Noble Warren Meek

(1858-1950)


By Christopher A. Meek
Noble W. Meek
Noble W. Meek
See picture of the family
See picture of the Mable

217. Noble Warren Meek was born on 07 Oct 1858 in Jasper Co., IA according to his death certificate. He moved with his parents to Kansas prior to 1870. He is listed with his parents in the 1870 census of Labette Co., KS. After the death of his father in 1871 he returned to Jasper County while his mother remained in Kansas. He was listed in the 1880 census of Palo Alto TWP, Jasper Co., IA living with William Hickson (Hixson). He was listed in the 1885 Iowa census of Newton, Jasper Co., IA. Listed with him was Martha A., age 19, Ruth A., age 55 and widowed, and Olive, age 14 born in Kansas.

He returned to the west and it is known that he lived in Logan Co., OK. in 1891. He received a homestead in Cleveland Co., OK. from the United States on 10 Jan 1896, according to the abstract. The land was 160 acres in the SW1/4 of Section 21 Twp 10 N Range one, West of Indian Menidain. They were reported in the 1900 census of Case TWP, Cleveland Co., OK.

He purchased 60 acres in Howell Co., Mo. on 23 Dec 1903 for $800. He transferred that land to his wife on 4 Jan 1904 according to deed records. He was reported living in Springfield, MO. in 1907 according to a newspaper article on the family. He purchased a lot in Osceola, IA on 4 Mar, 1909 for $150 according to the mortgage. That land was sold for $700 in March 1916 according a letter from an agent to Mable in Enterprise, IA.

The entire family was reported in the 1910 census of Oseola, Clarke Co., IA. He first appeared in the Des Moines City Directory in 1917 and he resided at 3315 2nd Avenue from 1918. He was reported in the 1920 census of Polk Co., IA. He was reported in the 1930 census of Polk Co., IA. He died in Page County on 5 Jan 1950, according to his death certificate. (Page County is the location of the State Mental Health Institute. It is assumed that he was sent there due to age and infirmity.)

He married (1) Martha A. Modlin on 6 Mar 1884 according to family papers. She was born about 1866 in Butler Co., IA according to the 1885 Iowa census. She may be the Martha Modlin, age 4 IA, living with J. W. Modlin, age 31 IN, and Sarah Modlin, age 31 OH, living in Washington TWP, Polk Co., IA in the 1870 census. John W. Modlin age 41, wife Sarah J. age 41 and Martha A. age 14 are listed in the 1880 census of Albion, Marshall Co., IA. The Iowa Gazetteer & Business Directory 1884-85 Vol 3 lists "Meek & Modlin (Noble W. Meek, John W. Modlin), Saw Mill" Marshall County adjoins Jasper County. Noble Warren Meek and Martha A. Modlin had the following children:

  • 321. Lawrence Noble Meek was born on 21 Jan 1885 in Newton, IA according to his birth certificate and the Idaho Death Index. He was age 25 in the 1910 census (dated April 15th) where he lived with his parents. He may be the person, Lawrence Meek age 33 single, in the 1920 census of Brule Co., SD living with J. C. Silvers age 38. He married Bertie Belle Harp 5 Apr 1930 in Weisen, ID. She was born about 1891 in Oregon. They are listed in the 1930 census of Willow TWP, Grant Co., OR on 8 Apr 1930. He resided in McCall, ID in 1942 when he signed a delayed Iowa birth certificate. He resided in McCall, ID in 1950 according to his father's obituary. The Idaho Death Index lists Lawrence Noble Meek born 21 Jan 1885, died 11 Mar 1950. He resided in McCall, Valley Co., ID. His obituary does not mention any children.

He married (2) Mable Helms (daughter of Francis Marion Helms and Mary Love Dickey) on 3 Oct 1890. She was born on 2 Sep 1871 in Polk City, IA. She died on 5 Apr 1952 in Page Co., IA according to her death certificate. Noble Warren Meek and Mable Helms had the following children:

