Introduction:
Over Labor Day weekend of 2024, my wife and I travelled to Livingston, TX. Livingston is located in Polk County, TX. A local historian by the name of Gary B. Davis wrote a wonderful article about the founder of Livingston entitled Moses L. Choate and his influence in the formation of Polk County, Texas.
The primary purpose of the trip to Livingston was to meet my great-grandfather Theophilus Franklin Meece. I knew absolutely nothing about him. My father, Louis H. Meece, never mentioned him. For that matter, he spoke very little about his family and their history. By all accounts he was known as T.F., not Theophilus or Theo. He was born on June 11th, 1840 in Maury County, TN. He was born to William Carrol Meece and Hannah Bennett Fields Meece. At the time of birth William was 25 and Hannah was 34. William was described as being a farmer in the 1850 United States Federal Census. I’ve discovered a number of biographies of T.F. during my research and I’ve included those here.
There is some confusion as to whether he was born just outside of Spring Hill or Columbia, TN. Only 11.5 miles separate the two. His mother Hannah grew up in Santa Fe, TN, which is only 11.6 miles from Columbia. T.F. would, later in life, join Hood’s Texas Brigade in the Civil War. Ironically, Hood would lose his final battles of the war, without the Texas Brigade, at Spring Hill, Franklin and finally at Nashville, TN. Not only that, the National Confederate Museum and the Sons of Confederate Veterans General Headquarters, known as “Elm Springs” would be located in Columbia, TN. What are the odds???
T.F. Meece was 15 years of age when his parents decided to move to Livingston, TX. He was educated at the Livingston Academy, which was located on the 1st floor of the Trinity Masonic Lodge #14. In 1846 the entire building was moved from Swartwout, TX to the corner of Church and Houston in Livingston, TX. This coincided with the naming of Livingston as the county seat of Polk County. Local masons not only provided and maintained the building but they also paid tuition for students whose parents couldn’t afford it. I can only assume that the rest of the Meece clan attended school there as well.
Ironically, my 2nd great-grandfather, William Carrol Meece, and my great-grandfather, T.F., would eventually become members of the Trinity Lodge #14 of the Masonic Order. T.F. was actually Worshipful Master in 1878 and 1879. The photograph above hangs in the Trinity Masonic Lodge #14 today.
What’s even more ironic is the fact that when the school was relocated to Livingston it was positioned on the same lot where the Old City Cemetery sits today. This is where T.F., his wife Amelia and their daughter are buried. The Polk County Memorial Museum sent me a plot map of the Old City Cemetery on an Excel spreadsheet. Plot map One and plot map two, both show the grave locations of T.F., Amelia (his wife) and their daughter Willie.
While attending school T.F. worked on his Father’s farm in Colita and, according to the 1860 Census, he was a carpenter’s apprentice. In that same year, T.F. worked for about a year as a merchant’s clerk in a business house in Livingston.
Texas declared its secession from the Union on February 1, 1861 and joined the Confederate States on March 2, 1861. The Civil War began on April 12th, 1861. On September 9th, 1861, at the age of 20, T.F. Meece enlisted in the Confederate Army as First Corporal of what would become Company K, Fifth Texas Infantry, Hood’s Brigade.
We cleaned the headstone with D/2 Biological Solution and cleaned the footstone plaque with mild soap. At his grave site we posted the original Confederate Flag (Stars & Bars), the Texas State flag and, of course, the United States Flag. We planted purple mums and we repositioned his headstone so that it was square with both Amelia’s headstone and his footstone. We also raised and leveled his footstone and plaque by pouring a 50lb. bag of crushed stone underneath.
The application for the footstone was obtained by Roger Merritt Meece, T.F.’s nephew. He was the son of Monroe Dawson Meece, who was the youngest brother of T.F. Roger owned the Livingston Drug Co. in downtown Livingston. Once again, the local historian, Gary B. Davis, has provided a very thorough narrative titled The History of the Livingston Drug Company. Both he and his son, Roger Monroe Meece, were pharmacists. The address from the application, where Roger lived at the time, is a home that still exists today (see photo).
It’s a little surprising to me that Roger would be the one to file the application for the footer or marker. T.F.’s headstone bears the Masonic symbol and there were no other indicators that he served in the Confederacy. Perhaps he obtained the marker for his father’s grave, Monroe Dawson Meece, at the same time. By the time he filed the application on July 1st, 1964, Brown Meece, my grandfather, was the only child of T.F.’s still alive.
The federal government first became involved in permanently marking Confederate graves in 1906. That year, Congress authorized the furnishing of headstones for Confederate soldiers who died in federal prisons and military hospitals in the Union states, and they were buried near their places of confinement. In 1929, Congress expanded this authorization to include Confederate soldiers buried in unmarked graves in any location, both national and private cemeteries.
If you look at the headstone of James Pickney Meece, T.F.’s brother, you will note the inscription of the Confederate Cross of Honor or the Southern Cross of Honor. You will also notice that the headstone is pointed instead of rounded. It is said that this was done to prevent those damn Yankees from sitting on the headstones (lol).
I found a conversation between Laura Peace, formerly Laura Meece, and Pat Lary, formerly Patricia Ann Meece, on genealogy.com. Laura was the daughter of Roger Monroe Meece and Patricia was the daughter of Thomas Epperson Meece. I’m wondering if my sister Patrice Ann Meece was named after Patricia Ann Meece, who was born on March 3rd, 1926. Their conversation was as follows:
“My grandfather, Theophilus Franklin Meece, was the brother of M.D. Meece who married Mrs. Allie McCrary. I have a copy of death certificate of M.D. Meece b 24 June, 1847, died 3 May 1926 in Livingston, TX. Also their marriage license. Allie received a pension for his service in the confederacy. He served Texas State Militia, J. W. Dunnam’s Company, CSA. buried Bold Springs Cemetery, Bold Springs Community, Polk Co., TX. They were the sons of William Carroll and Hannah Bennette Fields Meece. They were born in Maury Co., TN and moved to Livingston, TX in 1856. I have traced the Meece family back to 1741 when they came to Pennsylvania from Germany on the Ship St. Mark. My father was Thomas Epperson Meece, son of T.F. Meece. Hope this helps.”
