Bluefield Evening Leader, Bluefield, West Virginia

Saturday, January 4, 1908, page 3

A telegram was received in this city yesterday evening announcing the death in Washington of General John G Meem. General Meem recently spent a week or ten days here with his daughter, Mrs Randolph Harrison, and returned to Washington about six weeks ago. While his health had become feeble during the past few months, no apprehension of immediate danger was felt by his family, and the news of his sudden death, which was due to an attack of heart failure, came as a great shock to his family and friends.

General Meem was the son of John G Meem, who, in his day, was one of the most prominent citizens of Lynchburg, and he was born in this city February 10, 1832. He graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in the class of 1852, and after leaving college, spent several years in Brazil, engaged in engineering returning to his native city in time to enter the Confederate service, in which he was actively engaged throughout the war. After the war he lived, until 1885, at his home, Mount Airy, where he dispensed a liberal and general hospitality. In 1885 he sold his farm and moved to Washington, where he as employed for many years in the office of the supervising architect of the treasury, and for the past few years in the auditing department of the war office. He is survived by one brother, General Gilbert S Meem, of Seattle, and five children, Rev John G Meem of Brazil, James C Meem of Brooklyn, Stephen H Meem of McDowell, W Va, Mrs Randolph Harrison and J Lawrence Meem of this city.

General Meem was twice married, his first wife being Miss Nannie Cowan of Knoxville, Tenn; and his second wife, Miss Aurelia Halsey of Lynchburg. He was a man of the finest character and most sterling virtues, and illustrated in his life the best example of the old Virginia gentleman. He will be buried in Lynchburg, and notice of the funeral will be given out later. - Lynchburg News.