Calvin David Meckley

Narrative:

     Calvin David Meckley was born on 16 Mar 1878 in Winfield, Union Co., Pennsylvania.^8,9,10
     He appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Chillisquaque Twp., Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, in the household of his parents, Jeremiah S. Meckley and Annie R. Wirth.⁴
     Calvin appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Kelly Twp., Union Co., Pennsylvania, enumerated 1 Jun 1900, on the farm of J. B. Winkelbleck, his wife and four children. He was working there as a farm laborer.²²
     Even though many records used the spelling Meckley for his surname, as his father used, as an adult Calvin often used the spelling Meckly on formal documents.^2,3,23
     Calvin married first Flora Mabel Benfer, daughter of William H. Benfer and Emma Evans, on 7 Mar 1901 in Kelly Crossroads, Union Co., Pennsylvania, at his parent's home, with Rev. J. L. Barnhart officiating.^11,12,13
     Calvin and Flora appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Milton, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, at 455 Shakespease Ave., enumerated 16 Apr 1910, reporting they were renting their home. Their children Anna, Grace and Paul were listed as living with them, as was Frank A. Smith, age 24 and working at a nut works, listed as a boarder.²⁴
     His wife died on 20 Apr 1911 in Milton, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania.^25,26

Passing Forged Checks --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Calvin was arrested 10 Dec 1913 by Milton police on a warrant sworn by the Union National Bank for passing a forged check for $71.50. He was held on $1,000 bail. He was then charged in a case preferred by the Lewiston National Bank, for collecting on a $230 note based on a forged signature. He could not post the bail and was held in jail awaiting trial. After the trial, he served 21 months in the Eastern Penitentiary.^27,28
     Calvin married second Bertha Mae Simons, daughter of John Henry Simons and Mary Catharine Riegel, on 1 Feb 1916 in Milton, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, with Rev. Joseph Anderson officiating.^14,15,16
     He was a cutter at a nut works in 1910, and a nut maker there in 1920.^29,30,31 He registered for the draft for World War I on 12 Sep 1918, while living at 140 Elm St., Milton, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, reporting he was employed as a nut machine operator for Milton Manufacturing Co., in Milton.³
     Calvin and Bertha separated shortly after 1918, when they were living together at 140 Elm, Milton, but never divorced. Both continued to live in Milton.

More Trouble With the Law --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     By the end of Nov 1919 Calvin was in the Northumberland Co. jail awaiting trial on new forged check charges. In October he had been playing the fair in Bloomsburg and passed a forged check for $98. Several days later Columbia Co. officers arrested him at the Lewisburg fair. He promised to make the check good and the victum dropped the charges. But in order to make restitution, Calvin wrote a check for $90, and when it was found to also be forged check he was arrested in Milton.³²
     Calvin appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Milton, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, in the household of his daughter Anna and her husband, Charles Munson.³³
     On 17 Apr 1926 Federal prohibition agents raided two hotels and three private residences in Milton, including Calvin's, at 145 South Front St. At his residence they took one pint of whiskey for evidence, and destroyed several gallons. He and one other were unable to post bond and were taken to Williamsport.³⁴
     Calvin was sentenced to two to four years in state prison 8 Oct 1927 in Danville, Pennsylvania, after he pleaded guilty to forgery. He was directed to return the $242 he had received with a forged check, fined $200 and costs. He admitted had been settled an earlier forged check charge in Sunbury.³⁵ He was arrested again 23 Sep 1930 for forging and cashing a check for $67.50 at Watsontown. He was held at the county jail after he didn't pay $2,000 bail.³⁶
     Calvin appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Milton, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, at the rear of 54 Center St., enumerated 8 Apr 1930, reporting he was renting his home, for $7 per month.³⁷

Wife Seeks Support --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Calvin was arrested 21 Dec 1938 in Milton on a charge of non support preferred by Bertha. Bail was set at $300. He was ordered 25 Jan 1939 to pay her $4 per week for support. He was arrested 5 Aug 1940 for failing to comply with the order and remained in jail until 6 Sep, when the order was cancelled after Bertha wrote a letter to the court stating she was employed on a WPA sewing project and "I am able to work and owe nobody."^38,39
     Calvin appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Milton, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, at 73 Broadway, as a roomer in a hotel operated by Bertram Galbraith and his sister Maude. He reported he had lived in the same city in 1935.⁴⁰
     Bertha filed charges of desertion and non-support against Calvin in Northumberland Co. 17 Dec 1941. He was given a hearing and released on $500 bail pending the next term of the county court. The case was dismissed 28 Jan 1942 after she asked the court to release him from jail, stating that she was now working and able to take care of herself.^41,42
     By 1930 he was a laborer for a building carpenter. By 1940 he was a self-employed painter. That year he reported he had worked 30 hours the last week of March, and 32 weeks the prior year.^43,44 He registered for the draft for World War II on 27 Apr 1942, while living at 23 Broadway, Milton, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, reporting he was employed by Glenn DeHart, on Turbot Ave., Milton.⁴⁵
     Calvin appeared on the 1950 Federal Census of Milton, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, at 25 Broadway St., enumerated 5 Apr 1950, listed as one of five roomers in a rooming house operated by Edward Lauth and his wife Ruth.⁴⁶
     He reported in the 1950 census he was unable to work, but apparently later continued to work as a painter and paper hanger.^47,48
     Calvin died on 20 Mar 1955 in Coal Twp., Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, at age 77.^17,18 He was buried on 22 Mar 1955 in Lewisburg Cemetery, Lewisburg, Union Co., Pennsylvania.^19,20,21