My Genealogy Hound

ISAAC MEREDITH. Randolph County is the home of a goodly number of men who have put forth such industrious and well directed efforts that they have been enabled to retire from the cares and toils of life and are now spending their time in ease and enjoyment. Among this number is the gentleman above named, who owns a valuable estate of two thousand acres, but makes his home in the city of Chester.

Our subject was born in Perry County, Mo., November, 1840, and is the son of Daniel W. and Mary C. (Hoggard) Meredith, natives respectively of Missouri and Virginia. Mrs. Meredith is a daughter of Austin Hoggard, of Scotch descent, while on his father’s side our subject is of Welsh ancestry. Daniel W. Meredith was a farmer by occupation and was one of the early settlers of Perry County, Mo. His father, Isaac, was one of the pioneers of the state, having located there before Missouri was admitted into the Union.

Of the parental family, which consisted of five children, all are living with one exception. Isaac W., of this sketch, was reared on his father’s farm in Missouri and received the basis of his education in the primitive schools of those times. Later, after the removal of the family to this city, he attended the Chester schools and thus obtained a fair knowledge of men and things. In 1865 young Meredith crossed the Isthmus to California and spent two years in working on a farm in Halfmoon Bay, Santa Clara County. Returning at the expiration of that time, he began farming in Perry County, making a specialty of stock-raising.

In 1881 Mr. Meredith came to Chester, where he has since lived a retired life. His fine estate, which is located in Perry County, Mo., is a very fertile tract of land, on which he has erected every building necessary in carrying on the work of the estate, and all of which are substantial and well arranged. In 1869 he was married to Miss Amelia, daughter of John and Ann (Hey) Wilkinson, natives of Yorkshire, England. Mrs. Meredith was born in Perry County, Mo., and by her union with our subject has become the mother of six children, four of whom are living, namely: John W., who is engaged in the jewelry business in Chester; Isaac J., Daniel W. and Amelia Ann.

While not an active politician or an office seeker, Mr. Meredith takes pride in using his influence for worthy political causes, and during election times always casts a Democratic vote. He is considered one of the most substantial citizens of the county and has acquired a considerable amount of money. Socially he is a Mason and is a member of Chester Lodge No. 226.