Celebrating 180 Years of Meeks Mortuary!
This year marks the 180th anniversary of the Meeks Mortuary & Crematory, the oldest business in Delaware County. To celebrate the occasion, we wanted to explore the history of the company and its long-running support of Minnetrista Museum & Gardens.
A Brief History of the Company
The Meeks family became pioneer residents of the area when Amos and Nancy Meeks journeyed with their children from Monongalia County, West Virginia to Delaware County in 1839. Their eldest sons, Robert and Isaac, quickly began working as apprentices for the cabinetmaking and undertaking firm, Nottingham & Swain. During this time, they developed their woodworking skills by crafting furniture, cabinets, and caskets. In 1844, the brothers acquired the business and changed the name to R. & I. Meeks, beginning a family legacy that would last for generations.
In 1871, Robert’s oldest son, James, joined the firm and the business was renamed R. & I. Meeks and Company. Robert’s sons, Martin and William, also joined the family business and eventually bought their uncle Isaac’s interest in the company. While Robert, James, and William focused on the furniture side of the side of the business, Martin took on the undertaking portion. During this time, the business was on the corner of Elm and Washington streets in downtown Muncie. When a fire destroyed the original building in 1880, the firm relocated its furniture showroom and sales offices to East Main Street.
Following the deaths of the Meeks woodworkers, Robert (1906), James (1913), and William (1916), the furniture business was discontinued, and the firm reorganized to become M. L. Meeks and Sons Mortuary. Martin and his sons, Arthur, Ernest, and Charles, focused the company’s efforts and became a leader for mortuary services in the region. Meeks was the first to own a motor-hearse in 1915 and opened one of the first buildings specifically designed as a mortuary in 1932. This facility at 415 E. Washington Street is still the present-day location of Meeks Mortuary.
Arthur’s son, David M. Meeks, Sr., began working at the firm with his father and uncles in the 1940s. He eventually took on the role of president of the company and became the fourth generation to lead the family business. Following David’s death in 1993, Manager of Operations Gordon D. Cox became president of the Meeks Mortuary. In 2015, Gordon’s son, David A. Cox, followed in his father’s footsteps and took over as president. Though the Meeks family no longer runs the company, their legacy lives on through the continued dedication of the Cox family and staff devoted to maintaining this long-lasting Muncie business.
Meeks and Minnetrista
The Meeks family and the Meeks Mortuary business have been supporters of Minnetrista Museum & Gardens since the beginning. In November 1988, one month before the museum opened, they made their first (and perhaps most interesting) donation to the Heritage Collection. This wicker transfer basket or “casket basket” was used to transport or temporarily hold the body of the deceased for viewing before burial. These were especially popular during the Victorian period (1837-1901), but they have made a resurgence with the growing interest in eco-friendly burials.
In 1993, Gordon Cox made several sizable donations to the Heritage Collection on behalf of Meeks Mortuary. These donations included photographs, archival materials, and an assortment of mortuary supplies and embalming instruments.
In 1998, Minnetrista received a call from Louesa Danks, granddaughter of James Meeks. She had numerous treasures pertaining to her family’s history and furniture business in her Columbia, Missouri home that she was interested in donating. Director of Collections Karen Vincent and Registrar Heather Davis flew out to meet with her. Louesa gave them her grandparent’s family Bible containing records of Meeks family marriages, deaths, and births, and she made a promise to donate the larger artifacts. Though she had never lived in Muncie, she wanted the pieces to “come home.” Two years later, Karen Vincent returned to collect the Meeks family heirlooms for the Heritage Collection. After Louesa passed away in 2007, Minnetrista also received a number of family photographs as part of her estate.
Meeks has also extended their support of Minnetrista as an annual business partner. Since 2005, they have donated funds to help maintain and grow our organization, showing their commitment to our community. This year, they increased their support to become a sponsor of Senior Days, a revitalized program offering special days of free admission and exclusive programming for seniors.
As we celebrate their milestone of service, we feel grateful for their ongoing support and look forward to more years of partnership and growth. The enduring legacy of the Meeks Mortuary & Crematory in Muncie is marked by a commitment to excellence and community service which has made them a cornerstone of Delaware County, and a valued partner of Minnetrista Museum & Gardens.
