Mud Run Creek and cut timber from a 440 acre tract. The timber was sold at Lehighton, Slatington, Mauch Chunk, and as far south as Tatamy. He also owned and operated a wintergreen distillery. Samuel stood about 6 foot 2 inches tall. It was recorded that he was a Democrat and at various times was Tax Collector and School Director (1861) in Penn Forest Township, Carbon County. (History of Lehigh & Carbon Counties, page 756) He lived near Meckesville and was married four times.

He married abt 1856 Samelia (Amelia) Hawk. They had two children:
1. Anna Meckes b. 1858
2. Franklin Pierce Meckes b. 1859

He married Carolina Wagner abt 1862. They had four children:
1. James Meckes b. 1863
2. Sabilla Meckes b. 1865
3. Westia (Celestia) meckes b. 1867
4. William Meckes b. 1870

In 1870 Samuel Meckes, age 36 a farmer, was living in Penn Forest Twp., Carbon Co., PA, with no wife and five children; Emma age 12, Franklin age 10, James age 7, Sybilla age 5, and Celestia age 3. Also living in his household was a housekeeper, Emma Frevele age 35. Samuel owned real estate valued at $3,000 and had a personal estate of $600. (1870 census, microfilm roll #1320, Carbon Co., PA, Penn Forest Twp., pg. 347, house #16, family #14)

He married Isabella G Ziegenfuss abt 1870. They had four children:
1. Amelia Meckes b. 1873
2. Ellamanda "Amanda" Meckes b. 1875
3. Emma Jane Meckes b. 1877
4. Roger Meckes b. 1880

In 1880 Samuel W. Meckes, age 46 a farmer, was living in Penn Forest Twp., Carbon Co., PA, with his third wife, Isabella Meckes age 45, and 11 Meckes children: daughter Anna age 21, son Franklin age 20, son James age 17, daughter Schillia (Sabilla) age 16, daughter Celestia age 13, son William age 10, daughter Amilia age 7, daughter Ellemanda age 4, daughter Emma J. age 3, an un-named son with no age listed, and a son Charles age 6 months. Also listed in Samuel's household were a stepson, Nathan Kresge age 22, and a nephew Henry Kresge age 27. (1880 census, National Archives Film T9-1108, Page 546C) (Note: the un-named son is believed to have been Roger Meckes, b. 27 Feb 1880. The son listed as Charles Meckes age 6 months is believed to have been Charles Milton Livengood, son of Anna Meckes and Albert R. Livengood/Leibengood.)

In 1900 Samuel was living in Penn Forest Twp., Carbon Co., PA with his third wife, Isabella, children Selesta and Roger, and granddaughter, Carrie.

He married Rosanna Himmelberger 12 Nov 1904 in Allentown, Lehigh Co., PA.

Samuel and his fourth wife, Rosanna Himmelberger, were married at Allentown by Rev. J. C. Rauch at St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church (Lehigh County marriage license #14634). They had no children. Samuel died at his home "about two miles above Sterners, at the foot of the Poconos". (Obit in "Monroe Record", Thursday, 23 April 1908, pg. 2; PA death certificate #36946)

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Sep 3 2022, 20:10:19 UTC