William Meek

(Husband of Rosanna Skinner)


By Christopher A. Meek

11. William Meek was born between 1800 and 1810. Rosanna Skiner's husband is unknown. Some people believe that his name was William Meek and that is why this page starts with that name. Y-DNA from a descendant of Obadiah Meek show's his father was in Group C of the Meek DNA Project. There were several Group C descendants who settled in early Decatur Co., IN. Obadiah did not descend from John Meek born 1754 or Jacob Meek born 1755 both in Group A.

There were several men named William Meek(s) in Indiana during the first half of the 1800’s. The only one not accounted for to some extent was William Meeks in the 1840 census of Clinton Co., IN age 30 to 40. (1-2-2-0-0-1//1-1-0-0-1) He is not in the 1850 census. William Skinner and some of Rosanna’s sons moved to Clinton County. There is no known credible evidence concerning who Rosanna’s husband was.

William Skinner was born about 1871 in Virginia based on the 1850 census of Washington TWP., Decatur Co., IN. He was listed in the 1840 census of Decatur Co., IN age 70 to 80. He died 21 May 1856 and is buried next to Milly in Layton Cemetery in Michigan TWP, Clinton Co., IN according to his tombstone. His Clinton Co., IN will refers to his wife Milly and daughter Rosanna Meeks as well as other children. It states “I will and devise to the heirs of my beloved daughter Rosanna Meeks one dollar each...” The date of the will is not known as of this writing.

In 1840 William Skinner was listed after John Meek born between 1810 and 1819. However, this John Meek cannot be the husband of Rosanna Skinner as he was alive after Rosanna was listed alone in 1850.

Rosanna Skinner was born about 1794 Virginia according to the 1850 census of Washington TWP., Decatur Co., IN where she listed next to her father, William Skinner. She died before May 1856. The name of her husband is not known but she is obviously a widow in 1850 as she was listed as Rosanna Meek with several Meek children.

The following James has been attached to this family in some genealogies. However, The 1850 census of Platte Co., MO taken on September 20th lists James Meek, age 27, Susan, age 28, and Clarinda, age 2/12. The 1850 census of Decatur Co., IN taken on August 14th lists James, age 30, living with Rosanna.

5. James M Meek was born about 1826 in Indiana. He died about 1884. He came to Platte Co., MO in about 1849. His wife was apparently very young and or illiterate because she never knew anyone's age or the spelling of their name, including her own. In 1880 in Atchison, KS, James Meek and Robert B Butler(his son-in-law) left to make their fortune and no-one ever heard from them again. He married Susannah ______. She was born about 1825 in Tennessee-North Carolina Border. She died about 1871 in Andrew Co., MO.

9. Clarinda C. Meek was born on 16 Jul 1850 in Marshall TWP, Platte Co., MO. She died in Jan 1871 in Andrew Co., MO. She was buried in Jan 1871 in Doniphan Co., KS. She married John Lee Watson. He was born on 29 May 1850 in Noble, Wabash Co IN. He died on 5 Jan 1913 in Mitchell Co., KS. He was a hired hand for George Hattibaugh in Andrew Co., MO. The Hattibaugh farm was adjoining James Meek's land as a Tenant Farmer. Clarinda became pregnant and gave birth to a son (William Milton Watson). They were never married and when the baby was 10 months old, Clarinda died. So did her Mother and little brother. Her sister, Josie took the baby and apparently just gave him his father's name.
John Watson and his new wife, Martha Freemeyer, then moved to Beloit Kansas and then to Simpson, KS and started a new family. His first born never knew him.
14. William Milton Watson was born on 31 Mar 1870 in Nodaway Andrew Co., MO. He died on 31 Oct 1948 in Omaha, Douglas Co., NE. He married Maud Musetta Nelson on 15 Jun 1893 in Chester, Thayer Co., NE. She was born on 18 Nov 1876 in Edgar, Thayer Co., NE. She died on 18 Sep 1966 in Beatrice Gage Co NE.
10. Louisa Jane Meek was born in 1853 in Platte CO, Marshall TWP, MO. She died in 1886 in Gage Co., Wymore, NE. Burried Atchison, KS. She married Robert B Butler on 19 Nov 1868 in Columbus, Doniphan Co.KS. He was born in 1851 in Missouri. He died in 1884 in enroute to California. They were divorced about 1881. After moving to Nebraska in 1880 or 1881 she died in 1886 and left her 3 other children plus a nephew for her sister Josie to raise.
11. Jeriah Josie Meek was born about 1856 in Platte Co., Marshall TWP, MO. She died on 17 Sep 1909 in Gage Co., Wymore, NE. She married John (Jack) Bassacker on 8 Feb 1885 in Wymore, NE. He was born in 1841 in Ohio. He died about 1913. No children.
12. Francis M Meek was born about 1858 in Doniphan Co., KS. In 1909 Meek's Cigar Store advertised in the Wymorean NewsPaper. In 1911 the Wymore Newspaper lists Frank M. Meek as owner of a pool hall. In 1911 also listed F.M. Meek as City Clerk of Wymore.
13. Harry Charles Meek was born about 1861 in Doniphan Co., KS. He died about 1871 in Andrew Co., MO.

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