Ezra Meech (July 26, 1773 – September 23, 1856) was an American fur trader and politician. He served as a U.S. Representative from Vermont.

Ezra Meech
Member of the United States House of Representatives from Vermont's 4th district
In office
March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1827
Preceded byDaniel Azro Ashley Buck
Succeeded byBenjamin Swift
Member of the United States House of Representatives from Vermont's At-large district
In office
March 4, 1819 – March 3, 1821
Preceded byWilliam Hunter
Succeeded byJohn Mattocks
Member of the Vermont House of Representatives from Shelburne
In office
1805–1806
Preceded byNathaniel Newell
Succeeded byNathaniel Newell
Personal details
Born(1773-07-26)July 26, 1773
New London, Connecticut Colony, British America
DiedSeptember 23, 1856(1856-09-23) (aged 83)
Shelburne, Vermont, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic-Republican, Jacksonian
SpouseMary McNeil Meech
Children8
ProfessionFarmer
Businessman

Biography

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Meech was born in New London in the Connecticut Colony to Elisha Meech and Faith Satterly Meech. He moved to Hinesburg in the Vermont Republic with his parents in 1785 and attended the common schools. Meech engaged in the fur trade in the Northwest and in ship-timber contracts in British Canada.[1] In 1795 he opened a store at Charlotte Four Corners, Vermont. He moved to Shelburne, Vermont, and owned a farm. He also raised cattle and horses, and manufactured potash. In 1806 he was an agent of the Northwestern Fur Company.[2]

Meech was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives from 1805 until 1807.[3] He was elected as a Democratic-Republican candidate to the Sixteenth United States Congress, serving from March 4, 1819, until March 3, 1821.[4] He was a delegate to the state constitutional conventions in 1822 and 1826, and was chief judge of the Chittenden County Court in 1822 and 1823.

Meech was elected as a Jacksonian candidate to the Nineteenth United States Congress, serving from March 4, 1825, until March 3, 1827.[5] He was an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for Governor of Vermont in 1830, 1831, 1832, and 1833. Meech served as a presidential elector on the Whig ticket in 1840.[6] He then resumed agricultural pursuits.

Personal life

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Meech married Mary McNeil Meech in 1800. They had eight children.

Death

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Meech died on September 23, 1856, in Shelburne, Vermont. He is interred at the Shelburne Village Cemetery.

References

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  1. ^ Carleton, Hiram (1903). Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Founding of a Nation, Volume 2. Lewis Publishing Company. p. 584.
  2. ^ "Ezra Meech Biography". 19th Century Biographies. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  3. ^ "MEECH, Ezra, (1773 - 1856)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  4. ^ "Rep. Ezra Meech". Govtrack.us. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  5. ^ "Rep. Ezra Meech". Govtrack.us. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  6. ^ "Meech, Ezra (1773-1856)". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved November 26, 2012.

Further reading

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  • "Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Founding of a Nation, Volume 2" by Hiram Carleton, published by Lewis Publishing Company, 1903.
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Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Governor of Vermont
1830, 1831, 1832, 1833
Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Vermont's at-large congressional district

1819-1821
Succeeded by
Seat inactive
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Vermont's 4th congressional district

1825-1827
Succeeded by