Transcription contributed by Martie Callihan 7 February 2005

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808

HARVEY B. MEEKER, stone and brick mason, Franklin; son of Abner and Mary (Ball) Meeker, was born in Essex Co., N. J., Dec. 1, 1815, where he attended school till 1832, when his parents moved to Franklin. In 1832, he began to learn his trade, which he followed till 1853, when, his eyes failing him, he quit the business, and opened a stove and tinware store in Merchant's Row, which he kept till 1863, doing a very fair business; he then rented a farm across the river and worked at farming three years, but finally returned to his trade, which he has followed ever since. He was married, in Rossville, Butler Co., in 1837, to Catharine Wolf; they had nine children, five living, born in the following order: Mary J., Hollis, Edward M, Phoebe C., Eliza and Louis O. His wife died in 1854, and he again married, in Franklin, in 1856, to Ann Spader, born in this township. They are both members of the Baptist Church. He owns his residence, on Second street, near the canal, a brick house in the northwest part of the corporation, and a lot on Second street, east of Canal.