  • 322. Noble Francis Meek was born on 17 Sep 1891 in Guithrie, OK.
  • 323. Percy Lee Meek was born on 20 Dec 1893 in Cleveland Co., OK. He died on 31 Dec 1971 in Malibu, CA. He married Rose Mae Brown on 5 Jun 1914 in Ankeny, IA. She was born 5 Mar 1896 in Boone Co., IA. She was the sister of Anna Brown, wife of Percy's brother, Noble. They were reported in the 1920 census of Polk Co., IA at 1209 E. 13th St. They moved to California. Percy worked in a garage for a while, but he ended up managing three local ranches, including Mesa Ranch in Decker Canyon and what is now the Circle “X” Ranch.
    “Daddy ran horses and cattle, and trained hunting dogs. “When I was a little girl, he planned an expedition to Manchuria to hunt Mongolian tigers, taking about 30 bloodhounds with him. He trained his dogs by hunting mountain lions around Malibu.”
    Daughter Mildred in the Malibu Times May 19, 2010
    • 421. Violet Meek was born 3 Jun 1915. She married Clint Daugherty. They had a daughter Colleen.
    • 422. Thelma Meek was born about 1918 in Iowa. She married (1) John Bohorquez by whom she had Robert. She married (2) _______ Paget.
    • 423. Victor Lee Meek was buried 4 Feb 1919 in Laurel Hill Cemetary.
    • 424. Vivine Laverne Meek was buried 18 May 1919 in Laurel Hill Cemetary.
    • 425. Mildred Mae Meek was born 22 May 1920. Millie was one of the first women in California to get her jockey's license and raced at Los Alamitos Race Course and in regional quarter horse shows.
      In an interview with the Malibu Times May 19, 2010 She remembers Malibu when Pacific Coast Highway was just a dirt road owned by the Rindge family, with a locked gate at each end. “I knew old May Rindge when I was a little girl,” Millie said. “She scared me. She walked around with a gun holster strapped to her hip.”

      She married (1) Harold Lewis.
      • 551. Vivian Mae Lewis married Dale Smith.
        • 660. Todd Smith

      Mildred married (2) Warner Mandeville.
      • 552. Chip Mandeville
      • 553. Bonnie Mandeville took her step father's name of Decker.

      Mildred married (3) James Decker. He died 8 Apr 1991. She continues to live and work at Mesa Ranch at age 91.
  • 324. Vesta I. Meek was born 20 Sep 1897 in Cleveland Co., OK. She died Dec 1975 according to the Social Security Death Index. She was single and lived with her parents in January 1920 according to the 1920 census. She married Herman L. Rainer 7 Mar 1920. He was born 10 Jan 1898. He died in Jan 1985. They are listed in the 1930 census of Will Co., IL with their children. They lived in Albia, IA in 1950.
    • 431. Evelyn E. Rainer was born 2 Aug 1922 in Iowa according to the Social Securty Death Index. She died Dec 1986 in Albia, IA. She married Floyd Dage according to family sources.
    • 432. Donald L. Rainer was born about 1926 in Iowa.
  • 325. Victor Irl Meek was born on 8 Jan 1899 in Cleveland Co., OK. (Click on name for more detail.)
    • 441. Victor Phillip Meek was born about 1928 according to the 1930 census.
    • 442. Howard Richard Meek born 18 May 1930 in Des Moines, IA. He married Rose Olive Playle on 4 Sep 1954 in London, England. She was born 12 Dec 1932 in London, England. She was the daughter of John Playle and Rosetta Roberts.
    • 443. Jerry Lee Meek was born 15 Jul 1934 in Des Moines, IA. He married Lugene Ruth Davidson 24 Dec 1955 in Carson City, NV. She was born in Ogden, UT on 25 Oct 1933. They were divorced on 25 Oct 1973.
    • 444. Robert David Meek was born 16 Oct 1939 in Polk Co., IA. He married Jan Jurgenson 11 Jul 1959. She was born 28 Nov 1939.
  • 326. Verna Meek was born on 23 Dec 1902 in Oklahoma. She died on 13 May 1969 in Des Moines, IA. She was single and lived with her parents in January 1920 according to the 1920 census. She married Earl Haviland 18 March 1925 in Polk Co., IA. They were devorced and she did not re-marry.
    • 451. Donald Haviland
    • 452. Evelyn Haviland
  • 327. Hazel Meek was born 10 May 1905 in Missouri. She died 1 Aug 1983 in Sutter, CA according to the California Death Index. She was single and lived with her parents in January 1920 according to the 1920 census. She married (1) Russell K. Barnes 14 Mar 1925 in Boone Co., IA.
    • 461. Billy Barns was born 1926.

    She married (2) Lloyd Hunneycutt about 1928. He was born about 1808 in California. They were reported in the 1930 census with her father. They were listed in the 1940 census of Ventura Co., CA.
    • 462. William Hunneycutt was born about 1926 in Iowa.
    • 463. Robert Hunneycutt was born about 1931 in Iowa.
  • 328. Ruth Meek was born in 21 Mar 1910 according to the California Death Index. She died 26 Mar 1987 in San Diego, CA. She was single and lived with her parents in January 1920 according to the 1920 census. She married Gus Olson.
  • 329. Evelyn Meek was born on 9 Sep 1913 in Clarke County, IA. She died on 27 Jan 1914 in Clarke County, IA.

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