Meek Family of Fountain Co., IN

and DeKalb Co., MO


By Christopher A. Meek

11. David Meek was born between 1760 and 1769 based on the 1830 census of Fountain Co., IN.

David Meek is reported to be the son of George Meek born 1741. The name David Meek appears in deed records for Centre Co., PA. An 1802 deed names his wife, Mary. An 1807 deed transfers land to Rachel Meek. A deed dated 17 Mar 1808 indicates he is a resident of Armstrong Co., PA. The 1810 census of Armstrong County names David Meek age 26 to 44 with the oldest female being the same age. There were 2 males and 1 female born between 1795 and 1799. There were 3 males and 2 females born between 1800 and 1810. Connection to Fountain Co., IN is based on the following; several of the Fountain County children were born in Pennsylvania. The obituary of William Meek born about 1805 says he was born in Halfmoon TWP, Centre Co., PA.

He may have been the person named David Meek age >45 in the 1820 census of Butler Co., OH. While there is no evidence to connect him to the subject of this genealogy also listed on the same page was Abner Meek age 16 to 25. Both names were uncommon for their respective time periods.

David Meek was listed in the 1830 census of Fountain Co., IN age 60 to 69. Also listed were 3 other males age 15 to 19 and 1 females age 15 to 19, and 1 female age 50 to 59. Recorded next to David was George Meek age 30 to 39 followed by Abner Meek whose name and data is difficult to read but the oldest female was age 30 to 39.

The 1840 Troy TWP, Fountain Co., IN census records sequentially lists William Meek age 20 to 29, Richard Meek age 30 to 39, Jane Newell age 20 to 29, Abner Meek age 40 to 49, Mary Meek age 70 to 79. These people are believed to be the wife and children of David Meek. Also listed, after Mary, was Matthew Matheson age 30 to 39.

Support for the hypothesis that the Meek family from DeKalb Co., MO was the same family who previously lived in Fountain Co., IN is provided by the 1836 Fountain County marriage record of Richard Meek.

Family legend says that David married Mary Bailey. Mary Meek in the 1840 census has been reported to be the wife of David Meek. David’s absence from the 1840 census of Fountain County does not prove that he was deceased nor does the presence of an older female named Mary without a husband prove that David was deceased or that Mary was David’s wife. However, it is the hypothesis of this author that Mary in the 1840 census was the widow of David Meek. Living with Mary in the 1840 census was an unidentified male age 40 to 49 and an unidentified female age 40 to 49. These two people could have been two children, a child and spouse or people totally unrelated to Mary.

The names of David’s children was provided by a grandson, Benjamin Meek of Clarksdale, MO, and reported in a 1929 paper by Cora Beach who collected information from family members. David’s grandchildren remembered their grandmother, Mary. There is no known proof that the following is an accurate or complete list of children.

Y-DNA implecation: A possible descendants of John Meek #104 below and William Meek #106 below have 35/37 marker Y-DNA match indicating that they shared a common Meek ancestor. Y-DNA alone does not prove that the ancestor was David Meek. A single descendant of Robert Meek born 1769, a reported brother of David, does not match the Y-DNA of descendants of David. The conflict cannot be resolved without additional Y-DNA testing.

  • 101. Polly Meek married ______ McMannaby according to family legend.
  • 102. George Meek was born between 1790 and 1799 according to the 1830 census. He was listed in the 1830 census of Fountain Co., IN (1830 1 male age 30 to 39, 1 male age under 5, 1 female age 30 to 39 and 1 female under 5). This record indicates that he was married with two children.
  • 103. Abner Meek was born about 1794 in Pennsylvania based on census records. He married Sarah _____. She was born about 1794 in Pennsylvania. He was listed in the 1830 census of Fountain Co., IN (1830 1 male age under 5, 1 male 10 to 14, 1 female 5 to 9, 2 females 10 to 14 and 1 female 30 to 39) and it is believed that Abner is not recorded correctly. He was listed in the 1840 census of Fountain Co., IN. He was listed in the 1850 through 1860 censuses of Troy TWP, Fountain Co., IN. Living next to Abner was David Meek born about 1819 Ohio.
    • 201. William T. Meek was born about 1824 in Ohio. He was residing with his parents in 1850 and 1860.
  • 104. John Meek was born about 1808 in Pennsylvania based on the 1850 census of Polk Co., IA. He was probably the person listed named John Meek in the 1840 census of Fountain Co., IN age 20 to 30 without family. John does not appear in census records DeKalb Co., MO. An 1829 history of the family written by Cora Beach indicates that John married Martha Johnson and moved to Des Moines, IA. Although John Meek in the 1850 census of Des Moines is married to Sarah born in 1831 she was too young to be the mother of all of his probable children. Listed with John in the 1850 census are two Mathewson children. Also record in the 1850 census of Des Moines is Mathew Mathewson age 38 NY, wife Isabella and 3 Meek children. A person named Matthew Mathewson age 30-39 was listed in the 1840 census of Fountain Co., IN next to several of John Meek’s siblings including Rachel Whitaker. In addition the 1860 census of Des Moines list Rachel Whitaker age 57 living with Isabelle Mathewson age 62 the apparent widow of Matthew Mathewson as well as Jane Meek and Reuben Meek.

