Person Page - 2

     Valentine Gearhart was born on 26 January 1814.

     David Gearhart was born on 2 January 1816.

     Della Salista Hilliard died at Pennsylvania, USA. She was born on 3 December 1879 at Pennsylvania, USA.¹

     Christianna Gearhart was born on 7 April 1819.

     Eliza Gearhart was born on 28 December 1821. She married David Flegal, son of David Flegal and Catherine Funk, on 22 June 1841.

     Her married name was Flegal.

     Cornelius Thompson Gearhart was born on 30 December 1825.

     Alexander Gearhart was born on 23 September 1823.

     Rachel Gearhart was born on 27 February 1830.

     Jacob Smith Gearhart was born on 18 March 1832.

     (?) Meek was born on 17 September 1850 at Patton Township, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA; DOB: Tombstone says d. 31 Oct 1851 aged 1y 1m 14d
POB: Parents were living in Patton Twp., Center Co., PA in 1850 census.¹
(?) Meek died on 31 October 1851 at Patton Township, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA, at age 1; POB: Parents were living in Patton Twp., Center Co., PA in 1850 census.¹
(?) Meek was buried after 31 October 1851 at Gray Family Cemetery, Stormstown/Buffalo Run, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA; from Find A Grave website:
     Birth:      unknown
     Death:      Oct. 31, 1851
     s/o R.H. & Mary Meek, aged 1y 1m 14d
     Burial: Gray Family Cemetery, Buffalo Run, Centre County, Pennsylvania, USA
     Created by: Tom Whitehurst
     Record added: Dec 07, 2010
     Find A Grave Memorial# 62663543.¹

     Sarah Asinath Meek was born on 27 November 1847.^1,2
Sarah Asinath Meek died on 12 April 1917 at age 69.^1,2
Sarah Asinath Meek was buried after 12 April 1917 at Meek's Cemetery, Fairbrook, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA; from FindAGrave.com:
     Birth:      Nov. 27, 1847
     Death:      Apr. 12, 1917
     d/o Reuben H & Mary Ann Meek
     Burial: Meek's Cemetery, Fairbrook, Centre County, Pennsylvania, USA
     Created by: Tom Whitehurst
     Record added: Nov 29, 2010
     Find A Grave Memorial# 62317931.²
     Sarah Asinath Meek was also known as Sarah Meek.

Sarah Asinath Meek was listed as a resident in Reuben Heron Meek and Mary Ann Gray's household in the census report on 24 October 1850 at Patton Township, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA;
p. 269-A; Lines 25-32; Dwelling 135; Family 135
     25 MEEK, Reuben H. 47 [1803] M Farmer PA
     26 " , Mary 37 [1813] F PA
     27 " , Mary E. 16 [1834] F PA
     28 " , Theresa 14 [1836] F PA
     29 " , Dempster 9 [1841] F (sic) PA
     30 " , Peter 11 [1839] M PA
     31 " , Leonidas 6 [1844] M PA
     32 " , Sarah 4 [1846] F PA.³

     Theressa Meek was born on 1 October 1836.^1,2
Theressa Meek died on 18 November 1914 at Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA, at age 78.^1,2
Theressa Meek was buried after 18 November 1914 at Meek's Cemetery, Fairbrook, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA; from FindAGrave.com:
     Birth:      Oct. 1, 1836
     Death:      Nov. 18, 1914
     d/o Reuben H. & Mary Ann Meek
     Burial: Meek's Cemetery, Fairbrook, Centre County, Pennsylvania, USA
     Created by: Tom Whitehurst
     Record added: Nov 29, 2010
     Find A Grave Memorial# 62317852.²
     Theressa Meek was also known as Theresa Zelon Meek.

Theressa Meek was listed as a resident in Reuben Heron Meek and Mary Ann Gray's household in the census report on 24 October 1850 at Patton Township, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA;
p. 269-A; Lines 25-32; Dwelling 135; Family 135
     25 MEEK, Reuben H. 47 [1803] M Farmer PA
     26 " , Mary 37 [1813] F PA
     27 " , Mary E. 16 [1834] F PA
     28 " , Theresa 14 [1836] F PA
     29 " , Dempster 9 [1841] F (sic) PA
     30 " , Peter 11 [1839] M PA
     31 " , Leonidas 6 [1844] M PA
     32 " , Sarah 4 [1846] F PA.³

Theressa Meek was listed as a resident in Reuben Heron Meek and Mary Ann Gray's household in the census report on 20 August 1860 at U. S. Census, Patton Township, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA;
p. 732; Lines 19-25; Dwelling 1509; Family 1555
     19 MEEK, Reuben H. 58 [1802] M Farmer 4000 1050 PA
     20 " , Mary A. 46 [1814] F PA
     21 " , Theresa 21 [1839] F PA
     22 " , Gray 20 [1840] M PA
     23 " , Dempster 17 [1843] M PA
     24 " , Leonidas 15 [1845] M PA
     25 " , Sarah J. 10 [1850] F PA.⁴

