Elmer Ellsworth McMeen was the son of Samuel R. and Hannah (Rice) McMeen and a great grandson of John and Elizabeth Hench Rice. He was born in Turbett Township, December 4, 1861 and died March 28, 1937.
At eighteen years of age in 1879 he went to Illinois and farmed there until 1882 when he returned and worked in stores at Port Royal and Patterson [now Mifflin]. From 1885 to 1892 he was in partnership with William Beale. Then he had a store in Huntingdon, Pa., until 1893 when he opened his business in Mifflin, Pa. Eventually he had stores in both Mifflin and Lewistown, Pa. He served as Juniata County auditor during the term 1890-1892.
OBITUARY for ELMER ELLSWORTH MCMEEN
FORMER JUNIATA COUNTIAN DIES IN LEWISTOWN
E. E. McMEEN, PROMINENT BANKER: CHURCHMAN AND CIVIC LEADER, PASSED AWAY ON SUNDAY
Lewistown, March 31 [1937]. Elmer E. McMeen, founder of Lewistown's leading department store, bank official, active churchman and prominent civic leader, passed away Sunday afternoon, March 28, 1937, at 5:15 o'clock, aged 75 years, 3 months, 24 days. The cause of his death was a complication of diseases brought about by infirmities of age. He had been bedfast for the past eight weeks.
The funeral was held at his late residence 117 Woods avenue, this (Wednesday) morning at 10:30 o'clock in charge of his pastor. Rev. Dr. Henry A. Riddle, assisted by Rev. James Martin, pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Mifflintown. Interment was made in the Presbyterian Cemetery, Mifflintown.
Mr. McMeen was born in Turbett Township, Juniata County, December 4, 1861, the son of Samuel R. and Hannah Rice McMeen. He was educated in the public schools of his home county and in 1879 he went to Illinois and farmed there until 1881, when he returned to Juniata County. In 1882 he worked in the store of his brother-in-law, Charles McCormick, at Port Royal and for the next three years in the store of T. J. Middagh at Patterson, now Mifflin. From 1885 until 1892 he was in partnership with W. M. Beale. He then withdrew from the partnership and conducted a store at Huntingdon until 1893.
On December 5, 1893, he opened a general merchandise business in Mifflin in which he was so successful that in 1900 he established a similar store in Lewistown under the name of E. E. McMeen and Company of which his cousin, Hugh B. McMeen, became manager. In 1926 Mr. McMeen sold his business in Mifflin and moved to Lewistown.
