My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in the book, The History of Adair County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1888.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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William Meeks, farmer and stock raiser, was born on the farm he now owns, April 17, 1849. His parents are mentioned in the sketch of his brother, George W. Meeks. William was educated in the common schools and at Kirksville Normal. February 12, 1871, he married Jennie, a daughter of David and Mary Caldwell; she is a native of Pennsylvania, but was reared in this county, and her education was received partly at Kirksville. After marriage they spent a few months in Johnson County, Tex., and then returned and bought land in Cowley County, Kas. In 1876 he sold out and settled on the old homestead of his father, who had died in the meantime. He subsequently bought out his brother, John, and now owns a fine estate of 560 acres, all but 100 of which is under cultivation. Their children are Mabel, born September 13, 1877, and Hazel, born June 13, 1885. There are deceased: Harry, born October 2, 1871, died August 24, 1876; Byrdie, born September 17, 1873, died August 29, 1876; Maud, born July 8, 1875, died September 8, 1876. Mr. Meeks is a prominent Republican, and has been on the Central Committee for several years. His hunting experience, while in Kansas, formed an interesting portion of his career in that State. In December, 1871, after a successful hunt, when the company, of which he was a member, was obliged to live on buffalo meat for eleven days, they were surprised by a band of Indians, but not injured. A third expedition, in December, 1874, came near resulting disastrously, Indians suddenly making their appearance, but Mr. Meeks, with his friends, escaped. At that time they saw thousands of buffalo. In the spring of 1880, he and his brother, Andrew, with two sons, bought 4,000 sheep near Pueblo, Colo., and drove them to the Black Hills, in Dakota, a distance of some 600 miles.

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This family biography is one of 150 biographies included in the Adair County, Missouri portion of the book,  The History of Adair, Sullivan, Putnam, and Schuyler Counties, Missouri published in 1888 by Goodspeed Publishing Co.  For the complete description, click here: Adair County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Adair County, Missouri family biographies here: Adair County, Missouri Biographies

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