My Genealogy Hound

Walter F. Meacham is one of the progressive general merchants of Arkansas County, Ark., and by his superior management, good business ability and efficiency, has done not a little to advance the reputation the county enjoys as a commercial center. He was born in Anson County, N. C., September 10, 1851, and is a descendant of Jeremiah Meacham, who was also a native of North Carolina, born in 1809. The latter was one of “the horny handed sons of toil,” and was of Scotch-Irish extraction. Upon reaching manhood he was married to Miss Maness, of North Carolina, and by her became the father of ten children, six of whom are now living: Walter F., Case, William R., Mary E. (wife of K. M. Hasty, of North Carolina), Elizabeth (wife of J. T. Redfern, of Thomas County, Ga.) and Jane (the wife of P. C. Davis, of Southwest Georgia). Jeremiah Meacham died in Anson County, Ga., in 1865, having been an earnest and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as was his wife, who died in 1854. Walter F. Meacham began his own career at the age of eighteen years, and was first engaged in farming in his native State, continuing there until 1870, when he immigrated to Georgia, Bartow County, and followed the same occupation for eight years. He then concluded to push on farther westward, and came to Arkansas, locating in Lee County, where he built a large store room and engaged in the mercantile business, and also managed a livery barn with success. He now carries a stock of goods valued at about $6,000, and as he controls a large trade, his annual sales amount to some $36,000. His brother, Jesse C., was his business partner for a number of years, and was married to Miss Georgia A. Simms, of Georgia, in 1873, becoming by her the father of five children, three now living: Jerry, Arthur and Lillie. Jesse C. Meacham died in 1886 and his wife in 1884, she being a member of the Baptist Church at the time of her death.