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Submitted: 5/13/10 • Approved: 5/14/10 • Last Updated: 6/27/23 • R322029-G0-S3
Birth: Sep. 13, 1827
York County
South Carolina, USA
Death: Feb. 19, 1900
Warren
Bradley County
Arkansas, USA
"John Rufus Starr Meek (I) This much respected and honored citizen of Bradley County, Arkansas was born in York County, South Carolina, on September 13, 1827, and is the son of Eli Meek, and the grandson of James Meek, who was a soldier in the Revolution, lived near King's Mountain, and participated in that battle. James Meek died in South Carolina, as did also the grandmother. The paternal great-grandfather was a native of the Emerald Isle. Eli Meek was a native of South Carolina and many years after his marriage to Miss Martha Starr, a native also of South Carolina, he moved to Arkansas, and settled twenty-five miles south of Warren on a farm. There his death occurred in 1866. The mother died in 1862. They were the parents of four sons and two daughters: John Rufus Starr, James Marion (was killed at the battle of Chickamauga), Edward S. (killed at the battle of Atlanta), and Amzi (killed at Franklin, Tenn., in the latter part of 1864, and who held the command of lieutenant, captain and major Co. I, 2nd Arkansas Infantry, CSA). J. R. S. Meek was reared and educated in South Carolina, and in 1850's he came to Arkansas, traveling through in wagons, and locating in Bradley County, in the neighborhood of his father. In 1862 he enlisted in Company I, 2nd Arkansas Infantry, CSA, and served during that conflict and during which he returned home and resumed the cultivation of the soil. This he continued until 1870 when he moved to Johnsville, Arkansas, and embarked in the mercantile business carrying on the same until 1888, a period of eighteen years. He then removed to Warren, where he was practically retired. He was married in 1855 to Miss Martha Caldwell, a native of South Carolina, and the fruits of this union were nine children: Samuel Baldwin. (a merchant in Warren), Sallie, Susan, Nannie and John Rufus Starr (II), William Edward, James Eli, Emmett Gibson and Martha Jane.
Mr. Meek had been in failing health for the past year (prior to 1900) and had been confined to his home about two weeks prior to his decease with bronchial trouble. He had a serious heart trouble and this was the immediate cause of his death."
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Parents:
Eli Meek (1797 - 1866)
Martha Louisa Starr Meek (1801 - 1862)
Children:
William Edward Meek (1856 - 1870)*
James Eli Meek (1857 - 1888)*
Samuel Baldwin Meek (1859 - 1936)*
Emmett Gibson Meek (1861 - 1863)*
Martha Jane Meek (1865 - 1868)*
Sarah Catherine Meek Long (1867 - 1935)*
Margaret Sue Meek Goodwin (1869 - 1914)*
Nannie Henrietta Meek (1871 - 1899)*
John Rufus Starr Meek (1874 - 1952)*
Spouses:
Mary Henrietta Simril Meek (1829 - 1851)
Martha Catherine Caldwell Meek (1833 - 1884)
Contributed on 5/13/10
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Record #: 322029