Athe Meeks



By Christopher A. Meek

49. Athe Meeks was born on 7 Apr 1793 in Greenville, SC. (Date according to a family bible). He died 1 Apr 1843 in Spencer Co., IN. He is likely the person listed in the 1830 census of Spencer Co., IN age 30-40. He is likely the person listed in the 1840 census of Spencer Co., IN age 40-50. He married Mary Vest. She was born 17 Apr 1797 Cloverport, Breck Co., KY. Her father was William Vest b: 1771. She died 3 Mar 1843 in Spencer Co., IN. One source gives her name as Anna Vest. Children and thier DOB from bible records. Ancestral File #: 22DK-KP DNA=SMGF#1

  • 53. William Meeks was born on 9 Jan 1815 in Spencer Co., IN. He died 30 Nov 1877 in Washington Co., UT. He married Mary Elizabeth Rhoads 5 Oct 1837 in Hancock Co., IL. She was born 23 Jan 1820 in Warrick Co., IN. She died 29 Mar 1899 in Wayne Co., UT. He is likely the person listed in the 1840 census of Spencer Co., IN age 20-30.

    William and family probably left with other church members for Nauvoo, IL in 1842. In 1946 they moved with others to Pottawattamie Co., IA. Finally in 1852, they crossed the plains and arrived in Springville, UT on October 1, 1952. See “Conquerors Of The West” by Florence C. Youngberg 14 April 1999. He was listed in the 1850 census of Pottawattamie Co., IA. He was listed in the 1860 census of Provo Co., UT. He was listed in the 1870 census of Washington Co., UT. Ancestral File #: 18WX-Z7
    • A. Harvey Henry Meeks was born 9 Apr 1838 in Spencer Co., IN. He died 17 Oct 1915 in Freemont Co., WY. He married Sarah Catherine Dowdell 25 Dec 1860 in Wasatch Co., UT. She was born 6 May 1846 in Osage Co., MO. She died 27 Mar 1936 in Hot Springs, Wyoming. He is listed with his parents in the 1860 census of Provo, UT. They are listed in the 1870 and 1880 censuses of Wasatch Co., UT. They are listed in the 1900 and 1910 censuses of Uinta Co., WY. In 1910 living with them is Wilie G. age 28, Reta M, age 24 and Elmer, age 21.
      • 1. Harvey Porter Meeks was born 11 Jun 1862 in Wasatch Co., Ut. He died in 1929.
      • 2. Sarah Jane Meeks was born 19 Jul 1865 in Wasatch Co., Ut. She died 12 Aug 1873.
      • 3. William Joseph Meeks was born 12 Apr 1868 in Wasatch Co., Ut. He died 13 Jun 1868.
      • 4. David Henry Meeks was born 30 Jun 1870 in Wasatch Co., Ut. He died 29 Jun 1946 in Bingham Co., Id.
      • 5. Electa Ann Meeks was born 15 Jun 1873 in Wasatch Co., Ut.
      • 6. Mary Elizabeth Meeks was born 12 Jul 1876 in Wasatch Co., Ut.
      • 7. Mahala Meeks was born about 1878 in Wasatch Co., Ut.
      • 8. John Jurde Meeks was born 23 Sep 1880 in Wasatch Co., UT. He died 23 Feb 1960 in Salt Lake Co., UT. He is listed with his parents in the 1900 census as single. He married Elizabeth Shelton 17 May 1901. She was born 1 Feb 1882 in Wasatch Co., UT. She died 5 Aug 1961 in Heber City, UT. DNA kit# SMGF1 through a grandson
      • 9. Thomas Elmer Hollis Meeks was born 4 Aug 1881 in Wasatch Co., Ut. He died in 1962.
      • 10. George Wiley Meeks was born 1 Jun 1882 in Wasatch Co., Ut. He died 28 Feb 1962. He is listed with his parents in the 1900 census as single.
      • 11. Susan Malissa Meeks was born 3 Nov 1884. She died 10 Nov 1884.
      • 12. Martha Henrietta Meeks was born 4 Feb 1886 in Wasatch Co., Ut. She died in 1961. She is listed with her parents in the 1900 census as single.
    • B. Henry Rhoads Meeks was born 23 Mar 1840 in Luce, Spencer Co., IN. (1850-1860 censuses)
    • C. Mary Elizabeth Meeks was born 11 Jun 1843 in Nauvoo, Hancock Co., IL. (1850-1860 censuses)
    • D. Mary Ann Meeks was born 23 Nov 1845 in Nauvoo, Hancock Co., IL. (1850-1860 censuses)
    • E. William Meeks was born 18 Feb 1846 in Winter Quarters, Pottawattamie Co., IA. (1850-1870 censuses)
    • F. Joseph Brigham Meeks was born 8 Jan 1850 in Winter Quarters, Pottawattamie Co., IA. (1850-1870 censuses)
    • G. Mary Jane Meeks was born 2 Dec 1851 in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie Co., IA. (1860 census)
    • H. Mary Ellen Meeks was born 16 Jan 1854 in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie Co., IA. (Not listed in any census)
    • I. John Meeks was born 1855 in Fort Supply, Wayne Co., WY. (Not listed in any census)
    • J. Mary Melissa Meeks was born 20 Aug 1856 in Fort Supply, Wayne Co., WY. (1860-1870 censuses)
    • K. Mary Louise Meeks was born 25 Aug 1859 in Provo, Utah Co., UT. (1860-1870 censuses)
  • 54. Posey Meeks was born on 24 Oct 1816 in Luce Twp, Spencer Co., IN.
  • 55. John Meeks was born on 5 Sep 1818 in Luce Twp, Spencer Co., IN. He died 21 Oct 1903 in Warrick Co., IN. He married Mary Ann Ezra 22 Dec 1848 in Warrick Co., IN. She was born 15 Oct 1831 in Indiana.
    • A. William Riley Meeks was born 17 Aug 1850 in Indiana
    • B. Millard Fillmore Meeks was born 5 Jun 1852 in Indiana
    • C. Rebecca Jane Meeks was born 28 May 1854 in Indiana
    • D. John Thomas Meeks was born 3 Mar 1857 in Indiana
    • E. Emma Elizabeth Meeks was born 3 Mar 1857 in Indiana
    • F. Joseph Meeks was born 26 Feb 1860 in Indiana
    • G. Luretta Retta MMeeks was born 13 Feb 1863 in Boonville, Spencer Co., IN.
    • H. Viola Lola Meeks was born 27 Oct 1865 in Boonville, Spencer Co., IN
    • I. Anna Meeks was born 17 May 1868 in Boonville, Spencer Co., IN
    • J. Mida Meeks was born 14 Jan 1871
    • K. George Meeks was born 16 Mar 1874 in Boonville, Spencer Co., IN.
  • 56. Athe Meeks was born on 14 Nov 1820 in Luce Twp, Spencer Co., IN. He died 19 Mar 1913 in Cowley, Big Horn Co., WY. He married (1) Emaline Sarah Thurman 1 Jan 1858 in Rockport, Spencer Co., IN. She was born 2 Feb 1841 in Spencer Co., IN.
    • A. Sarah Ann Meeks was born 4 Dec 1860 in Warrick Co., IN.

