Thomas Jefferson Meeker was born February 6, 1846, in New Albany, Ind.
While yet a small boy the family moved to a farm in Illinois, where he grew to young boyhood. While here the Civil War broke out and Thomas, who was just past fifteen and his brother Halsey, who was a little over a year older than he, decided life on the farm was monotonous compared to what they thought army life to be, so the two boys ran away from home into Missouri and enlisted in the army. He enlisted July 20, 1861 Company H of the Eleventh Missouri infantry as a fifer, but later (reenlisted July 1, 1865) he became a corporal. He was in actual service for his country for four years, seven months, and twenty-eight days, and was in all the important battles of the South and, Southwest, yet he never received a wound, though he was seriously ill at one time. He was discharged Jan. 15, 1866.
At the close of the war, the two boys returned home, but an older brother and a brother-in-law had died in service for the Union. The two boys were no more satisfied at home than they were before the war, so again they went to Missouri.
In 1869 Thomas J. Meeker and Miss Sarah Margaret Killey were married. They lived in Missouri until 1880, when they moved to Cook County, Texas, near Marysville. Later the family went to Indian Territory where they remained until the opening of Oklahoma in 1889. In that year Mr. Meeker secured the homestead on Bluff Creek, ten miles southwest of Edmond. This remained the family home until after the death of Mrs. Meeker on July 16, 1921.
Then he and his younger daughter, Ada, made their home together in Edmond, Okeene, and Norman. Seven children were born to Thomas and Sarah Killey Meeker: William H. of San Francisco, California; Charles H. of Tampa, Florida; John W. of Phoenix, Arizona; Mrs. T. G. Madden of Gotebo, Oklahoma; Carl C., west of Edmond, on the old home place; Grover C. of Britton; and Miss Ada of Edmond. William H. Carl C., Grover C., and Miss Ada were present at his bedside at the time of his death on a Sunday morning, December 9th, a few minutes past six o'clock at his and his daughter's home, 70 1 East Main St., Edmond, Oklahoma. He was 82 years, ten months, and 3 days of age. His sudden illness and death made it impossible for the other members of his family to be present at his bedside.
He was stricken with a slight stroke of paralysis while at the dinner table about 1 P .M., Saturday, December 8. He remained perfectly conscious up to a few minutes before his death and passed away very peacefully. While a young man, Mr. Meeker was an attendant at church when the families were located near where church services were held. He never united with any church and claims he never knew true religion until converted at the age of forty-seven. Then he became a student of the Bible, and it was a great grief to him that he could not read it the last two or three years of his life. All who knew Mr. Meeker vouched to the fact that he had the true old-fashioned religion and on his deathbed told his family he was prepared to meet his God.
The best point in Mr. Meeker's character was his love for children. He was survived by twenty-three grandchildren whom he loved very much. Wherever Mr. Meeker went he soon became the friend of all the children and took a great delight in telling them stories, especially of Pioneer times and of the Civil War, which he always told with very little partisanship for his side and he was a true opponent of war, as he never failed to emphasize the horrors of it.
Mr. Meeker always kept in touch with his brother Halsey, but his three brothers, Charles, Amos, and Joshua and his four sisters, Margaret, Laura, Julia and Mollie, who were living at the close of the war he soon lost all touch with and when his brother, Halsey passed away in 1920, he thought he was the only remaining member of the family, however, about 1924 he got a letter from his youngest brother, Amos who said he was living most of his time with his youngest sister, Mollie Wilson, on a farm near Lewellen, Nebraska, as they had each lost their life partners. Letters began to pass among the three and in February, 1928, Mr. Amos Meeker, who was 78 years of age and Mrs. Mollie Wilson, who was 65 years of age, came to Norman to visit their brother, Thomas, whom they had not seen for 60 years. They spent several weeks together talking over their lives and were in every way congenial Mr. Thomas Meeker returned the visit to Nebraska in August of this year and again the three were happy together and looked forward to many more visits. These were the last three survivors of a family of ten children. This brother and sister were unable to be at the funeral because of a recent misfortune in Mrs. Wilson's family. The funeral services were held at the Britton Baptist Church, Rev. E. 0. Vanbibber and Rev. Covington officiating.