Theressa Meek was listed as a resident in Reuben Heron Meek and Mary Ann Gray's household in the census report on 23 July 1870 at U. S. Census, Patton Township, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA; pp. 616-b & 617A, lines 37-40, 1, Dwelling 131, Family 131
     37 MEEK, Reuben H. 68 [1802] M W Farmer $3840 $1530 PA
     38 " , Mary A. 56 [1814] F W Keeping House PA
     39 " , Theresa Z. 24 [1846] F W At home PA
     40 " , Sarah J. 18 [1852] F W At home PA
     1 ALLEN, Matthew 14 [1856] M W Works on Farm PA Attended school.⁵

Theressa Meek appeared in the census of 9 June 1880 at U. S. Census, Patton Township, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA; p. 285-D, line 39, dwelling 99, family 100
     39 MEEK, Theresa W F 42 [1838] Single Keeping House PA PA PA.⁶

     Dempster Lee Meek was born on 23 March 1842 at Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA; Glenn [1988] says b. 1844; FindAGrave says b. 23 Mar 1842; grave stone seen on FindAGrave says "1844"; death certificate says 23 March 1842.^1,2,3 He married Margery Eleanor Waddle, daughter of Philip Benner Waddle and Elinor Price, circa 1868 at Patton Township, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA.^4,2

Dempster Lee Meek died on 16 March 1911 at Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA, at age 68; Ancestry.com - Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1964
     Name:     Demfister Lee Meek [Dempster Lee Meek]
     Gender:     Male
     Race:     White
     Age:     68
     Birth Date:     23 Mar 1842
     Birth Place:     Pennsylvania
     Death Date:     16 Mar 1911
     Death Place:     Patton, Centre, Pennsylvania, USA
     Father:     Rheuben Meek
     Mother:     Mary Ann Gray
     Certificate Number:     28260
     Source Citation: Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission; Pennsylvania, USA; Certificate Number Range: 026571-030050
     Source Information: Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1964 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
     Original data: Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates, 1906–1963. Series 11.90 (1,905 cartons). Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.^2,3
Dempster Lee Meek was buried after 16 March 1911 at Gray's Cemetery, Stormstown/Buffalo Run, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA; from FindAGrave.com:
     Birth:      Mar. 23, 1842
     Death:      Mar. 16, 1911, Centre County, Pennsylvania, USA
     Born 23 Mar 1842 to Reuben H Meek and Mary Ann Gray; married Margery Eleanor Waddle about 1868 and died 16 Mar 1911 in Patten. They had seven children, Herbert D, Philip Benner, Reuben Hurron (M.D.), Mary Ellen, John Breckenridge, Sue E and Lester L.
     Family links: Spouse: Margery Eleanor Waddle Meek (1848 - 1921)
     Children:
      Reuben Hurron Meek (1877 - 1961)*
      Mary Meek Musser (1879 - 1968)*
     Burial: Grays Cemetery, Stormstown, Centre County, Pennsylvania, USA
     Created by: Tombstone
     Record added: Aug 27, 2011
     Find A Grave Memorial# 75586220.²
     Dempster Lee Meek was also known as Demster Meek.

Dempster Lee Meek was listed as a resident in Reuben Heron Meek and Mary Ann Gray's household in the census report on 24 October 1850 at Patton Township, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA;
p. 269-A; Lines 25-32; Dwelling 135; Family 135
     25 MEEK, Reuben H. 47 [1803] M Farmer PA
     26 " , Mary 37 [1813] F PA
     27 " , Mary E. 16 [1834] F PA
     28 " , Theresa 14 [1836] F PA
     29 " , Dempster 9 [1841] F (sic) PA
     30 " , Peter 11 [1839] M PA
     31 " , Leonidas 6 [1844] M PA
     32 " , Sarah 4 [1846] F PA.⁵

Dempster Lee Meek was listed as a resident in Reuben Heron Meek and Mary Ann Gray's household in the census report on 20 August 1860 at U. S. Census, Patton Township, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA;
p. 732; Lines 19-25; Dwelling 1509; Family 1555
     19 MEEK, Reuben H. 58 [1802] M Farmer 4000 1050 PA
     20 " , Mary A. 46 [1814] F PA
     21 " , Theresa 21 [1839] F PA
     22 " , Gray 20 [1840] M PA
     23 " , Dempster 17 [1843] M PA
     24 " , Leonidas 15 [1845] M PA
     25 " , Sarah J. 10 [1850] F PA.⁶

