Samuel L. Meek



By Christopher A. Meek

1. Hiram Meek was born about 1835 in Kentucky. He married Elizabeth Wright about 1866. They were listed in the 1870 and 1880 censuses of Monticello, Wayne Co., KY. They were listed in the 1900 census of Pulaski Co., KY as High and Easter E. Meeks.

Note on connection to children: This connection depends largely on records that are not entirely consistent. Samuel and other listed children can be tied to Wayne Co., KY and a father named High Meeks. The 1900 census of Pulaski Co., KY lists High Meeks born March 1835 and wife Easter E. Meeks. It lists children Fronie May 1875, Samuel Apr 1879, Sallie Dec 1880 and William Dec 1885. Samuel in the 1910 census of Knox Co., KY was born about 1881 but other records are conflicting. He has a brother, William, living with him who was born about 1887. William’s birth certificate says his father’s name was Hi.

The 1880 census of neighboring Wayne County lists Hiram Meeks age 43 and wife Elizabeth. Of the three children one is Sophrona age 4. This could be Fronie born 1875 in the 1900 census of High Meeks. Of course Samuel in the 1900 census would not be in the 1880 census if he were born after 1800. Fronie’s death certificate gives her parents as High Meek and Sallie Wright.

Discrepancies such as these are not uncommon and should not be ignored. Tax, deed and probate records need to be reviewed. However, Samuel and other children can be place in Wayne County which limit the possibilities for their parents.

Note on extended family tree: In the 1870 census Hiram lives next door to George and Mahala Rogers. Living with them is Susanah Meeks age 56 and Viana Meeks age 15. These two Meeks previously lived with Samuel Meeks born about 1788 in the 1860 census. Living next to High Meeks in the 1900 census of Pulaski County was King Meeks. This unique name also ties High Meeks to Samuel Meeks and Wayne County where King Meeks lived with Samuel Meeks at age 11 in the 1860 census. There are no clear records regarding Samuel’s children at this point. However, the men named Meeks in Wayne County appear to be related to him.

Note on Y-DNA: A descendant of Samuel L. Meeks born about 1881 has taken the Y-DNA test (Kit #28093). It is only valid for that person until additional test on other related descendants are available. However, it has potential implications for all members of this tree. The person tested is predicted to be in the R1b haplogroup and has no useful matches. He has no matches with the Meek or Meeks surname. This means he is NOT related to several large groups of early American Meek(s) ancestors. A single descendant of Samuel Meek born 1788 through his son Samuel born 1845 also has a Y-DNA test which matches Group C in the Meek DNA Project. Addition participation is required to resolve this conflict. See the Meek/Meeks DNA Project website for more details.

  • 21 George B. Meek was born about 1867 in Kentucky based on Wayne Co., KY census records.
  • 22. Elizabeth Meek was born about 1869 in Kentucky based on Wayne Co., KY census records. She was not listed in the 1880 census.
  • 23. James E. Meek was born about 1873 in Kentucky based on Wayne Co., KY census records.
  • 24. Sophrona Meek was born about 1875 in Kentucky based on the 1880 Wayne Co., KY census. She died 27 Nov 1931 in Hardin Co., KY according to her death certificate which names her parents as High Meeks and Salie Wright. She was listed as Fronie in the 1900 census of Pulaski County and most records after that time. She married Craven K. Simpson 19 Nov 1905.
  • 25. Samuel Lathiat Meeks was born about 1881 in Kentucky. His birth date varies in different records from 1877 to 1882 He died 29 Mar 1940 from an accident in the coal mine in Harlan Co., KY according to his death certificate. He was listed with his parents in the 1900 census of Pulaski Co., KY with a birth date of Apr 1879. However other records indicate that he was born closer to 1881. He was not listed in the 1880 census with his parents.

    He married Clara Bessy Money 22 Aug 1907 in Knox Co., KY according to their marrige certificate. She was born 17 Jan 1892. She was the daughter of Noah Money and Theodosia Patterson. She died 24 May 1965 in Harlan, Harlan Co., KY. They were listed in the 1910 census of Knox Co., KY. They were listed in the 1930 census of Harlan Co., KY.

    Note on date of birth: His 1907 marriage license says he was he was 26 years old having been born in Wayne Co., KY. His 1940 death certificate says he was 65 years old with a date of birth 18 Apr 1878. His place of birth is not clear but could be "Wain Co., KY". However, His father was listed as being born in Wayne Co., KY. His draft registration gives his date of birth as 18 Apr 1877. He was not listed in the 1880 census for Hiram Meeks. The 1910 census dated 23 April gives his age as 28. The 1920 census has not been found. The 1930 census dated 9 April gives his age as 48. If his father was Hiram Meek of the 1870 and 1880 censuses Samuel had to have born after 15 Jun 1880.

    Note on father's name: His marriage license does not name his father but names his mother as Catherine Meeks. His death certificate is hard to read but could be Hein Meeks. His mother's name was Elizabeth wright. The death certificate for his sister, Fronie, names her parents as High Meeks and Salie Wright. His brother's death certificate names his father as Hi Meeks. The relationship between some of these siblings is not clearly established and based on a probable connection to Hiram Meeks.
    • 101. Child Meek died before the 1910 census.
    • 102. Rufus Meeks was born 22 Aug 1908 in Knox Co., KY. He died 8 Aug 1992. He married Nora Lucinda Ide 28 Dec 1944. She was born 21 Dec 1920.
    • 103. Maude Elizabeth Meeks was born 10 Jul 1910 in Knox Co., KY. She died 29 Oct 1988. She was listed with her parents in the 1930 census.
    • 104. James R. Meeks was born 12 Mar 1912. He died 03 Oct 1993 in Antioch, Costa Contra Co., CA. He was listed with his parents in the 1930 census. He married (1) Melvina Ide. He married (2) Anna Marie Brown 28 Jan 1939. She was born 10 Aug 1921.
    • 105. William Arthur Meeks was born 18 Nov 1913. He was listed with his parents in the 1930 census.
      • 201. Billy Ray Meeks
        • 301. Private Kit# 28093
    • 106. Flora Mae Meeks was born 20 May 1916. She died 24 Sep 1916.
    • 107. Hazel Marie Meeks was born 9 Sep 1919. She died 20 Dec 1958. She was listed with her parents in the 1930 census.
    • 108. Mildred Alene Meeks was born 21 Apr 1922. She was listed with her parents in the 1930 census.
    • 109. Delores M Meeks was born 27 Aug 1923. She died 29 Jul 1953. She was listed with her parents in the 1930 census.
    • 110. Alma Faye Meeks was born 18 Sep 1927. She married George Baker 28 Dec 1946. She was listed with her parents in the 1930 census.
    • 111. Curtis Edward Meeks was born 18 Aug 1929. He was listed with his parents in the 1930 census.
  • 26. Sallie Meek was born about 1883 in Kentucky.
  • 27. William Meek was born about 1888 in Kentucky. He was living with his brother Samuel in 1910.
  • 28. Mahala M. Meek was born about 1872. She died 14 Oct 1933. She married (1) William H. Patterson. She was widowed and was living with her brother Samuel in 1910. She married (2) William S. Miller 16 Jun 1892 in Pulaski Co., KY.

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.

This is the family of Jason Meeks

GO TO TOP