Ron Meeks has been an American Civil War student for approximately 65 years! He has visited more than 50 Civil War Battlefields, read approximately 200 non-fiction books on the subject, researched the history of numerous historical places and people from that era and taken every opportunity to expand his Civil War knowledge and experiences. He became genuinely interested in studying the war because of several somewhat strange and unusual connections to the war that he experienced early in life.

Ron was born and raised in Akron, Ohio. His family moved into a historic part of Akron in 1951. Shortly after moving in, Ron learned that two doors down the street from his house was a museum that had been the home of the famous abolitionist John Brown. The property that Ron’s house was located on was also part of the Brown property prior to the Civil War. Across the street was another museum honoring another famous individual named Simon Perkins from the pre-Civil War era. Ron was given free access to both museums, so he spent many hours in and around those museums.

Ron’s interest in the Civil War was further primed when he visited several battlefield sites in the south during the next few years. He learned that his father was born in a Civil War Battlefield town, located very close to several other famous Civil War Battlefield National Parks. Additional research revealed that his grandfather’s childhood home had been taken over by the Confederate Army for several months during the war and was used by a prominent general for his headquarters. Ron found several books and articles mentioning that fact and showing photos of the house.

When Ron was in his early teens, he got a job working in a nearby cemetery after school. As he worked there, he learned that the cemetery was not only for burying Akron citizens, but it was also a Civil War Memorial Cemetery containing the graves of hundreds of Civil War soldiers.

Another surprising connection occurred as Ron researched more and more. He learned that the building next door to the McLean House in Appomattox Court House, Virginia where General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant was a Meeks General Store. Ron knew that his ancestors had been in the General Store business during the Civil War but had not known that one of those stores was located in such a famous location.

All of these surprising connections to the Civil War fueled Ron’s lifelong interest in learning more about the American Civil War at a very personal level. He continues his research to this day.
As part of his research, Ron has studied war records of ancestors and others. These records detail their specific history during the war including where they went, what battles they fought, and other information. He has read many personal letters written by soldiers to families and friends during the war. He has studied weaponry, life and death experiences, specific battles and other aspects.
Ron has become quite knowledgeable about the Civil War and shares this information in his speeches. He also invites the audience to join in the discussions. He looks forward to speaking before new groups of people with interest and enthusiasm.