William Spraggins Meek



By Christopher A. Meek

41. William Spraggins Meek was born on 20 Jun 1812 in Laurens Co., SC. He died on 21 Aug 1859 in Hot Springs, Garland, AR. He is listed 1850 Census, Tuscaloosa Co., AL, Census District 1, 10 Oct 1850, p. 166; Family 478, as Wm. S., 38, m, farmer, b. SC; Nancy, 38, b. SC; James S., 14, b. AL; Wm. S., 12, b. AL; John T., 11, b. AL; Manly, 8, b. AL; Isacc [sic], 5, b. AL; Martha, 3, b. AL; Sarah, 1, b. AL [abstracted by Stanphill]. This detailed listing is to prevent confusion as to the William S. Meek found listed in 1850 Union Co., AR census.

He moved to Tuscaloosa, AL and then to Union Co., AR. A letter from L. Jeanne Meek (Mrs. H. L.) Shaffer to Preston A. Meek (in 1958) states "Another interesting place was the old Hopewell church and cemetery, where William S. (Meek) was pastor. There were a number of graves of the Meek family there (near Junction City, Union Co., AR)."

"A licentiate of said church (Hopewell Presbyterian Church, Tuscaloose [sic] County, AL) on March 20, 1841" (Marriage Book B, p. 54, records of Union Co., AR). He performed the marriage of his son, James Stanhope MEEK to Mary Jane MOORE. (Marriage Book B, p. 189, Union Co., AR).

"PASTOR (1850, 52-54) ... Ordained to the Baptist ministry in Tuscaloosa, AL before 1844, and his ministerial credentials were filed in Union Co., Arkansas January 15, 1852. ... In Liberty Association he also served the Hopewell church." ("Biographical Notes on the Founders, Charter Members, and Pastors, First Baptist Church, El Dorado, AR", p. 29.) It is noted that this document is the only source found that gives the middle names of all his children.

He married Nancy A. Cole on 28 Dec 1832 in Tuscaloosa, AL. Marriage date listed as December 22, 1832 in "Biographical Notes on the Founders, Charter Members, and Pastors of First Baptist Church, El Dorado, AR" (p. 29). She was born on 12 Nov 1811 in Tuscaloosa Co., AL. She died on 20 May 1856 in Union Co., AR. Nancy Cole Meek had a brother, William Cole (b: 1776), who lived in Union Co., AR before moving to Navarro Co., TX where he died. Rev. William Spraggins Meek Sr. and Nancy A. Cole had the following children:

  • 135. James Stanhope Meek.
  • 136. William Spraggins Meek was born on 2 Aug 1838 in AL. He is listed 1850 Census, Tuscaloosa Co., AL, age 12. He is listed 1860 Census, Union Co., AR, age 21, residing with his uncle, James Madison MEEK. More than one source erroneously lists him as married to Mrs. Nancy Sheppard, but she was his father's second wife.

    He served in Confederate Army, initially in Capt. Reeder's Co., 3rd Ark. Reg., Inf., that was raised at Three Creeks, AR. Killed in battle, October 3, 1861 on the Greenbrier River. He was buried in Monterey, Highland, VA.

  • 137. John Tyler Meek. was born on 9 Aug 1841 in Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa, AL. He died in 1878 in Claiborne Parish, LA. He was buried in Claiborne Parish, LA. Listed 1850 AL Census, age 12. Listed 1870 Census, Union Co., AR Served in Confederate Army in Capt. John W. Reedy's Co. "G", 3d Ark. Reg., Infantry, that was raised at Three Creeks, Union Co., AR. Listed in Company "G" Muster Roll on July 5, 1861. Moved to Freestone County, TX in 1881.

    He married Margaret Lucky in 1862. She was born on 9 Oct 1844 in Union Co., AR. Thomas Campbell lists 1844 as year of birth. She appeared on the census in 1870 in Union Co., AR. She appeared on the census in 1880 in Union Co., AR. She died on 6 Sep 1910 in Teague, Freestone, TX.

    • 309. Samuel Walker Meek was born in 1865 in Union Co., AR.
    • 310. Nancy Meek was born in 1867 in Union Co., AR.
    • 311. John H. Meek was born in 1860 in Union Co., AR.
    • 312. Sallie B. Meek.
    • 313. Isaac Meek was born in 1872 in Union Co., AR.
    • 314. Harry Marshall Meek was born on 9 Sep 1877 in Claiborne Parish, LA. He died on 25 Mar 1938 in Lamesa, Dawson, TX.
  • 138. Basil Manley Meek. was born on 19 Aug 1843 in Tuscaloosa, AL. He died about 1864 in Franklin, TN, Civil War battle. Listed 1850 Census, Tuscaloosa Co., AL, Census Dist. 1, 10 Oct 1850, p. 305/154, in household of father, as Manly, age 8, b. AL. Listed 1860 Census, Union Co., AR, living with his uncle, John Meek, Jr. Served in Confederate Army in Capt. Reedy's Co., 3rd. Ark. Reg., Inf., which was raised at Three Creeks, Union Co., AR. He is listed in the July 5, 1861 Muster Roll of Company "G" as Boswell M. Meek. He was later detached from 3rd. Ark. and became a soldier in French's Div., Cavalry.

    He married Helen H. McClendon on 23 Dec 1860 in Union, AR. Age listed as 18 in marriage records. She was born about 1842.

  • 139. Isaac Curtis Meek. was born in 1845 in Tuscaloosa, AL. He died after 1882 in probably Cleburne, Johnson, TX. Listed 1850 Census, Tuscaloosa Co., AL. Served in Confederate Army under Capt. Rush. Listed on roll of Company "G" recruits who enlisted subsequent to July, 1861, or who were among the survivors of the Second Battalion. They moved to Tuscaloosa County, AL, then to Cleburne, Johnson Co., TX. Listed 1880 Census, Johnson Co., TX. He married Adelia Meek. She was born in 1850. Maiden name not known.
    • 315. Nora Meek was born in 1869 in AR.
    • 316. Hattie J. Meek was born in 1871 in AR.
    • 317. Elmer Meek was born in 1879 in Cleburne, Johnson, TX.
  • 140. Martha Jane Meek. was born in 1847 in Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa, AL. She died in 1889 in Union Co., AR. Listed 1860 Census, Union Co., AR, as living with brother James S. Meek. She married Marshall Johnson.
  • 141. Sarah Elizabeth Meek was born in 1849 in Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa, AL. Listed 1860 Census, Union Co., AR as living with brother, James S. MEEK.

He married Mrs. Nancy (Kelly) Sheppard on 28 Dec 1856 in Union Co., AR. She was born on 7 May 1819. Kelly was her maiden surname. She is listed in 1860 Union Co., AR Census, Jackson Twp. #3, age 42, b. TN. Rev. William Spraggins Meek Sr. and Mrs. Nancy (Kelly) Sheppard had the following children:

    • 142. Thomas Sheppard Meek was born on 15 Nov 1857 in probably Union Co., AR. Listed 1860 Census, Union Co., AR, Jackson Twp #3, as "T.T.S." age 2, b. AR.

    • Disclaimer: This genealogy was prepared by the author using undocumented and/or unverified sources. Some facts presented here MAY NOT be correct. Never accept as factual any information you find in a library, the Internet or from other genealogist unless it is supported by documentation. Documentation DOES NOT include the undocumented genealogies of other people including those on this web site.

    Information provided in part by Dell L. and Carolyn Meek Nelson

    GO TO TOP