Catherine Meek’s cremated remains were not initially taken after her death and were available at the Oregon State Hospital to be claimed by anyone who is related. In September 2019 a family member received the ashes. More information about unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/osh/Pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a short documentary film by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
Catherine was born in Kentucky in February 1836. Her parents, John and Elizabeth Meek, were both born in Ohio about 1807. Catherine was the oldest of their children. Her siblings, all born in Indiana, included: William (born about 1838), Mary Frances (October 1839), Malinda (about 1842), and John (about 1848).
During the 1850 census, Catherine was 14, living with her parents and siblings in Jefferson County, Indiana where her father was a farmer. At 14 Catherine was not attending school. Both her parents were unable to read and write, but it appears Catherine was literate at that time. By the time of the 1860 census, Catherine was 24 and still living in Jefferson County with her parents and 2 of her siblings. The family continued to farm their property. In the 1880 census Catherine was listed with her physically disabled parents in Jefferson County. They were living next door to Catherine’s brother William and his large family.
In 1870 sister Mary moved to Oregon with her husband Conrad Imel. They had 7 children (John, James, Solomon, Harrison, Willis, Mary and Alice). Conrad Imel, a Civil War veteran, died in Oregon in 1894.
During the 1900 census, Catherine was living in Clackamas, Clackamas County, Oregon with her widowed sister Mary, two of Mary’s sons, and two grandchildren. It was reported Catherine was unable to read or write.
On 11/25/1901, Catherine was admitted to Oregon Insane Asylum (later called the Oregon State Hospital), a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. She was singe all her life, but she believed she was married. It was reported she had dementia that was a result of “la grippe” (the Spanish flu). She was listed among the patients at the institution on the census of 1910. After being a patient at an Oregon institution for over 12 years Catherine died on 4/7/1914.
Because she was unable to read it is possible she had a cognitive disorder. If so, it is also possible she was transferred to the Oregon Institution for the Feeble Minded, a institution established in 1908 for the disabled and later called Fairview Home. The cause and place of death was not known because she has no death certificate on file at the Oregon State Archives. Nevertheless her ashes are being stored at the Oregon State Hospital because that was the location of the state’s crematorium.
Catherine was born in Kentucky in February 1836. Her parents, John and Elizabeth Meek, were both born in Ohio about 1807. Catherine was the oldest of their children. Her siblings, all born in Indiana, included: William (born about 1838), Mary Frances (October 1839), Malinda (about 1842), and John (about 1848).
During the 1850 census, Catherine was 14, living with her parents and siblings in Jefferson County, Indiana where her father was a farmer. At 14 Catherine was not attending school. Both her parents were unable to read and write, but it appears Catherine was literate at that time. By the time of the 1860 census, Catherine was 24 and still living in Jefferson County with her parents and 2 of her siblings. The family continued to farm their property. In the 1880 census Catherine was listed with her physically disabled parents in Jefferson County. They were living next door to Catherine’s brother William and his large family.
In 1870 sister Mary moved to Oregon with her husband Conrad Imel. They had 7 children (John, James, Solomon, Harrison, Willis, Mary and Alice). Conrad Imel, a Civil War veteran, died in Oregon in 1894.
During the 1900 census, Catherine was living in Clackamas, Clackamas County, Oregon with her widowed sister Mary, two of Mary’s sons, and two grandchildren. It was reported Catherine was unable to read or write.
On 11/25/1901, Catherine was admitted to Oregon Insane Asylum (later called the Oregon State Hospital), a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. She was singe all her life, but she believed she was married. It was reported she had dementia that was a result of “la grippe” (the Spanish flu). She was listed among the patients at the institution on the census of 1910. After being a patient at an Oregon institution for over 12 years Catherine died on 4/7/1914.
Because she was unable to read it is possible she had a cognitive disorder. If so, it is also possible she was transferred to the Oregon Institution for the Feeble Minded, a institution established in 1908 for the disabled and later called Fairview Home. The cause and place of death was not known because she has no death certificate on file at the Oregon State Archives. Nevertheless her ashes are being stored at the Oregon State Hospital because that was the location of the state’s crematorium.
