Frederick A. Meckel, judge of the Fifth judicial district of Kansas, composed of Lyon, Coffey and Chase counties, a descendant of stanch and worthy German ancestors, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Jan. 20, 1857. His father, Max L. Meckel, came to America from Germany in 1848 and here met and married Maria Halbritter, also a native of Germany and the daughter of August Halbritter, who spent his entire life in the Fatherland as did also Frederick Meckel, the parental grandfather of Judge Meckel. Frederick Meckel was a prominent man in his locality and filled a judicial position. He died at the age of forty-nine. Max L. Meckel and his wife became the parents of five children, of whom Frederick A. is the eldest. They were residents of Cincinnati after their marriage until 1886, when the family removed to Cleveland, Ohio, where the father continued his vocation of lithographer, and where his death occurred in 1868. Both parents were members of the German Lutheran church.

Judge Meckel was reared in Ohio and received his education in the common schools of that state. In 1878, having attained to his majority, he left his early friends and associates and came to the State of Kansas. He first settled in Seneca, Nemaha county, where he began the study of law in the office of Conwell & Clawson and was admitted to the bar in October, 1883, by Judge David Martin of Atchison. He immediately entered upon the practice of his profession alone in Washington county, when he was elected county attorney in 1892, serving one term. In January, 1899, he removed to Chase county and practiced there until elected judge of the Fifth judicial district in 1904, to which office he was reëlected in 1908, having previously served two terms as county attorney of Chase county. Judge Meckel has always been a stanch Republican and has taken an active interest in the party's work. Besides his official and professional duties, Judge Meckel has other interests as the owner of a fine farm in Chase county, and a stockholder in two Chase county banks, the Exchange National at Cottonwood Falls and the State Bank at Strong City.

In 1887 Judge Meckel was united in marriage to Miss Jennie E. Bell of Aurora, Ill., who died in 1901. His second wife was Miss Jennie Howenstein of Bellefontaine, Ohio, to whom he was married in 1906. Mrs. Meckel is a member of the Presbyterian church and Judge Meckel affiliates fraternally with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. In the year of 1906, Judge Meckel removed from Cottonwood Falls to Emporia, which latter city has since been his place of residence.