HOMEPAGE

Isaac Edgar Meek & Joshua Edwin Meek

Compiled by Elizabeth L. Cuff

Sent to Dennis McIndoo  6-28-2005

BRIEF SYNOPSIS:

     Better know as Edgar and Edwin Meek, these two men were twins, born February 6, 1859 in Greenfield, Hancock, Indiana, to Cornwell P. and Mary Amelia (Willett) Meek.  The parents had migrated to Indiana, from Kentucky.  However, three years following their birth, the twin’s mother died, and in 1867, their father also.

     By the mid 1890s, Edgar and Edwin had arrived in Idaho.  Edgar settled in Caldwell with his wife, Elizabeth “Lizzie,” and their three children, Harrry, Frank and Mary.  In addition to being involved in many community activities, as indicated in his obituary, he was also serving as Canyon County Auditor in 1900.

     Edwin settled in Owyhee County, first in Silver City, and then in Oreana as a “teamster.”  However, in 1907, Madison C. Smith who was then the owner of Walters Ferry (Madison had purchased the ferry in 1882 from Lewellyn R. and Augusta F. Walter), sold the ferry boat, buildings and equipment connected with the ferry to Edwin Meek.  Edwin ran the ferry until the bridge was built in about 1921.  Edwin remained a bachelor throughout his life.

MORE: 

Obituaries of Edgar and Edwin Meek.

     Isaac “Edgar” Meek:   Died February 21, 1943 at Caldwell, Canyon County, Idaho.

     “Isaac Edgar Meek, a resident of Caldwell since 1895, died at the family home on South Kimball Avenue early Sunday morning. Death came in his sleep after an illness of several months. Born at Greenfield, Ind., Feb. 6, 1859, Mr. Meek and his twin brother Edwin came to Idaho 60 years ago. They located at Boise and separated there, when Edgar Meek came to Caldwell in 1895. On July 27, 1886, at Boise, he was married to Miss Lizzie L. Hartley of Boise. Active for many years in the Masonic lodge, Mr. Meek was a past master of Mt. Moriah Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Caldwell and a past master of the Grand Lodge of Idaho. In the early 1900's he served as clerk of Canyon county for four years, and later served as probate judge, when his son, Frank E. Meek, resigned the office to enter World War I. He was a member of the school board for several years, when Caldwell's only public school was the Lincoln. He was prominently identified with the First Christian Church of Caldwell and was the last surviving member of the original board of directors. Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Lizzie L. Meek of Caldwell; two sons, Harry E. Meek of Silver City and Lt. Col. Frank E. Meek of Fort Douglas, Utah; his brother, Edwin Meek of Caldwell; four grandchildren, Lt. Frank E. Meek, Jr. of Douglas, Ariz., Mrs. Allene Meek Thompson of Portland, Ore.; Corp. Dean Edgar Miller of Fort Sill, Okla.; and John Frederick Miller of Caldwell. A daughter, Mrs. Mary Miller, preceded her father in death Feb. 25, 1938. The body is at the Case Funeral home. Funeral services will be held at the First Christian church Tuesday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock. The Rev. William B. Hart, local pastor, and Masons will have charge. Interment will be in Canyon Hill cemetery. The body will be in state from 2 to 3:30 o'clock Tuesday.”

     Joshua “Edwin” Meek:  Died February 7, 1953, in Caldwell, Canyon County, Idaho.

     “Edwin Meek died at the IOOF Home at 7:55 a.m. this morning. He was born Feb. 6, 1859. He was born at Greenfield, Ind., and is survived by two nephews, Frank Meek of Caldwell and Harry Meek of Robinette, Ore. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 9, at the Peckham-Dakan Chapel, Dr. H.H. Hayman officiating. Burial will be in Canyon Hill cemetery. Pall bearers will be members of the Meridian IOOF Lodge No. 43. He was a twin brother of the late Edgar Meek. He came from Meridian to the IOOF home Jan. 8, 1943. For a number of years he operated the Walters Ferry on the Snake River. He is also a retired farmer and has a 45 year jewel pin from the Meridian lodge.”

COMPILER’S NOTES: 

     Both Edgar and Edwin died the same month, in which they were born; February.

     Mike Thompson, has posted information at Ancestry’s Internet site.  For those searching further information on this family, see Ancestry’s “Family Trees.”

SOURCES:

     1.  1860 US Federal Census, Center Twp., Hancock County, Greenfield Post Office, Indiana, p. 607.

     2.  1900 US Federal Census.  Edgar and family are located in Caldwell, Canyon County, Idaho, p. 269A.  Edwin is located in Oreana, Owyhee County, Idaho, p. 262B.

     3.  Caldwell News Tribune, Caldwell, Idaho Monday, Feb. 22, 1943.

     4.  Caldwell News Tribune, Caldwell, Idaho Saturday Feb. 7, 1953.

     5.  Stanke, Jerry F.  “Capsule History of Walter’s Ferry.”  Owyhee County Historical Society, Murphy, Idaho.

                            
 

Full-sized headstone photo available upon request.