Catherine Meek’s cremated remains were not initially taken after her death and were available at the Oregon State Hospital to be claimed by anyone who is related. In September 2019 a family member received the ashes. More information about unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/osh/Pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a short documentary film by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
Catherine was born in Kentucky in February 1836. Her parents, John and Elizabeth Meek, were both born in Ohio about 1807. Catherine was the oldest of their children. Her siblings, all born in Indiana, included: William (born about 1838), Mary Frances (October 1839), Malinda (about 1842), and John (about 1848).
During the 1850 census, Catherine was 14, living with her parents and siblings in Jefferson County, Indiana where her father was a farmer. At 14 Catherine was not attending school. Both her parents were unable to read and write, but it appears Catherine was literate at that time. By the time of the 1860 census, Catherine was 24 and still living in Jefferson County with her parents and 2 of her siblings. The family continued to farm their property. In the 1880 census Catherine was listed with her physically disabled parents in Jefferson County. They were living next door to Catherine’s brother William and his large family.
In 1870 sister Mary moved to Oregon with her husband Conrad Imel. They had 7 children (John, James, Solomon, Harrison, Willis, Mary and Alice). Conrad Imel, a Civil War veteran, died in Oregon in 1894.
During the 1900 census, Catherine was living in Clackamas, Clackamas County, Oregon with her widowed sister Mary, two of Mary’s sons, and two grandchildren. It was reported Catherine was unable to read or write.
On 11/25/1901, Catherine was admitted to Oregon Insane Asylum (later called the Oregon State Hospital), a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. She was singe all her life, but she believed she was married. It was reported she had dementia that was a result of “la grippe” (the Spanish flu). She was listed among the patients at the institution on the census of 1910. After being a patient at an Oregon institution for over 12 years Catherine died on 4/7/1914.
Because she was unable to read it is possible she had a cognitive disorder. If so, it is also possible she was transferred to the Oregon Institution for the Feeble Minded, a institution established in 1908 for the disabled and later called Fairview Home. The cause and place of death was not known because she has no death certificate on file at the Oregon State Archives. Nevertheless her ashes are being stored at the Oregon State Hospital because that was the location of the state’s crematorium.
Catherine was born in Kentucky in February 1836. Her parents, John and Elizabeth Meek, were both born in Ohio about 1807. Catherine was the oldest of their children. Her siblings, all born in Indiana, included: William (born about 1838), Mary Frances (October 1839), Malinda (about 1842), and John (about 1848).
During the 1850 census, Catherine was 14, living with her parents and siblings in Jefferson County, Indiana where her father was a farmer. At 14 Catherine was not attending school. Both her parents were unable to read and write, but it appears Catherine was literate at that time. By the time of the 1860 census, Catherine was 24 and still living in Jefferson County with her parents and 2 of her siblings. The family continued to farm their property. In the 1880 census Catherine was listed with her physically disabled parents in Jefferson County. They were living next door to Catherine’s brother William and his large family.
In 1870 sister Mary moved to Oregon with her husband Conrad Imel. They had 7 children (John, James, Solomon, Harrison, Willis, Mary and Alice). Conrad Imel, a Civil War veteran, died in Oregon in 1894.
During the 1900 census, Catherine was living in Clackamas, Clackamas County, Oregon with her widowed sister Mary, two of Mary’s sons, and two grandchildren. It was reported Catherine was unable to read or write.
On 11/25/1901, Catherine was admitted to Oregon Insane Asylum (later called the Oregon State Hospital), a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. She was singe all her life, but she believed she was married. It was reported she had dementia that was a result of “la grippe” (the Spanish flu). She was listed among the patients at the institution on the census of 1910. After being a patient at an Oregon institution for over 12 years Catherine died on 4/7/1914.
Because she was unable to read it is possible she had a cognitive disorder. If so, it is also possible she was transferred to the Oregon Institution for the Feeble Minded, a institution established in 1908 for the disabled and later called Fairview Home. The cause and place of death was not known because she has no death certificate on file at the Oregon State Archives. Nevertheless her ashes are being stored at the Oregon State Hospital because that was the location of the state’s crematorium.
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