    Y-DNA implecation: Descendants of John Meek and William Meek #106 below have 35/37 marker Y-DNA match indicating that they shared a common Meek ancestor. Y-DNA alone does not prove that the ancestor was David Meek.
    • a. Reuben Meek was born 10 May 1844 in Davis Co., IN. *DNA Kit #447314
  • 105. Richard Meek was born about 1803 in Pennsylvania. He died 8 Feb 1881 in DeKalb Co., MO. He married Indiana Hamilton 16 Jun 1836 in Fountain Co., IN according to marriage records. She was born in 1816 in Ohio. They were listed in the 1840 census of Fountain Co., IN (1 male 30 to 39, 1 male under 5, 1 female 20 to 29 and 1 female under 5). They were listed in the 1850 to 1880 censuses of Dekalb Co., MO.
    • 211. Marietta Meek was born 3 May 1837 in Indiana. She married George Wyatt.
    • 212. David H. Meek was born about 1839 In Indiana. He married Margaret Ann Sloan 30 Jan 1868 according to Marriage records. She was born about 1843 in Missouri. They were listed in the 1870 to 1880 censuses of Dekalb Co., MO. They were listed in the 1900 to 1910 censuses of Dekalb Co., MO.
      • 311. Marietta Meek was born Oct 1868.
      • 312. Commodore Meek was born Oct 1873 in Missouri. He married Allie Keeter 15 Mar 1905. They were listed in the 1910 census of DeKalb Co., MO.
        • 420. Roscoe Imel Meek was born 3 Feb 1906.
      • 313. William O. Meek was born 14 Sep 1881 in Missouri. He married Pauline Rachel Duce 14 Apr 1911 in DeKalb Co., MO according to marriage records. They were listed in the 1930 to 1940 censuses of DeKalb Co., MO.
        • 431. Homer H. Meek was born about 1912.
        • 432. Anna M. Meek was born about 1915.
        • 433. Inez I. Meek was born about 1917.
        • 434. Carl Fredrick Meek was born about 1918.
        • 435. Thelma L. Meek was born about 1923.
        • 436. Leith E. Meek was born about 1924.
        • 437. Nila F. Meek was born about 1926.
        • 438. Myrtle M. Meek was born about 1928.
        • 439. Ernest W. Meek was born about 1930.
        • 440. Faye Meek was born about 1932.
        • 441. Oscar Meek was born about 1934.
        • 442. David Meek was born about 1936.
    • 213. William Levi Meek was born 2 Dec 1841 in Illinois. He died 24 May 1917. He married Melvina Lipscomb 17 Jan 1866. She was born about 1843. They were listed in the 1870 to 1900 censuses of Dekalb Co., MO.
      • 321. Laura P. Meek was born 26 Dec 1866. She died 27 May 1873.
      • 322. Elba Meek was born about 1868 in Missouri.
      • 323. Cordelia B Meek was born about 1870 in Missouri.
      • 324. Edith Grace Meek was born 3 Mar 1872. She died 2 Aug 1873.
      • 325. Harry Lipscomb Meek was born 22 May 1874 in Missouri. He married Bea McDonald.
      • 326. Victor Benjamin Meek was born 25 Mar 1876. He died 3 May 1877.
      • 327. Joseph R. Meek was born 9 Apr 1878 in Missouri. He died 20 Nov 1944. He married Anna M. Staack.
        • 451. William Meek was born 26 Sep 1907.
        • 452. Helen Meek was born 12 Nov 12 1908.
        • 453. Josephine Meek was born 1 Jan 1911.
        • 454. Grace Meek was born 20 Jan 1918.
      • 325. Ethal A. Meek was born 9 Apr 1881 in Missouri.
      • 326. Kent Roydon Meek was born 21 Oct 1884 in Missouri. He married Mayme Williams.
      • 327. Lelland W. Meek was born 19 May 1887 in Missouri. He married Mae Douglas.
    • 214. Sarah A. Meek was born 12 Apr 1844 in Illinois. She died 3 Oct 1906. She married Henry Homberger 3 Jan 1867.
    • 215. Benjamin F. Meek was born 6 Oct 1846 in Missouri. He died 23 Jan 1939. He married Daisy Peters 17 Jan 1900. They were listed in the 1900 to 1920 censuses of Dekalb Co., MO.
      • 331. Benjamin F. Meek was born 5 Dec 1900. He married Edith Greshan.
      • 332. Wyatt M. Meek was born 16 Sep 1902. He married Marie Bell.
      • 333. Effie C. Meek was born about 1905.
      • 334. Richard Howard Meek was born 23 Mar 1908. He married Ann S. Roper.
    • 216. James Sloan Meek was born about 1849 in Missouri. He died in 1871 according to family members.
    • 217. Commodore Perry Meek was born about 1851 in Missouri. He was listed in the 1880 census of Lawrence Co., Dakota Territory living with his sister Amanda. He is probably the single person named C. Meek born May 1855 listed in the 1900 census of Weston Co., WY.
    • 218. Amanda Meek was born about 1859 in Missouri. She married Oscar Widner and lived in Weston Co., WY.
  • 106. William Meek was born in 1805 in Halfmoon TWP, Centre Co., PA. He died 31 Oct 1891 in Maysville, DeKalb Co., MO according to his obituary in the DeKalb County Herald. He came to DeKalb County in 1844. He married Elizabeth Ann Flick. She was born about 1824 in Ohio. They were listed in the 1850 to 1880 censuses of Dekalb Co., MO.

