Obit from Frankfort Morning Times

The Frankfort Morning Times
January 21, 1905
Death Call An Old Pioneer To Rest
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John C. Meneely, Sr. Dies of Rigors of Age
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Came to Clinton County in 1840
Graded and Graveled the Court
House Square
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(Saturday's Daily.)
John C. Meneely, Sr., who had been a resident of Clinton County since 1840, died at 2:30 o'clock this morning at his home in East Paris Street, his demise being due to the wearing process of age, he being at the time of his death in his ninety-first year. He was in his accustomed good health until a few days ago and did not grow seriously ill until yesterday and in the afternoon began sinking. The end came peacefully, like one falling asleep. The funeral will be held Monday and interment will be had at the Laymon Cemetery, five miles northeast of the city. John C. Meneely was born in Cumberland County, Penn., November 28, 1814, and shortly after his birth his parents moved to Albany, New York. His father was a pilot for a number of years on a boat that plied between Albany and the seaport. When four years old the parents moved to Cincinnati and made the journey from Albany by keel-boat. From Cincinnati the family went to Greenfield, Highland County, Ohio. In 1830 they moved to Butler County, Ohio. In February, 1836 John C. Meneely and Miss Nancy Stewart were married. Five children were born to them, Joseph, James A., Hannah, John C. and Nancy. The mother died in 1846 after the family had moved to this county. Mr. Meneely cast his first presidential vote in 1836 for Martin Van Buren and for the same candidate again in 1840. After casting his vote on election day of 1840 he started with an ox team for this county and arriving here settled on what is now know as the James Messler farm. Some years after the death of his first wife he was married to Miss Nancy M. Franklin, who died in 1864, having borne him seven children, Ellen M., Sarah Belle., Franklin P., Alice Margaret, Eliza and Alva Retta. In the spring of 1856 he made an overland trip to Texas, traveling in a "prairie schooner," but not liking that country returned in the fall of the same year. In 1860 he bought the farm on which Joseph Meneely now resides near Avery. In 1865 he was married to Susan Davis, who died in 1872. One child, Charles A., was born of this union. That year he graded and graveled the public square in Frankfort, for which he was paid $9,000. In 1873 he was married to Mary Lee and to them two children were born, Ora L. and William C. In 1880 he took up residence just east of the city, where his wife died. In 1889 he was married to Susan J. Baker, of Colfax, who survives. The following children are also living; Joseph Meneely, of Avery; Hannah N., wife of Abraham Cashner, of Darlington; Sarah, wife of Cyrus Booher, of Darlington; Frank P., of Moscow, Idaho; Alice, wife of Alex Buchanan, of Darlington; Miss Lydia Meneely, of Darlington; Charles and William, of Frankfort, and Ora, wife of Arch Gladman, of Yeddo, Ind. In point of years of continuous membership he was the oldest Mason in Indiana, having joined the Frankfort lodge in 1848. He was well and popularly known all over the county, was a man of fine physique and one who had his full share in the development of the county. The funeral will be conducted from the Christian Church Monday morning at 10 o'clock, Rev. Connor, of Irvington, officiating. Interment at Bunnell Cemetery. The pall bearers will be selected from the membership of the local Masonic order.