Wilhelm: Basil Meek was a man who many changes in his lifetime
Basil Meek died just over 100 years ago, but I think he has been a valuable friend to me in this century, providing me with information that I have shared through these columns and sharing an incredible amount of history for anyone interested.
A lawyer, he was a successful community leader in Fremont, serving for years as clerk of courts and playing an important part in the development of local schools as a member of the board of education. He reportedly was influential in the reorganization of the high schools and the establishment of free kindergartens among other contributions.
With a great love for local history, he compiled the “Twentieth Century History of Sandusky County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens,” which was published in 1909, relying to a great extent on the work of famed historian Home Everett nearly 30 years earlier.
His county history has provided me with information and ideas countless times.
Meek was born before the railroad came through
For 15 years, he served as secretary of the Pioneer and Historical Association of Sandusky County and spread the word about local history in many ways.
At the age of 92, he delivered his last public address at a reunion of pioneers of Henry County, Indiana, at Newcastle, Indiana.
I believe he painted a perfect picture of how lovers of history view life.
“When I was born there were not in existence in this country the railroad and locomotive, mowing, reaping and threshing machines, sewing machines, power printing presses, linotype, typewriter, telegraph, telephone, electric lights, electric railroads, electric engines, wireless telegraphy, automobiles, flying machines and many other useful inventions and discoveries…”
Meek wrote he lived under 24 of the nation's 30 presidents
“Twenty-four states with ten million population have increased to forty-eight states with a population of one hundred million or more. At my age, one has lived under the administrations of 24 of the 30 presidents of the United States, beginning with the first term of Andrew Jackson.
“We sometimes are inclined to believe that invention and discovery have reached the climax, and that no further progress in these matters is probable, but it is quite possible, that all these wonderful things mentioned have cleared the way for greater things yet to come.
“I sometimes wish that I might live to witness and enjoy this lovely world with these wonderful things yet to appear, but of course, that cannot be, for I cannot stop, but must move on to the great Beyond, as time, like a stream in its course, flows onward ever, and will not stop for me to tarry here.”
Great words from a man more than nine decades old.
It makes me think that my wife Marty and I the other day were talking about gravestones at the cemetery, especially noticing some that included mementoes of items important in someone’s life like a golf club. It struck me that “we shouldn’t put a typewriter on mine because (one day) no one would know what it was.”
We laughed and moved on.
Roy Wilhelm started a 40-year career at The News-Messenger in 1965 as a reporter. Now retired, he writes a column for both The News-Messenger and News Herald.
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Wilhelm: Basil Meek captured local history for all to enjoy
