James Stanhope Meek



By Christopher A. Meek

135. James Stanhope Meek was born on 13 Jun 1837 in AL. He died on 12 Dec 1896 in Fort Smith, Sebastian, AR. He is listed 1850 Census, Tuscaloosa Co., AL, living at home. He is listed 1860 Census, Union Co., AR, Cornie Twp., P. O. Three Rivers, as age 23, a farmer. (Also listed in his household: Martha G.[sic] Meek, age 13, born AL, and Sallie E. Meek, age 11, born AL; and P. H. Thompson, age 23, born AL. (These two girls were his sisters; relationship of Thompson not yet known).

Served in Confederate Army 19 June 1861 in Three Creeks, Ark., with Capt. [James W.] Reedy. He was a First Sergeant, in July 1861. Joined Co. G, 3 Reg't Arkansas Infantry as a recruit on 1 March 1862. Received a 43-day furlough on 1 Feb 1863. He was promoted to 2d Lieutenant 19 Sept. 1863. Appears on a List of casualties in 3d Arkansas Regiment since May 6, 1864, dated near Charles City Road, Va. on March 10, 1865, as killed and died of wounds on May 6 at Wilderness, Va., wounded severely in face. Appears on a List of Prisoners of War, belonging to the Army of Northern Virginia.

  • [Compiler's note: On August 10, 1864 he requested a furlough "In consequence of a bad calamity which has befallen my family." The 'bad calamity' was the death of his wife, at age 25, on 8 Jul 1864; the death of his son, William S., on 13 July 1864, and the death of his wife's grandmother, Lydia Tubb, on 9 July 1864, all in Three Creeks, Union, AR. This resignation was disapproved by Com'd Sec'y of War on 25 Aug 64. On 11 Jan 1865, he again tendered his resignation, but its disposition is not included in copies of Lt. Meek's service records that were secured from the Arkansas History Commission.]

    He married Mary Jane Moore on 24 Dec 1857 in Union Co., AR. Married at residence of William G. MOORE, Esq., by William S. Meek, M.G., the father of the groom. She was born on 18 May 1839 in AL. She died on 8 Jul 1864 in Union Co., AR. She was buried in Hopewell Cemetery, Three Creeks, Union, AR. Listed 1860 Census, Cornie Twp., Union Co., AR as wife, age 21, born AL. They had the following children:

    • 299. William S. Meek was born on 2 Sep 1858 in probably Union Co., AR. He died on 13 Jul 1864 in Three Creeks, Union, AR. He was buried in Hopewell Cemetery, Three Creeks, Union, AR. Listed 1860 Census, Cornie Twp., Union Co., AR as age 2 years.
    • 300. John A. Meek was born on 18 Nov 1859 in probably Union Co., AR. He died in 1910. He never married. Listed 1860 Census, Cornie Twp., Union Co., AR, p. 186, as age 1.
    • 301. James Wise Meek was born on 2 Aug 1861 in Arizona, Claibourne, LA. He died on 13 May 1952 in Fort Smith, Sebastian, AR. He was buried on 15 May 1952 in Oak Cemetery, Fort Smith,

      The co-founder of the Coca Cola Bottling Company of Fort Smith. He came to Fort Smith with his family from Cleburne, Texas when he was 18 [which would be about 1879]. He worked in the grocery store of Paul DeLorvin on Towson avenue and later on Garrison avenue until he purchased the store. A short time later his brother, the late Robert Meek who died in 1949, became his partner. The brothers started a wholesale and jobbing candy company at Sixth and A streets about 1892 and later started the manufacture of candy. They expanded the business with the purchase of the D. J. Young Bottling company and built the present building at Third street and Rogers avenue. He was a member of the First Baptist Church and for more than 40 years was a member of the board of deacons. He was also active in the Elks' club for many years.

      He married Gertrude Brown 10 Dec 1890 in Fort Smith, AR. She was born Feb 1865 in Alabama.The were listed in the 1900 census of Ft. Smith, Sebastian Co., AR. In the 1910 and 1920 censuses James and his son James are living with his sister, Della. In 1930 James continues to be with his sister.

      • 411. James Dabbs Meek was born 22 Nov 1892 in Fort Smith, AR. He married Lora DeWanda Van Dyke 30 Apr 1927 in Fort Smith, AR. She was born 12 Sep 1902 in Kansas City, KS. He died 26 Mar 1975 in Fort Smith, AR.
        • 521. James Dabbs Meek was born 14 Jan 1928 in Fort Smith, AR. He died 1 Jun 2009 in Poteau, OK. DNA Kit#112162
        • 522. Roger Stanhope Meek was born 24 Jul 1932 in Fort Smith, AR.
        • 523. Carolyn Wanda Meek

    James Stanhope Meek married Heather O'Hara before 1866. She was born in Tara, County Antrim, IRELAND.

    • 302. Fannie Meek was born in 1866. She died in 1949 in Fort Smith, Sebastian, AR. She was buried in Oak Cemetery.
    • 303. Robert Stanhope Meek Sr. was born on 4 Jul 1868 in Ruston, Lincoln, LA. He died on 18 Oct 1949 in Fort Smith, Sebastian, AR. He was buried in Oak Cemetery Robert Meek was co-founder, with his brother James Wise Meek, of the Coca Cola Bottling Company of Fort Smith. He married Louisa Allen Milton 18 Oct 1903.

      • 421. Preston Allen Meek was born 28 Aug 1905. He married (1) Anna F. Edwards 24 Sep 1929 in Texarkana, AR. He married (2) Eunice Price. He died 23 Jan 1962 in Fort Smith, AR.
      • 422. Anna Louise Meek was born 17 Mar 1913 in Fort Smith. She died 11 Dec 1997 in Fort Smith. She married Ben Bourne Johnston. He died 23 Dec 1998 in Fort Smith.
      • 423. Robert Stanhope Meek, Jr. was born 21 Jul 1908. He married Sarah Elizabeth Dean (Sally Beth) 31 Jan 1938 in Alexander City, AL. in Birmingham, AL. She died 27 Oct 1985 in Fort Smith. He died 24 Apr 1977 in Fort Smith, AR.
        • 511. Sallie Louise Meek was born 26 Nov 1938. She married Rev. Vernon Ross Hunter on 28 Aug 1958.
          • 601. Sarah Hunter
          • 602. Morgan Hunter
          • 603. Ross Hunter
          • 604. Robert Hunter
        • 512. Anne Milton Meek married Melvyn Bell.
          • 611. Kimberly Anne Bell
          • 612. Eric Preston Bell
        • 513. Robert Stanhope Meek III was never married.
    • 304. Pansy Meek was a poet and teacher at City University in New York City.
    • 305. Della Meek was born about 1874. She married Andy Carr. They were listed in the 1910 to 1930 censuses of Ft. Smith, AR.

    James Stanhope Meek married Pattie Leigh Meek before 1886. She was born in 1844 in AL. She died in 1928 in Fort Smith, Sebastian, AR. She was buried in Oak Cemetery.

    • 306. Susan A. Meek was born on 2 Jan 1880. She died on 3 Dec 1894. This date is not certain, being based only on the "tradition" that she was age 14 at time of death.
    • 307. Julian Meek was born about 1884. He died in Mar 1884 in infancy, at Fort Smith, Sebastian, AR.
    • 308. Gresham King Meek was born in 1886. He died in 1960 in Fort Smith, Sebastian, AR. He was buried in Oak Cemetery, Fort Smith, Sebastian, AR. He married Evelyn Bragg. They had the following children.
      • 431. Gerald King Meek

    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

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