Mcnairy County TN Archives Biographies.....Meeks, Gen. John H.. 1814 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Jackie Rhodes kjrhodes@tycom.net July 3, 2007, 9:56 pm

Author: Tennessee History and Biographies, McNairy County

Gen. John H. Meeks, one of the most influential citizens and leading farmers of

McNairy County, was born in Lincoln County, Tenn., in 1814, was the youngest of

three sons and the only one now living. His parents were John and Elizabeth

(Henderson) Meeks, both natives of Pendleton District, S. C. The father was born

in 1783, was well educated, married the first time in 1810 to the mother of John

H., and after her death made a second marriage in 1819 with Elizabeth Lane, by

whom he had six children. In 1811 he moved to Lincoln County, and engaged in

farming until 1844, when he located in McNairy Co., and there resided up to the

time of his death, which occurred in 1877. The mother was a daughter of Capt.

John Henderson, a gallant and noted man of Revolutionary fame. Mrs. Meeds died

in October, 1814, when the subject of this sketch was but an infant; he was

taken by his grandfather, Capt. Henderson, with whom he remained until manhood.

He received liberal literary and business education, and spent the time from

1835 to 1838 as a teacher in which capacity he proved most efficient. Since the

latter date he has been tilling the soil, either carrying it on himself or

having it done by others. In 1830 he was sent by Capt. Henderson to McNairy

County, to take charge of a number of men and raise a crop, after which he

returned to Alabama, his grandparents having moved there in his childhood. In

1832 they settled in McNairy County. January, 1841, John H. was married to

Ellen, daughter of George and Martha Atkins; she was born in Rockingham County,

N. C., and came to McNairy County with her parents in 1832. To them were born

eight children, only two sons an two daughters are living: Martha E., wife of F.

A. Johnson, of Dyer County; Elder Rufus P., and earnest and influential minister

of the Christian Church, residing at Jackson, Tenn.; Marcus Henry, a leading

attorney at law of Jackson, Tenn.; and Zilpah, wife of W. D. Erwin, a prominent

merchant of Falcon. Gen. Meeks has been living on his present farm since 1851;

it is twelve miles east from Falcon, extends over 600 acres of the county's most

productive soil, which is highly cultivated and improved; the dwelling house is

one of the most elegant and well arranged in the county. He also owns about 800

acres of Tennessee River bottom land in Hardin County, which is very valuable.

The General is a half-brother to Orvil L. Meeks, of same county. He is a man of

unusual strength of mind, a keen fiancier, and of indisputable integrity; is an

ardent advocate of universal education, and gives liberally to all charitable

and religious institutions. He has alwys been a stanch Democrat--the recognized

leader of that party in McNairy County, having held various responsible and

prominent positions. His public career began in 1849, when he represented his

county in the Lower House of the State Legislature, being the first Democrat

representative from McNairy County; he was re-elected in 1851; was nominated

several times afterward, but declined further election. In 1855 he was offered

the nomination for congressman in his congressional district, but positively

declined. He was a member of the constitutional convention of 1870. His first

presidential vote was cast for Hugh L. White in 1836. He hss been a Mason of

good standing and prominence since 1848. The entire family are members of the

Christian Church. He recieved the title of general from the militia votes of

both Hardeman and McNairy Counties; was not a soldier in the late war, but had

two sons who fought bravely in defense of the lost cause. The elder of these,

under the command of Gen. Forrest, fell, mortally wounded in 1864. Gen. Meeks

earnestly opposed the first action of the South in bringing about secession,

but, finally, when the war was forced on the Southern people, he was afterward

an ardent supporter of the lost cause.

Additional Comments:
Transcribed as printed from McNairy County History; Chickago and Nashville: The

Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1887 by Jackie Rhodes

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