While yet a small boy the family moved to a farm in Illinois, where he grew to young boyhood. While here the Civil War broke out and Thomas, who was just past fifteen and his brother Halsey, who was a little over a year older than he, decided life on the farm was monotonous compared to what they thought army life to be, so the two boys ran away from home into Missouri and enlisted in the army. He enlisted July 20, 1861 Company H of the Eleventh Missouri infantry as a fifer, but later (reenlisted July 1, 1865) he became a corporal. He was in actual service for his country for four years, seven months, and twenty-eight days, and was in all the important battles of the South and, Southwest, yet he never received a wound, though he was seriously ill at one time. He was discharged Jan. 15, 1866.
At the close of the war, the two boys returned home, but an older brother and a brother-in-law had died in service for the Union. The two boys were no more satisfied at home than they were before the war, so again they went to Missouri.
In 1869 Thomas J. Meeker and Miss Sarah Margaret Killey were married. They lived in Missouri until 1880, when they moved to Cook County, Texas, near Marysville. Later the family went to Indian Territory where they remained until the opening of Oklahoma in 1889. In that year Mr. Meeker secured the homestead on Bluff Creek, ten miles southwest of Edmond. This remained the family home until after the death of Mrs. Meeker on July 16, 1921.
Then he and his younger daughter, Ada, made their home together in Edmond, Okeene, and Norman. Seven children were born to Thomas and Sarah Killey Meeker: William H. of San Francisco, California; Charles H. of Tampa, Florida; John W. of Phoenix, Arizona; Mrs. T. G. Madden of Gotebo, Oklahoma; Carl C., west of Edmond, on the old home place; Grover C. of Britton; and Miss Ada of Edmond. William H. Carl C., Grover C., and Miss Ada were present at his bedside at the time of his death on a Sunday morning, December 9th, a few minutes past six o'clock at his and his daughter's home, 70 1 East Main St., Edmond, Oklahoma. He was 82 years, ten months, and 3 days of age. His sudden illness and death made it impossible for the other members of his family to be present at his bedside.
He was stricken with a slight stroke of paralysis while at the dinner table about 1 P .M., Saturday, December 8. He remained perfectly conscious up to a few minutes before his death and passed away very peacefully. While a young man, Mr. Meeker was an attendant at church when the families were located near where church services were held. He never united with any church and claims he never knew true religion until converted at the age of forty-seven. Then he became a student of the Bible, and it was a great grief to him that he could not read it the last two or three years of his life. All who knew Mr. Meeker vouched to the fact that he had the true old-fashioned religion and on his deathbed told his family he was prepared to meet his God.
The best point in Mr. Meeker's character was his love for children. He was survived by twenty-three grandchildren whom he loved very much. Wherever Mr. Meeker went he soon became the friend of all the children and took a great delight in telling them stories, especially of Pioneer times and of the Civil War, which he always told with very little partisanship for his side and he was a true opponent of war, as he never failed to emphasize the horrors of it.
Mr. Meeker always kept in touch with his brother Halsey, but his three brothers, Charles, Amos, and Joshua and his four sisters, Margaret, Laura, Julia and Mollie, who were living at the close of the war he soon lost all touch with and when his brother, Halsey passed away in 1920, he thought he was the only remaining member of the family, however, about 1924 he got a letter from his youngest brother, Amos who said he was living most of his time with his youngest sister, Mollie Wilson, on a farm near Lewellen, Nebraska, as they had each lost their life partners. Letters began to pass among the three and in February, 1928, Mr. Amos Meeker, who was 78 years of age and Mrs. Mollie Wilson, who was 65 years of age, came to Norman to visit their brother, Thomas, whom they had not seen for 60 years. They spent several weeks together talking over their lives and were in every way congenial Mr. Thomas Meeker returned the visit to Nebraska in August of this year and again the three were happy together and looked forward to many more visits. These were the last three survivors of a family of ten children. This brother and sister were unable to be at the funeral because of a recent misfortune in Mrs. Wilson's family. The funeral services were held at the Britton Baptist Church, Rev. E. 0. Vanbibber and Rev. Covington officiating.
