John Meek

(1808-1889)



By Christopher A. Meek

11. John Meek was born about 1808 in Pennsylvania. He died 26 Feb 1889 in Polk Co., IA at the age of 81 according to his death certificate. (No other information available from death certificate.) He came to Iowa about 1847 according to the 1856 Iowa census. In the 1850 Federal census of Polk Co., IA he is married to Sarah age 18 and has a one year old daughter, Martha. However, there is reason to believe that he had other children which also leads to his family and point of origin.

In the 1856 census one of the children is Reuben Meek age 13 born in Indiana. However, Reuben is listed in the 1850 census at age 6 with Matthew and Isabella Matthewson. Also listed are Jane Meek age 18 Indiana and Margaret Meek age 9 Indiana. In the 1860 census Reuben and Jane are listed with Isabella Matthewson who is now a widow. Also listed is Rachel Whitaker age 57 PA. In 1870 Reuben appears to be listed twice in each hoseholds.

The 1840 census of Troy TWP, Fountain Co., IN lists several children of David Meek born about 1804 including Jane widow of John Newell. They had a sister Rachel, wife of David Whitaker. Listed in the same area was Matthew Matthewson age 30 to 39 (0-0-1-0-0-1//0-0-0-1-0-1). In 1929 a grandson of David Meek named David's children including a John Meek who went to Des Moines, IA. While John Meek does not appear in the 1840 census of Fountain Co., IN he appears to be tied to the Meek family that was recorded there.

It seem possible that the Meek children living with Matthew Matthewson were John's children by his first wife. In fact in the 1850 census John Meek lists two Matthewson children, Margaret age 9 Indiana and Reuben age 6 Indiana, which may be duplicate entries for two of the three Meek children. Caution-this is speculation-Caution

101. Jane Meek was born about 1832 in Indiana.
102. Margaret Meek was born about 1841 in Indiana.
103. Reuben Meek was born about 1844 in Indiana.
He married (2) Sarah A. _____. She was born about 1831 in Kentucky. John, Sarah and Martha are listed in the 1850 census of Polk Co., IA. His occupation was given as “none”. In 1860 the family is listed in Lee TWP, Polk Co., IA. In 1870 the family is joined by Rueben Meek age 26. In the 1880 census they are listed in Saylor Township, which is likely the same location as Saylor Township was organized in December of 1870. Son Benjamin is listed separately in a near by household working as a farmer.
104. Martha A. Meek was born about 1848 in Iowa.
105. Francis A. Meek was born about 1852 in Iowa.
106. Matilda J. Meek was born about 1854 in Iowa.
107. Benjamin Meek was born about 1856 in Polk Po., IA. He was listed in the 1880 census of Saylor TWP, Polk Co., IA taken in Jun 18th. He was single and a farmer. He was listed in the 1895 Iowa census as age 39, single, born in Polk County, farmer, and living in Mt Pleasant.
108. John W. Meek was born about 1858 in Iowa. He does not appear to be with his parents in the 1870 census.
109. Rachel W. Meek was born about 1861 in Iowa.
200. Eliza Meek was born about 1862 in Iowa.