Dempster Lee Meek and Margery Eleanor Waddle appeared in the census of 10 June 1880 at Patton Township, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA; p. 286-A, lines 42-49, dwelling 107, family 109
     42 MEEK, Dempster W M 37 [1843] Married Farmer PA PA PA
     43 " , Margery W F 32 [1848] Wife Married Keeping house PA PA PA
     44 " , Herbert D W M 10 [1870] Son Single PA PA PA
     45 " , Benner W M 5 [1875] Son Single PA PA PA
     46 " , Reuben W M 3 [1877] Son Single PA PA PA
     47 " , Mary Ellen W F 5/12 Dec [1879] Daughter Son Single PA PA PA
     48 YOUNG, Kate W F 45 [1835] Servant Single Servant PA PA PA
     49 BAISOR, Samuel W M 18 [1862] Servant Single Farm Laborer PA PA PA.⁷

Dempster Lee Meek and Margery Eleanor Waddle appeared in the census of 5 June 1900 at Patton Township, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA; p. 2-B, lines 60-65, dwelling 32, family 33
     60 MEEK, Dempster L. Head W M March 1843 57 Married 30yrs PA PA PA Farmer
     61 " , Margery E. Wife W F May 1849 51 Married 30yrs 7-children-born 4-children-living PA PA PA
     62 " , Mary E. Daughter W F Dec 1879 20 Single PA PA PA
     63 " , John B. Son W M April 1882 18 Single PA PA PA At school
     64 " , Sue E. Daughter W F Feb 1884 16 Single PA PA PA At school
     65 " , Lester L. Son W M Nov 1888 11 Single PA PA PA At school.⁸

Dempster Lee Meek and Margery Eleanor Waddle appeared in the census of 19 April 1910 at Patton Township, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA; p. 4-B, lines 58-61, dwelling 72, family 74
     58 MEEK, Dempster L Head M W 66 [1844] Married 1x 45yrs PA PA PA Own income
     59 " , Maryann A. Wife F W 60 [1850] Married 1x 45yrs 7-children-born 7-children-living PA PA PA
     60 MUSSER, Mary E. Daughter F W 28 [1882] Married 1x 5yrs PA PA PA
     61 HOPPLE, Barbara E. Servant F W 52 [1858] Widow 10-children-born 8-children-living PA PA PA.⁹

     Elsie Samantha Hilliard was born on 25 June 1881 at Pennsylvania, USA.¹
Elsie Samantha Hilliard died on 22 October 1919 at age 38.²

     John Apsley was born circa 1752.¹

     Olin Meek was born circa 1847 at Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA; aged 23 in 1870 census.¹
      ; Person Source.²

Olin Meek was listed as a resident in Peter Gray Meek and Susannah Mary Meek's household in the census report on 4 June 1870 at U. S. Census, Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA;
p. 776-A, lines 7-14, dwelling 70, family 68
     7 MEEK, Peter G 27 [1843] M W Editor & Pub. $9000 $8380 PA
     8 " , Susan 27 [1843] F W Keeping House PA
     9 " , Lula 8 [1862] F W PA Attended school
     10 " , Mary 5 [1865] F W PA
     11 " , Bessie 3 [1867] F W PA
     12 " , George 9/12 [1869] M W PA Sept.
     13 JONES, Francis 16 [1854] N Black Domestic Serv PA
     14 MEEK, Olive (Olie?) 23 [1847] M W Works in Printin Office PA.¹

     Peter Gray Meek was born on 12 July 1842 at His father's farm, Patton Township, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA.^1,3 He married Susannah Mary Meek, daughter of George Washington Meek and Rachel Barron, in January 1862.^1,4

Peter Gray Meek died on 16 February 1919 at At his home, Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA, at age 76; Ancestry.com - Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1964
     Name:     P Gray Meek
     Gender:     Male
     Race:     White
     Age:     76
     Birth Date:     12 Jul 1842
     Birth Place:     Centre County, Pennsylvania
     Death Date:     16 Feb 1919
     Death Place:     Bellefonte, Centre, Pennsylvania, USA
     Father:     Reuben Herron Meek
     Herron
     Reuben
     Mother:     Mary Ann Gray
     Certificate Number:     19269
     Source Citation: Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission; Pennsylvania, USA; Certificate Number Range: 019001-022000
     Source Information: Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1964 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
     Original data: Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates, 1906–1963. Series 11.90 (1,905 cartons). Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.^1,5
Peter Gray Meek was buried after 16 February 1919 at Union Cemetery, Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA; from Find A Grave website:
Birth:      Jul., 1842
Death:      Feb., 1919


Family links:
Spouse:
Susanna Mary Meek (1843 - 1921)*

Children:
Rachel L. Meek (1864 - 1909)*
Mary Gray Meek (1866 - 1949)*
Elizabeth Breckenridge Meek (1869 - 1942)*
George Reuben Meek (1870 - 1948)*
Eloise Meek (1873 - 1926)*
Winifred Barron Meek Morris (1876 - 1930)*

*Calculated relationship

Burial:
Union Cemetery
Bellefonte
Centre County
Pennsylvania, USA

Edit Virtual Cemetery info [?]

