David Meekison

David Meekison (November 14, 1849 – February 12, 1915) was an American lawyer, banker, and Democratic politician who served as a two-term U.S. Representative from Ohio from 1897 to 1901. A member of the Democratic Party, he represented his constituents in the United States House of Representatives during a significant period in American history and contributed to the legislative process over two consecutive terms in office.

Meekison was born in Dundee, Scotland, on November 14, 1849. In 1855 he immigrated to the United States with his parents, who settled in Napoleon, Henry County, Ohio. He attended the common schools in Napoleon and was apprenticed to the printer’s trade, gaining early experience in a skilled occupation that was closely tied to public affairs and communication in the mid-nineteenth century.

In 1866 Meekison entered the United States Army and served with the artillery until 1869. His three years of military service came during the post–Civil War period, when the Regular Army was engaged in reconstruction duties and frontier service. After mustering out of the service in 1869, he returned to Napoleon, Ohio, where he began the study of law. Demonstrating an early aptitude for public service, he was appointed city clerk in 1872 while still a young man.

Meekison was admitted to the bar in 1873 and commenced the practice of law in Napoleon. That same year he was elected prosecuting attorney of Henry County, a position he held from 1873 to 1879, handling criminal prosecutions and representing the county in legal matters. Building on this experience, he was elected probate judge of Henry County, serving from 1881 to 1888, where he oversaw matters relating to estates, guardianships, and other probate jurisdiction. He also became active in state and national Democratic politics, serving as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1884.

In addition to his legal and political work, Meekison became a prominent local businessman. In 1886 he established the Meekison Bank in Napoleon, entering the banking field and contributing to the financial development of his community. He further expanded his public service at the municipal level, serving as mayor of Napoleon from 1890 to 1897. His long tenure as mayor reflected his standing in local affairs and provided him with administrative and executive experience that would later inform his work in Congress.

Meekison was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-fifth and Fifty-sixth Congresses, serving in the U.S. House of Representatives from March 4, 1897, to March 3, 1901. As a Representative from Ohio, he participated in the democratic process at the national level and represented the interests of his constituents during a period marked by industrial expansion, monetary debates, and the Spanish–American War. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1900, choosing instead to conclude his congressional career after two terms.

After leaving Congress in 1901, Meekison returned to Napoleon, where he resumed the practice of law and continued his involvement in banking. He remained a respected figure in his community, combining his legal practice with the management of his banking interests. On August 24, 1881, he had married Clara E. Bowers of Napoleon; she and their four children survived him, underscoring his role not only as a public figure but also as the head of a local family with deep roots in the town.

David Meekison died in Napoleon, Ohio, on February 12, 1915. He was interred in Glenwood Cemetery in Napoleon, closing a life that spanned immigration from Scotland, military service, a substantial legal and judicial career, business leadership, municipal office, and two terms in the United States Congress.