103. Reuben Meek was born 10 May 1844 in Davis Co., IN according to newspaper accounts of his death. He died Aug 1902 at Monterey, CA having been hit by a train. He was employed as a teamster. He was listed with his parents in the 1850 census of Polk Co., IA at age 8. In 1860 he is listed as age 15 with Isabell Matterson age 62 and Rachel Whiteacre age 57 as a day laborer. Also listed was Jane Meek age 25 with the occupation of book folder. His relationship to these two women is significant. He enlisted in Company B, Iowa 15th Infantry Regiment on 14 Mar 1862. He mustered out on 24 Jul 1865 at Louisville, KY. After his return to Iowa he is living with Rachel Whitaker alone with Jennie Meek age 32. At the age of 17 he enlisted in Co. B. 16th regiment, Iowa volunteers and served in the Civil War for 5 years. He was listed in the 1880 census of Santa Cruz Co., CA as single and a boarder in the McCall family. In 1882 he moved to Boulder Creek. He married Alice A. Paschall Sep 1887. She married (1) _____ Dick. She was born Aug 1862 in California. She died 10 May 1935 in Siskiyou Co., CA. (Her parents were Dennis P. Paschall and Louisa E. Francis.) They were listed in the 1900 census of San Lorenzo TWP, Santa Cruz Co., CA. She is listed as a widow in the 1910 census of Yreka, Siskiyou Co., CA. Her father age 75 is listed with her. She was listed in the 1930 Census of Siskiyou Co., CA living with her son Reuben and next to sons Clarence and Gerald.
201. Henry Meek was born Jul 1881. He died 30 Apr 1926 in Siskiyou, CA.
202. Luvisa A. Meek was born Feb 1883.
203. Rupert W. Meek was born Mar 1884.
204. Ruth Emily Meek was born 8 Jun 1890. She died 20 Dec 1911 in Siskiyou, CA.
205. Frank Craig Meek was born 11 Jul 1892 in Boulder Creek, CA. He died 17 May 1959 in Siskiyou, CA. He married Eunice Sillivan. She was born about 1899.
206. Clarence Rambo Meek was born 1 Jan 1894 in Yreka, Siskiyou Co., CA. He died 5 Oct 1976 at Yreka, CA. He married Maybelle J. Henry. She was born about 1899. She died in 1930.
301. Edgar Clarence Meek was born 25 Jan 1921 in Gazelle, Siskiyou Co., CA. He died 2 May 2009 in Yreka, CA. He married Berneice Virginia Johnson. She was born 31 Oct 1920 in Ohio. She died 17 Jan 2002 in Yreka, CA.
401. Female meek
402. Leslie Paul Meek was born 10 Mar 1944. He died 20 Jun 1960.
403. Robert Clarence Meek was born 6 Feb 1948. He died 7 Mar 1963 in Oregon.
207. Reuben Mathewson Meek was born 20 Sep 1896. He died 7 Mar 1972 in Siskiyou Co., CA. He was listed in the 1930 census with his mother.
208. Jeremiah Meek was born Mar? 1899
208. Gerald Cunningham Meek was born 17 Mar 1896 in Santa Cruz, CA. He died 8 Dec 1979 in Etna, Siskiyou Co., CA. He married Marvel Raethe Cousino. She was born 29 Aug 1900. She died 30 Jan 1988.
311. Male
312. Male
313. Ruth G. Meek was born 20 Jan 1919. She died 18 Jul 1997. She married ____ Middleton. This is the family of Daniel Rudolph.
314. Irving Ward Meek was born 9 Feb 1921 in Edgewood, Siskiyou Co., CA. He died 26 Aug 1984 in Etna, Siskiyou Co., CA. He married ______ Freshour.
315. Frankie E. Meek was born about 1922 in California.
316. Ruben W. Meek was born about 1928 in California.
Information provided in part by Lois Meek Andersen

1850 IA Polk Co. 7 Sep
547 569
Meek, John 		M  37 PA Occupation “None” 1813
Sarah A.			F  18 KY 1832
Martha A.			F   1 IA 1849 
Matheson, Margaret	F  10 IN 1840
Rueben				M   8 IN 1842

1850 IA Polk Co. Ft. Des Moines 23 Aug
207 217 
Matthewson, Mathew	M  38 NY Occupation “Plasterer” 
Isabella			F  45 PA
Meek, Jane		F  18 IN 1832
Margaret			F   9 IN 1841
Rueben		        M   6 IN 1844

1856 IA census
Meek, John              44 M 1-9 PA Farmer
Sarah Ann               25 F 1-9 KY
Rueben                  13 M   9 Ind
Martha Ann               7 F   7 IA
Francis                    5 F   5
Matilda                   2 F   2
Benjamin                 0 M   0    

1860 IA Polk Co. Lee TWP 7 July
1257 1145
Meek, John		M  47 PA 1812
Sarah A.			F  30 IN
Martha A.			F  12 IA
Francis A.		F   9 IA
Matilda J.			F   6 IA
Benjamin			M   4 IA
John W.		        M   2 IA

1860 IA Polk Co. Des Moines TWP 11 June

Matterson, Isabella	F  62 PA
Whitacer, Rachel	F  57 PA
Jane Meek		F  25 IN 1833
Rueben		        M  15 IN 1844

1870 IA Polk Co. Lee TWP June

Meek, John		M  62 PA 1808
S. A.			F  40 KY
M			F  20 IA
F			F  18 IA 
J.			F  16 IA
B			M  14 IA
R			F  11 IA
E			F   1 
Rueben		   M  26 IN 1844

1870 IA Polk Co. Des Moines, Ward 4 11 August

Whitaker, Rachel	F  64 PA
Meek, Rueben		M  26 MO (1844)
Jennie			F  32 IN (1838)

1880 IA Polk Co. Saylor TWP
50 50 Jun 18th
Meek, John		M  70 PA PA PA  1810
Sarah			F  49 KY KY VA
Martha			F  31 IA
Francis			F  28 IA
Matilda J.			F  26 IA
Rachel W.		F  19 IA
Eliza				F  18 IA
45 55
Meek, Benjamin	    M  24 IA PA PA

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