0489. Hiram Franklin Meader (1962 - 1934)
Born: 1962
Died: 1934
0489. Hiram Franklin Meader (1962 - 1934)
Hiram Franklin Meader, son of Stephen Volney Meader (1835-1914) [0384] and Priscilla Meyer (d.1909), was born November 15, 1862 at Boalsburg, Center County, PA and died at Medford, OR on February 12, 1934. He wrote the following autobiography:
“My parents moved to Walden, Vermont when I was an infant. I was brought up on my fathers farm doing such work as usually falls to the lot of farmer boys, and during the winter months I attended the common schools of the District.
“Having a roving disposition and being taken with the western fever, as it is commonly spoken of, I left home on September 11, 1882 and went to Rilott, Stephenson County, Illinois. After working on a farm there for fifteen months I decided that I was not far enough west and consequently I started for sunny Kansas, arriving in Hiawatha, Brown County, Kansas on December 18, 1883, where I found employment for a year on a sugar cane farm, and the following year on a corn farm. Again thinking I was not quite far enough west I left for the Pacific coast. After visiting San Francisco, I started north by steamer for Washington Territory and March 6, 1885 found me at Snohomish, Snohomish County, Washington. For a few months I worked in the lumber camps and after a while I worked on a farm.
“After my marriage I followed farming for myself until September 21, 1891 when I accepted the position of Deputy Postmaster of Lowell, Washington. This position I held until my appointment as Postmaster of the same place on August 27, 1893, which I received while visiting my parents in Walden, Vermont after attending the World^s Fair at Chicago in 1893.
“In the fall of 1890 I was elected School Director of my town for a term of three years, and at the expiration of said term I was re-elected for another three years.
“In 1891 I was appointed the County Commissioner Constable of my precinct. On November 8, 1892 I was elected Constable again by a large majority and re-elected for the same office on November 6, 1894. On January 1, 1892 I was appointed a Notary Public for the state of Washington. In February, 1894 I formed a partnership known as "Meader and Buckley," to carry on a general merchandise business...”
He married:
1) Dora Clay, only daughter of Wilson S. and Anna Clay, at Snohomish on December 20, 1887.
The children of Hiram Meader and Dora Clay were:
0594 i. William Earl Meader, born August 18, 1888.
0595 ii. Ralph Oliver Meader, born April 4, 1890.
0596 iii. Ada Marie Meader, born August 22, 1898.
2) Pauline McCoy sometime in 1907. There is no record of children.