Thomas Jefferson Meeker was born February 6, 1846, in New Albany, Ind.
While yet a small boy the family moved to a farm in Illinois, where he grew to young boyhood. While here the Civil War broke out and Thomas, who was just past fifteen and his brother Halsey, who was a little over a year older than he, decided life on the farm was monotonous compared to what they thought army life to be, so the two boys ran away from home into Missouri and enlisted in the army. He enlisted July 20, 1861 Company H of the Eleventh Missouri infantry as a fifer, but later (reenlisted July 1, 1865) he became a corporal. He was in actual service for his country for four years, seven months, and twenty-eight days, and was in all the important battles of the South and, Southwest, yet he never received a wound, though he was seriously ill at one time. He was discharged Jan. 15, 1866.
At the close of the war, the two boys returned home, but an older brother and a brother-in-law had died in service for the Union. The two boys were no more satisfied at home than they were before the war, so again they went to Missouri.
In 1869 Thomas J. Meeker and Miss Sarah Margaret Killey were married. They lived in Missouri until 1880, when they moved to Cook County, Texas, near Marysville. Later the family went to Indian Territory where they remained until the opening of Oklahoma in 1889. In that year Mr. Meeker secured the homestead on Bluff Creek, ten miles southwest of Edmond. This remained the family home until after the death of Mrs. Meeker on July 16, 1921.
Then he and his younger daughter, Ada, made their home together in Edmond, Okeene, and Norman. Seven children were born to Thomas and Sarah Killey Meeker: William H. of San Francisco, California; Charles H. of Tampa, Florida; John W. of Phoenix, Arizona; Mrs. T. G. Madden of Gotebo, Oklahoma; Carl C., west of Edmond, on the old home place; Grover C. of Britton; and Miss Ada of Edmond. William H. Carl C., Grover C., and Miss Ada were present at his bedside at the time of his death on a Sunday morning, December 9th, a few minutes past six o'clock at his and his daughter's home, 70 1 East Main St., Edmond, Oklahoma. He was 82 years, ten months, and 3 days of age. His sudden illness and death made it impossible for the other members of his family to be present at his bedside.
He was stricken with a slight stroke of paralysis while at the dinner table about 1 P .M., Saturday, December 8. He remained perfectly conscious up to a few minutes before his death and passed away very peacefully. While a young man, Mr. Meeker was an attendant at church when the families were located near where church services were held. He never united with any church and claims he never knew true religion until converted at the age of forty-seven. Then he became a student of the Bible, and it was a great grief to him that he could not read it the last two or three years of his life. All who knew Mr. Meeker vouched to the fact that he had the true old-fashioned religion and on his deathbed told his family he was prepared to meet his God.
The best point in Mr. Meeker's character was his love for children. He was survived by twenty-three grandchildren whom he loved very much. Wherever Mr. Meeker went he soon became the friend of all the children and took a great delight in telling them stories, especially of Pioneer times and of the Civil War, which he always told with very little partisanship for his side and he was a true opponent of war, as he never failed to emphasize the horrors of it.
Mr. Meeker always kept in touch with his brother Halsey, but his three brothers, Charles, Amos, and Joshua and his four sisters, Margaret, Laura, Julia and Mollie, who were living at the close of the war he soon lost all touch with and when his brother, Halsey passed away in 1920, he thought he was the only remaining member of the family, however, about 1924 he got a letter from his youngest brother, Amos who said he was living most of his time with his youngest sister, Mollie Wilson, on a farm near Lewellen, Nebraska, as they had each lost their life partners. Letters began to pass among the three and in February, 1928, Mr. Amos Meeker, who was 78 years of age and Mrs. Mollie Wilson, who was 65 years of age, came to Norman to visit their brother, Thomas, whom they had not seen for 60 years. They spent several weeks together talking over their lives and were in every way congenial Mr. Thomas Meeker returned the visit to Nebraska in August of this year and again the three were happy together and looked forward to many more visits. These were the last three survivors of a family of ten children. This brother and sister were unable to be at the funeral because of a recent misfortune in Mrs. Wilson's family. The funeral services were held at the Britton Baptist Church, Rev. E. 0. Vanbibber and Rev. Covington officiating.
