Biographical Sketch of R. T. MEREDITH (1893); Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris . *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** Source: "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsyl- vania, comprising a historical sketch of the county," by Samuel T. Wiley and edited by Winfield Scott Garner, Gresham Publishing Company, Phila- delphia, PA, 1893, pp. 499-500. "R. T. MEREDITH, of near Everhart, a descendant of an old Chester county family, and a successful contractor on masonry work, is the eldest son of Isaac and Mary S. (Davis) Everhart, and was born in West Whiteland town- ship, Chester county, Pennsylvania, October 21, 1839. He spent his boyhood days on his father's farm, received his education in the common schools of West Whiteland township, and then learned with John S. Garrett, the trade of stonemason, at which he worked for some years as a journeyman, after finishing his apprenticeship. He then commenced working for himself and soon engaged in contracting, which he has followed for over twenty years. He takes contracts on all kinds of masonry, and has been successful both in giving satisfaction to his patrons and clearing money on his work. In connection with contracting he also follows farming in West Whiteland township, where he owns a good farm of eighty-four acres of land and a couple of woodland lots. He is a supporter of the Republican party, has served his township as a supervisor and a school director, and has always taken an interest in local as well as in State or National politics. He is a member of Thompson Lodge, No. 340, Free and Accepted Masons, and as a man and citizen enjoys the respect of all who know him. "On January 28, 1875, Mr. Meredith married Elizabeth Loomis, daughter of William and Elizabeth Loomis, of West Whiteland. To Mr. and Mrs. Meredith have been born three children, one son and two daughters: Mary, now attend- ing West Chester State Normal school; Isaac and Emma. "The Meredith family is one of the distinguished families of Wales, and several of its members came at an early day and settled in Pennsylvania. One of them was David Meredith, who came to Chester valley, where he pur- chased land of William Penn, and resided until his death, on property now owned by Walter Cox. His son, Daniel Meredith, was born and reared in West Whiteland township, where he owned and cultivated a large farm. He married and reared a family of six children, four sons and two daughters: John, George, Joseph, Isaac, Bain and Peggy. John Meredith (grandfather), the youngest son, was a native and life long resident of West Whiteland, where he resided on the farm now owned by the subject of this sketch. He was an old line whig in politics, and died in 1856. He married Hannah Neilds, by whom he had eight children: Daniel, Amos, George, John, Isaac (father), Mary Templin, and Sarah A. Dutton. "Isaac Meredith was a plasterer by trade, which he followed but a few years. He then engaged in farming, and afterwards purchased his father's farm. He was a democrat until 1856, when he voted for John C. Fremont, and ever afterwards supported the Republican party. He held various town- ship offices, and was a useful citizen. Mr. Meredith was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and died February 30 (sic), 1883, when in the eighty-first year of his age. He married Mary S. Davis. Mr. and Mrs. Meredith reared a family of three children: R. T., William F., and Hannah Snyder."