    Y-DNA implecation: Descendants of William Meek and John Meek #104 above have 35/37 marker Y-DNA match indicating that they shared a common Meek ancestor. Y-DNA alone does not prove that the ancestor was David Meek.
    • 221. George W. Meek was born about 1841 in Indiana. He married Elizabeth _____. They were listed in the 1860 census of DeKalb Co., MO.
    • 222. Abner N. Meek was born about 1846 in Missouri.
      • 331. Rosa Meek was born about 1870 in Missouri.
      • 332. Ann Meek was born about 1873 in Missouri.
    • 223. Henry Milton Meek was born 7 Jan 1848 in Missouri. He died 3 Oct 1914 according to his tombstone. He married Nancy E. _____ according to the 1880 census. He was listed in the 1880 census of DeKalb Co., MO. He was listed in the 1900 to 1910 censuses of DeKalb Co., MO. The 1900 census indicates she had three children one of which had died.
      • 301. Elza Melvin Meek was born 12 Jul 1876 in Missouri. He died 20 Aug 1856. He married Jennie E Shaw. She was born Feb 1853.
        • 401. Edward H. Meek was born about 1905 in Missouri.
        • 402. George M. Meek was born about 1907 in Missouri.
        • 403. Harold Josiah Meek was born 18 Nov 1908 in Missouri. He died 7 Jan 1956. AKA Josiah H. Meek in 1910 census.
          • 501. Larry Melvin Meek was born 5 sep 1943. DNA Kit #310121
      • 302. Porter F. Meek was born Jul 1880 in Missouri
  • 107. Rachel Meek was born about 1806 in Pennsylvania according to census records. She married David Whitaker. She was listed in the 1860 and 1870 censuses of Polk Co., IA living with Isabella Mathewson and children named Meek.
  • 108. Jane Meek was born between 1810 and 1819. She married John Newell. She appears in the 1840 census of Fountain Co., IN as an apparent widow.