While yet a small boy the family moved to a farm in Illinois, where he grew to young boyhood. While here the Civil War broke out and Thomas, who was just past fifteen and his brother Halsey, who was a little over a year older than he, decided life on the farm was monotonous compared to what they thought army life to be, so the two boys ran away from home into Missouri and enlisted in the army. He enlisted July 20, 1861 Company H of the Eleventh Missouri infantry as a fifer, but later (reenlisted July 1, 1865) he became a corporal. He was in actual service for his country for four years, seven months, and twenty-eight days, and was in all the important battles of the South and, Southwest, yet he never received a wound, though he was seriously ill at one time. He was discharged Jan. 15, 1866.
At the close of the war, the two boys returned home, but an older brother and a brother-in-law had died in service for the Union. The two boys were no more satisfied at home than they were before the war, so again they went to Missouri.
In 1869 Thomas J. Meeker and Miss Sarah Margaret Killey were married. They lived in Missouri until 1880, when they moved to Cook County, Texas, near Marysville. Later the family went to Indian Territory where they remained until the opening of Oklahoma in 1889. In that year Mr. Meeker secured the homestead on Bluff Creek, ten miles southwest of Edmond. This remained the family home until after the death of Mrs. Meeker on July 16, 1921.
Then he and his younger daughter, Ada, made their home together in Edmond, Okeene, and Norman. Seven children were born to Thomas and Sarah Killey Meeker: William H. of San Francisco, California; Charles H. of Tampa, Florida; John W. of Phoenix, Arizona; Mrs. T. G. Madden of Gotebo, Oklahoma; Carl C., west of Edmond, on the old home place; Grover C. of Britton; and Miss Ada of Edmond. William H. Carl C., Grover C., and Miss Ada were present at his bedside at the time of his death on a Sunday morning, December 9th, a few minutes past six o'clock at his and his daughter's home, 70 1 East Main St., Edmond, Oklahoma. He was 82 years, ten months, and 3 days of age. His sudden illness and death made it impossible for the other members of his family to be present at his bedside.
He was stricken with a slight stroke of paralysis while at the dinner table about 1 P .M., Saturday, December 8. He remained perfectly conscious up to a few minutes before his death and passed away very peacefully. While a young man, Mr. Meeker was an attendant at church when the families were located near where church services were held. He never united with any church and claims he never knew true religion until converted at the age of forty-seven. Then he became a student of the Bible, and it was a great grief to him that he could not read it the last two or three years of his life. All who knew Mr. Meeker vouched to the fact that he had the true old-fashioned religion and on his deathbed told his family he was prepared to meet his God.
The best point in Mr. Meeker's character was his love for children. He was survived by twenty-three grandchildren whom he loved very much. Wherever Mr. Meeker went he soon became the friend of all the children and took a great delight in telling them stories, especially of Pioneer times and of the Civil War, which he always told with very little partisanship for his side and he was a true opponent of war, as he never failed to emphasize the horrors of it.
Mr. Meeker always kept in touch with his brother Halsey, but his three brothers, Charles, Amos, and Joshua and his four sisters, Margaret, Laura, Julia and Mollie, who were living at the close of the war he soon lost all touch with and when his brother, Halsey passed away in 1920, he thought he was the only remaining member of the family, however, about 1924 he got a letter from his youngest brother, Amos who said he was living most of his time with his youngest sister, Mollie Wilson, on a farm near Lewellen, Nebraska, as they had each lost their life partners. Letters began to pass among the three and in February, 1928, Mr. Amos Meeker, who was 78 years of age and Mrs. Mollie Wilson, who was 65 years of age, came to Norman to visit their brother, Thomas, whom they had not seen for 60 years. They spent several weeks together talking over their lives and were in every way congenial Mr. Thomas Meeker returned the visit to Nebraska in August of this year and again the three were happy together and looked forward to many more visits. These were the last three survivors of a family of ten children. This brother and sister were unable to be at the funeral because of a recent misfortune in Mrs. Wilson's family. The funeral services were held at the Britton Baptist Church, Rev. E. 0. Vanbibber and Rev. Covington officiating.
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