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C. T. Meechan, engaged in farming near New Plymouth, was born in County Antrim, Ireland, June 30, 1851, a son of Thomas and Catherine (McVey) Meechan, who were also natives of the Emerald Isle. C.T. Meechan arrived in America on the 4th of March, 1863, with his mother and one brother, the family home being established in New York, where he attended school. After three years a removal was made to Wayne county, Pennsylvania, where the family entered the lumber business as producers, but after nine years the widespread financial panic put them out of business. Farming was then followed through the succeeding four years, after which they removed to Omaha, Nebraska, and C. T. Meechan became foreman of the smelting works there, while his brother, Frank Meechan, was also connected with the same business. They were employed by Jack Crook, who at one time was a candidate for governor of Idaho.
After four years spent as foremen of the smelter C. T. Meechan homesteaded in Greeley county, Nebraska, securing one hundred and sixty acres, which he farmed until he came to Idaho in 1902. He then took up his abode at Washoe, in Payette county, where he followed farming for four years, and later he worked for Dan Ruby as foreman of a grading gang, spending a year and a half in that connection near Caldwell. He afterward purchased his present place of twenty acres near New Plymouth and here carried on general farming and also raises some stock. He has a most attractive home and everything about the place is indicative of his progressive spirit.
In 1875 Mr. Meechan was married to Miss Sarah Ann Crosby, of Pennsylvania, and they have become the parents of thirteen children: Catherine, who is the wife of John Bagley and the mother of two children, Florence and Catherine, who are with their parents at Tacoma, Washington; Thomas, who is married and has two children, Thomas and Annie, and who is filling the position of foreman with Armour & Company at Omaha, Nebraska; May, who is the wife of Frank Driscoll and the mother of five children - John, Cecil, Vincent, Catherine and Anna, their home being at New Plymouth; Helen, who is the wife of Ellis Snow and has four children - Nettie, Florence, Byron and Edward; James, who was employed in the shipyards at Portland, Oregon, during the period of the World war; Frank, who was an instructor in the steel works in the service of the government and is still in the service at Newark New Jersey; Charles, who worked in the shipyards at Seattle during the war; Emmett, who was a member of the Twentieth Engineer Corps and was on active overseas duty in France; Robert, who was a meat inspector in France and is still in the service; Louis, who was at Fort Stephens for two and a half years; Veronica, the wife of John Walker, of Tacoma, Washington; Viola, a teacher at New Plymouth; and Loy, who was but three days in the service when the armistice was signed. Seven of the sons were thus in the service - a most creditable military record.
Mr. Meechan is truly a self-made man. Having lost his father when but six years of age, he has been dependent upon his own resources from early youth and by reason of his unflagging industry and perseverance he has won substantial success. He possesses a jovial temperament and a genial disposition and wins friends wherever he goes.