Notes:

Democratic Watchman May 1, 1931,
the info in the article was from papers compiled by Elizabeth Breckenridge Meek

Robert Meek came from Edinburgh, Scotland.
Lived near Hagerstown until 1755 and then moved to Cumberland Co., PA.
Served in the French Indian War
Died Hopewell Township, Cumberland Co., PA in 1777.
Letter of Administration 20 May 1777 appointing Hugh Meek and John Meek
Robert had 6 sons and article names Robert, John, William and George

George Meek
1784 came to Centre County on survey mission
5 Jun 1790 took up a track of land Ferguson TWP. Surveyed 5 Jun 1790.
Served in fifth PA battalion under Thomas Alexander 1778-1781.
He married Rachel Heron (daughter of David Heron) 1770 Newton TWP, Cumberland Co., PA.
Will of David Heron probated 18 Mar 1778 in Carlisle: “To my daughter Rachael’s children she now being wife to George Meek ….”
George’s will written 23 Nov 1801, probated 19 Jan 1802, “... to my dear wife, Racheal, …”


1850 DeKalb Co., MO
11 11--10 Sep 1850
William Meek 45 PA
Elizabeth 24 OH
George W. 10 IN
Abner N. 4 MO
Milton 2 MO
12 12
Richard Meek 46 PA
Indiana 35 OH
Marietta 13 IN
David 11 IN
William 8 IL
Sarah A. 6 IL
???
Sloan 2 MO


1860 Mayville, Grand River TWP, DeKalb Co., MO
812-812 10 Aug 1860
William Meek 56 PA Famer
Elizabeth 36 OH
Abner N. 14 MO
Milton 12 MO
214 214
George Meek 18 IN
Elizabeth 16 MO


1860 Mayville, Dallas TWP, DeKalb Co., MO
153 153 16 Jun 1860
Richard Meek 56 PA Farmer
Indiana 44 OH
David H. 21 IN
William 18 ?
Sarah A. 16 ?
Benjamin 13 MO
James S. 11 MO
Comadore P. 9 MO
Amanda 4 MO


1870 Stuartville, Adams TWP, DeKalb Co., MO
31-31 26 Aug 1870
Meek, William 65 PA Farmer
Elizabeth 45 OH
Milton 20 MO


1870 Stuartville, Adams TWP, DeKalb Co., MO
150 150 31 Aug 1870
Meek, Richard 67 PA
Amanda 13 MO
James 20 MO
Perry 19 MO
152 152
Meek, David 30 IN
Margaret 26 MO
Marieta 1 MO


1880 Adams TWP, DeKalb Co., MO
7 Jun 1880
Meek, William Head, 75 PA Farmer
Elizabeth Wife, 56 OH Germany OH
Abner Son 33 MO
Rosa Grandchild 10 AR
Ann Grandchild 7 MO


1880 Adams TWP, DeKalb Co., MO
116 116
Meek, David 40 IN PA OH
Margaret Wife 35
Marretta Dau 12 MO
Comadore Son 6 MO
Richard Father 77 PA PA PA
117 117
Meek, William Head 39 IL PA PA
Mavina Wife 37
Elba Dau 12 MO
Cordelia B Dau 10 MO
Harry Son 6 MO
Joseph R. Son 2 MO


1880 Adams TWP, DeKalb Co., MO
27 27 4 Jun 1880
Meek, Milton H. 31 MO PA OH
Nancy (wife) 23 MO TN TN
Elsie(son) 3 MO


1810 Armstrong Co., PA
David Meek 3-2-0-1-0//2-1-0-1
John Meek 2-0-0-1-0//0-0-1


1830 census of Fountain Co., IN
David Meek 0-0-0-3-0-0-0-1//1-0-1-0-0-0-0-1
George Meek 1 male under 5, 1 male 30-39, 1 female under 5 and 1 female 30 to 39
Horse Meek


1840 census of Fountain Co., IN
William 1 male age 20 to 29, 1 female age 15 to 19.
Richard 1 male 30 to 39, 1 male under 5, 1 female 20 to 29 and 1 female under 5
Jane Newell 0-0-0-0-///1-1-0-0-1
Abner 0-0-0-1-1-0-1//0-0-1-2-1-0-1
Mary Meek 0-0-0-0-0-0-1//0-0-0-0-0-1-0-0-0-1
Mathew Mathson 0-0-1-0-0-1//0-0-0-1-0-1 both 30 to 39


1850 Shawnee TWP, Fountain Co., IN
763-763
Abner Meek 56 PA
Sarah 56 PA
William 24 OH
Mahala Bunch 9 IN
762-762
David Meek 31 OH
Elizabeth 18 IN