    He married (2) Susannah Powell 24 JUL 1864 in Rockport, Spencer Co., IN. She was born 19 Oct 1842 in Spencer Co., IN.
    • B. Martha Rebecca Meeks was born 14 May 1865 in Newtonville, Spencer Co., IN.
    • C. Esther Jane Meeks was born 16 Dec 1866 in St. George, Washington Co., UT.
    • D. Louis Atha Meeks was born 20 Mar 1869 in Spring Valley Lincoln Co., NV.
    • E. Susan Emaline Meeks was born 3 Apr 1872 in Spring Valley Lincoln Co., NV.
    • F. Joseph Milton Meeks was born 23 Sep 1874 in Bear Valley, Iron Co., UT.
    • G. John Franklin Meeks was born 1 Jun 1877 in Parowan, Iron Co., UT
    • H. Mary Alice Meeks was born 14 Apr 1883 in Parowan, Iron Co., UT.
  • 57. Alan Meeks was born 3 Apr 1823 in Luce Twp, Spencer Co., IN. He died 9 Oct 1842.
  • 58. Greenbury Meeks was born on 7 Feb 1825 in Luce Twp, Spencer Co., IN. He died on 22 Oct 1827.
  • 59. Mary Ann Meeks was born on 24 Mar 1827 in Luce Twp, Spencer Co., IN.
  • 60. Elizabeth Jane Meeks was born on 9 Feb 1830 in Luce Twp, Spencer Co., IN.
  • 61. Milton Meeks was born in Sep 1832 in Luce Twp, Spencer Co., IN.
  • 62. Margaret Teeney Meeks was born in Feb 1835 in Luce Twp, Spencer Co., IN.
  • 63. Amy Minta Meeks was born on 12 Mar 1838 in Luce Twp, Spencer Co., IN.
  • 64. Davis Meeks was born on 8 Apr 1847 in Luce Twp, Spencer Co., IN.

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.

CONQUERORS OF THE WEST - Stalwart Mormon Pioneers
Compiled by Florence C. Youngberg
Agreka™ Books ISBN 188810631X 14 April 1999

At age 22, William married Betsy, who was 18. During 1840, William's uncle, Priddy Meeks, introduced the Meeks family to the LDS Church. Part of the family was converted, including William's family, William's grandmother Meeks, and a couple of other Meeks families. Most of these converts left Indiana in the spring of 1842 and joined the main body of saints in Nauvoo. William was one of the 300 men who volunteered to rescue Joseph Smith, who had been kidnapped on the pretense of legal proceedings. In February 1846, when the saints were forced out of Nauvoo, William went with the first group, the Pioneer Company, as a member of the police. He returned for his family in May 1846, and they left Nauvoo with the final wave of saints from the Poor Camp, those poor or ill people who were not adequately prepared to leave. They traveled to Winter Quarters and William continued as a policeman under Hosea Stout. In 1848 the saints had to leave Winter Quarters, so William moved his family to Kanesville (Council Bluffs), Iowa, because they, like others, were not yet prepared to go to the Salt Lake Valley. Finally in 1852, they crossed the plains under Captain William Mendenhall. They arrived in the valley on October 1, 1952. The Meeks family settled in Springville, and within a year, they moved to Salt Creek (Nephi). During this time, William was a U.S. Deputy Marshall. In February 1856, Brigham Young called William and his family to go to Fort Supply, Wyoming. They arrived in late spring of 1856. With the advancement of Johnston's army, the family relocated to Provo Valley (now Heber) for a time. William was involved with cattle ranching, and he and several others established the first lumber mill in the area. It is reported that William and his family moved to St. George in 1862, and on to Pine Valley near the end of the 1860s. In 1870, William went to the Paria area northeast of Kanab to work with the Indians. He died at the age of 63 as the result of an accident while riding his horse. His wife Betsy moved to Thurber (Bicknell) and lived with her daughter Melissa. She died at the age of 80, surviving her husband by 22 years.

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