John Meek born 1846

11. John Meek was born about 1846 in Ireland. It is not clear when he immigrated to America but he appears in the 1880 census of Chatsworth, Livingston Co., IL working as a grain dealer. He married Lucy C. Bell (Lou) before 1875. (See notes for logic on her last name.) She was born Aug 1848 in Illinois according to census records. She is listed with her son William in the 1900 census and was a widow. She was listed in the 1910 and 1920 censuses with her daughter Grace. They indicate that she had 3 children with 2 living. The 1880 census lists a servant Mary Meek age 17.

101. William D. Meek was born Jan 1875 in Illinois. He was listed in the 1895 census of Polk Co., IA. He was listed in the 1900 census of Polk Co., IA living with his mother and sister. He married Carolyn E. Shank (Carrie) in 1901 according to census records. She was born June 1877 in Red Oak, Montgomery County, Iowa. Her father was William Shank of Red Oak, IA. They were listed in the 1910 census with his sister Grace. They were listed in the 1920 and 1930 censuses of Polk Co., IA. Her sister Anna was listed with them. In all census records William is listed as a printer and eventually owned the Meek Printing Company in Des Moines.

201. John Withers Meek was born 3 Jan 1910 in Iowa. He died 1 Dec 1996 in Des Moines, IA. He was listed as single in the 1930 census where he was listed with his parents. He attended Grinnell College. He married Pauline Dorothy Zipfel (Toodie) 16 Jun 1931 according to Howesfamilies.com. She was born 25 Jan 1907. She died 04 Nov 1990 in Des Moines. Her parents were Joseph Samuel Zipfel and Elsie Pauline Howes. John’s Social Security Number: 478-10-5239.

301. William Joseph Meek married Dian L. Dobson. Resides in Des Moines, IA.

401. David William Meek
402. Female Meek
403. Female Meek

102. Grace M. Meek was born Apr 1883 in Illinois. She was listed with her brother William in the 1900 census and was single. She married Harry M. Davis. He was born about 1880 in Iowa. They were listed in the 1910 through 1930 censuses of Polk Co., IA.

211. Virginia Davis was born about 1908 in Iowa.
212. Marcia Jean Davis was born about 1917 in Iowa.

103. Child Meek died young

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.

THE IRISH IN IOWA
Biographies of Those Who Came From Belfast, Ireland
p. 188

WILLIAM D. MEEK. Prominent among the well established and substantial business houses of Des Moines devoted to the craft of printing is the Success Composition and Printing Company, of which the president and treasurer is Wiliam D. Meek. Mr. Meek during a long and active career has traveled the difficult self-made road to success, having started upon his independent life when he was a child of only thirteen years. With but a limited public school education and determination to make the most of his opportunities, he faced the world courageously, and since then has met and overcome obstacles with persistence until he has reached a prominent place in the business world, and has obtained the confidence and respect of those with whom he has been associated.

Mr. Meek was born at Peoria, Illinois, January 25, 1875, and is a son of John and Lou (Bell) Meek. His father, a native of Belfast, Ireland, came to the United States as an immigrant lad at the age of fifteen years, and secured employment in a commission office at Chicago, where he was working at the time of the great Chicago fire of 1871. Following this great disaster Mr. Meek made his way to Peoria, where he was employed as an expert accountant, and died at that place about 1887 or 1888. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, while Mrs. Meek, also now deceased, who was born on a farm near Farmington, Illinois, was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Of their three children two are now living; William D., of this review; and Mrs. H.M. Davis, of Des Moines.

William D. Meek attended public schools but when he was about thirteen years of age his father died and it was necessary for him to give up his studies and seek employment in order to contribute to a family income. He first secured work in a cracker factory, but at the age of fourteen years received his introduction to the printing business, of which he has since been a devotee. For several years after his arrival at Des Moines, in 1889, he was employed on newspapers in various capacities, and at one period in his career owned a half interest in the Shelby County Republican, which he held for two years. Eventually he entered the Success Composition and Printing Company, in which he has since worked his way upward, step by step, until he is now president and treasurer of the concern, one of the substantial enterprises of the Des Moines. This concern specializes in catalogue and book work, and has a modern and fully equipped plant at 607 Third Street. Mr. Meek is thoroughly familiar with every detail of the business, and gives his personal attention to every order, with the result that the company's patronage is constantly growing and the business is enlarging its scope and taking in new territory. Mr. Meek is a member of the Central Church of Christ, in which he belongs to the Board of Deacons. He is a Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the Knights of the Macabees, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Homesteaders. He has belonged to the Kiwanis Club for some years and for two years has been a member of the Board of Directors of that body, which he has accomplished much in a civic and commercial way for the city. He was elected to the presidency of the club in 1930.

On September 18, 1901, Mr. Meek was united in marriage with Miss Carolyn Shank, who was born and educated at Red Oak, Iowa, daughter of William Shank, and to this union has come one son: John W., born January 3, 1910, who is now a student at Grinnell College.

Originial source
Iowa Genweb - Books
Harlan, Edgar Rubey.
A Narrative History of the People of Iowa. Vol III. Chicago: American Historical Society, 1931

John Meek

(1846- ) Ireland

By Christopher A. Meek