CHARLES A. MECKSTROTH, a well-known farmer and dairyman of the New Knoxville neighborhood and proprietor of a well improved farm just south of the village, along the county line in the southeast quarter of section 30 of Washington township, was born on that farm and has lived there all his life, a period of considerably more than fifty years. Mr. Meckstroth was born on January 27, 1865, and is a son of H. W. and Christina (Quiller) Meckstroth, both of whom were born in Germany and had come here with their respective parents in the days of their youth. H. W. Meckstroth was fourteen years of age when he came here with his parents, the family settling in the New Knoxville neighborhood, in section 30 of Washington township, which then was included in Allen county, that having been some time before Auglaize county was organized. Work on the canal then was in progress, and young Meckstroth began working on that construction, and was thus engaged until the completion of this big job of engineering, he also having had a hand in the erection of the west bank of the Grand Reservoir. This work, of course, was only carried on to advantage during the summer time, and during the winters he worked on his father's woodland farm, helping to clear the same and get it in shape for cultivation. After his marriage he continued to devote his attention to farming and became the owner of a farm of a fraction more than ninety-eight acres just south of New Knoxville, the place where his son, Charles, is now living. H. W. Meckstroth not only was a good farmer, but he took an interested part in the general affairs of the community and for some time served as a school director. He and his wife were the parents of ten children, of whom four are still living, the subject of this sketch having a sister, Sophia, and two brothers, George H. and E. H. Meckstroth. Reared on the home farm there along the creek south of New Knoxville, Charles A. Meckstroth received his schooling in the nearby village schools. After his marriage he continued farming with his father, the two then forming a partnership, and this mutually agreeable arrangement continued for ten years or more, or until his father's death, after which he took over the home place and has since been operating it on his own account. Since taking possession of this place Mr. Meckstroth has erected a new set of buildings and now has an admirable farm plant there on rural mail route No. 2 out of Botkins. In 1910 he branched out into the dairy business and has since given the better part of his attention to this line, though continuing his general farming, his operations now being carried on in partnership with one of his sons-in- law, Ferd Wellman. Mr. Meckstroth has a fine herd of purebred Holstein dairy cattle and the products of his dairy are chiefly disposed of in the retail market at New Knoxville. Mr. Meckstroth is a Democrat, with independent leanings, and on several occasions has served the public as a school director in his district. He and his family are members of the Reformed church at New Knoxville, and he has served the congregation of that church as a deacon and as a member of the board of trustees. Charles A. Meckstroth married Anna Lammers, daughter of Henry Lammers, in his day a prominent farmer southeast of New Knoxville, and to this union eight children have been born, Jacob A., G. A., Richard B., Caroline, Matilda, Ella, Emil and Meta, five of whom are married. Jacob A. Meckstroth married Adaline Hoelscher and has two children, Gretchen and Rachel, Richard B. Meckstroth married Huldah Oelrich and has one child, a son, Donald. Caroline Meckstroth married Emil Holtkamp, who died in 1918, and has one child, a son, Dorsey. Matilda Meckstroth married Rev. Adolph R. Fledderjohann, and Ella Meckstroth married Ferd Wellman, who, as noted above, is now operating the Meckstroth farm in partnership with his father-in-law and making his home on the place.
This Meckstroth farm is located at 09139 State route 29 just south of New Knoxville.