Pat Meece Lary
“WOW!!! What a small world! I pulled out my baby book this evening just to see, if by chance, I was related to an “M.D. Meece”. YES – He’s my great grandfather!! His full name was Monroe Dawson Meece. I have letters from him dating back to 1907. In fact, my mother didn’t know Allie’s last name so now, thanks to you, I can fill it in – 29 years later! So that must mean we are related as well – cousins 3x removed? I would absolutely love to have more information about our family tree if you have it! (By the way, my dad, Roger Monroe Meece, was 46 when I was born so I am probably the youngest of your cousins!) Do you live in the Livingston area? I am anxious to hear from you!”
Your Newly Found Cousin – Laura (Meece) Peace
Pat,
“Yes, my grandfather, then my dad, had a chain of drug stores -Meece Drugs (5 of them I think). I would love to have a copy of the picture of the drug store. I have very few memories of the drug store because I was very small – a toddler in fact – when we lived there. My dad would have turned 76 this coming August. He’s been gone since 1986. I live in Tulsa now but most of my family is in Houston. I have 3 siblings from my dad’s first marriage – Duane(53), David(49) and Roddy Joyce(46). In fact, I hope to see Duane this week because I am going home for the holiday. Have a great week and I hope we get to chat soon!”
Laura
The only drugstore that I’m aware of is the Livingston Drug Co. I’m not disputing Laura’s account, I simply haven’t found any evidence of a chain of Meece Drugs. It was purchased by Roger Merritt Meece in 1947 and sold to John Thompson in 1971. It later became the Out to Lunch Café and it is currently owned by the Ruby Cattle Company. The building is located at 413 N Washington Avenue. We, by happenstance, walked into the building when we visited downtown Livingston. For some reason the interior looked familiar to me and then I spotted the original of the attached photograph in a glass case. That’s when we identified the building as the Livingston Drug Co. building. If we had bothered to look up, prior to entering the building, we would have seen the name etched into the façade.
I’ve transcribed T.F.’s obituary, which was published on the front page of the Polk County Enterprise on May 21st, 1914.
JUDGE T. F. MEECE DIED AT HIS HOME MONDAY
Town Loses Valuable Citizen – Confederates Lose Faithful Member from Their Ranks
Judge T. F. Meece, who had been ill for some time, died at his home here Monday morning at 6 o’clock, at the age of 73 years, 11 months and 7 days. Judge Meece was one of the best loved and most honored men of this whole section, and it cast a gloom over the entire community when the news of his death was learned. He was a true Christian gentleman, and his many deeds of kindness will be missed by those of us who knew him and have been associated with him in our daily walks of life. He was a man who believed in living up to the golden rule. He was always ready to favor his fellowman in any way he could, and it was a pleasure for him to show them every courtesy possible. He set an example in his life that any man should feel proud to copy after, and his in fluence in this town and community will be greatly missed by people who stand for everything that is moral and upright, for Judge Meece was always found on the moral and religious side of every question that came up, and he gave his time and money in fighting for the things that were for the betterment of the town and community.
Judge Meece was born in Maury County, Tennessee, June 11, 1840, and came to Livingston, Texas, with his parents at the age of 16. In 1861 he enlisted in the Confederate army with Captain Ike Turner and fought for the cause of the South until 1865. He was engaged in ten or more battles during the war, and was injured in several battles, being severely wounded twice. One bullet received during the war was carried with him to his grave. He was honored on several occasions for his bravery and faithful service during the war. After he returned from the war he was appointed sheriff of Polk County in 1870. In 1873 he was elected district and county clerk of this county, holding that office to November, 1884. He was appointed county judge in April, 1885, and held this office until November, 1888. He was licensed as attorney at law June 1, 1897. He was elected representative of this district and served in the Twenty-seventh Legislature, one regular and two special sessions. He was a charter member of the Ike Turner Camp of Confederate Veterans and was adjutant of this camp for a number of years. A historical sketch of the different veterans, which was gotten up in book form some time ago, was mostly prepared by Judge Meece. He was a Master Mason and also a member of the Royal Arch lodge at this place, and was also a member of the Knights of Honor lodge.
Judge Meece was married to Miss Annie Brown on May 13, 1 1869. His wife, six sons, Frank, Jim, Luther, Tom, Charlie and Brown, and four daughters. Mrs. B. O. Laramore, Mrs. W. H. Cubley, Mrs. Bennett Agett and Mrs. T. M. Mangum, survive him. He also leaves a brother, Mr. M. D. Meece of Nettie, and a sister, Mrs. M. C. Nettles of Soda.
The funeral services were held at the residence Tuesday morning at 9 o’clock, and were conducted by Rev. W. B. Wadsworth, pastor of the First Baptist church, of which Judge Meece was a member. After the services at the house the Masons took charge of the body, and with the Confederate Veterans acting as honorary pall bearers they marched to the grave in the Livingston Cemetery, where the remains were laid to rest, while every eye was dimmed with tears in sympathy with the relatives, realizing that that a true and faithful citizen had left us to dwell in that great beyond, where sorrow is no moгe. The grave was covered with floral offerings by friends of the deceased.
The Enterprise joins the friends of the family in offering words of condolence to them while their hearts are weighted down with deep sorrow.