Created by: Melinda Klitz
Record added: Apr 27, 2013
Find A Grave Memorial# 109609410.⁶
     EDV-1.

; About Democratic Watchman. (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1855-1940
Bellefonte, Pa. (1855-1940)
Title: Democratic watchman. : (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1855-1940
Alternative Titles: Bellefonte Democratic watchman
Place of publication: Bellefonte, Pa.
Geographic coverage: Bellefonte, Centre, Pennsylvania | View more titles from this: City County, State
Publisher: H. Hays
Dates of publication: 1855-1940
Description: Vol. 1, no. 1 (Nov. 28, 1855)-v. 85, no. 3 (Jan. 19, 1940).
Frequency: Weekly
Language: English
Subjects:
Bellefonte (Pa.)--Newspapers.
Centre County (Pa.)--Newspapers.
LCCN: sn 83031981
OCLC: 10095101.⁷

; from Ancestry: [quote] Democratic Watchman - First published November 1855, by S. T. Shugert, once owner of the Centre Democrat who had just finished a term as U. S. Commissioner of Patents. He hired Henry Hays and Wien Forney as publishers. Sometime in the late 1850s, S. S. Seely took control of the paper. Within a short period of time, J. S. Barnhart, who also operated one of Bellefonte's first photography studios, also joined the paper. In May of 1861 Seely & Barnhart desolved, and the Watchman was leased to C. T. Alexander and Peter Gray Meek, but Meek pulled out, in September 1861, over the paper's war policy. In 1862, Peter Gray Meek, then 21, was back at the Watchman , buying out the all interests. People about Bellefonte used to say you could walk on the political bones picked clean by the Republican and Peter Gray Meek in the Watchman . The Watchman moved into their own building, on High Street, opposite the Bush House and along Spring Creek in September 1869. Mr. Meek bragged in the pages of the paper, that he could fish for trout out of his office window. By December of the same year, Meek took advantage of his new proximity to Spring Creek, and installed a water turbine to operate their presses, becoming only the second newspaper in the country to operate their printing press by water power. (The other was the West Chester Jeffersonian) The presses had previously been operated by steam. The turbine was manufactured and installed by Todd & Duncan. By 1914 P. Gray Meek announced his retirement and turned management of the Democratic Watchman over to his son and daughter, George Reuben and Mary. In 1933, George Meek was appointed postmaster in Bellefonte, succeeding John Knisely. George turned over operation of the Democratic Watchman to his sister, Mary, and Charles Gates. In December of 1940, George Sheldon of Philipsburg bought the Democratic Watchman and hired John Fleming, son of former judge M.Ward Fleming, as the editor. That ownership did not last long, however, and the paper was sold again in few months to Mr. and Mrs, Samuel Shallcross and Mrs. Shallcross became the editor. The Watchman ceased in 1941.[end quote]⁸

; P Gray Meek 1842-1919
Democratic Watchman, February 21, 1919, page 1 , obituary

"We shall not attempt a biography of the life of P. Gray Meek, for that would not be possible in the time given us nor would the space dedicated to his memory in this issue be sufficient to carry it. A few of the outstanding facts in his long and varied career as a man and. journalist must suffice.

He was a descendant of Robert Meek, who emigrated from Edinburg, Scotland, before the Revolutionary war, and who had six Sons who served with Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania regiments in that conflict. Three of the sons gave their lives to their country. One of the survivors was Capt. George Meek who settled much of that part of the county now known as Ferguson township. He was the companion and guide of James Harris in his early surveying operations in the county and was with him when Bellefonte was laid out. One of his sons, William, who was married to Elizabeth Breckenridge, of the Kentucky family of that name was the grandfather of P. Gray Meek. Of William Meek'a sons, two, George W., and Reuben Herron, have to do with this story for Reuben Herron was the father of P. Gray Meek and George W. was the father of his wife, for they were cousins.

Born on his father's farm in Patton township July 12th, 1842, he was named Peter Gray in honor of the father of his mother who was Mary Ann Gray. His early life was spent doing such chores on the farm as his frail physique found possible and at intervals acquired a primary education at the old "Stony Point" school house near the family home. His father was of a literary temperament and strong intellectuality and. certainly he must have inherited some of those characteristics for we find that his scholastic training was very meager; in fact nothing more than the few boyhood years at the "Stony Point" school house and two terms at the Halfmoon Academy; a school, famous in its day, conducted in the old Gray's church by Dennis B. Dorsey.

A program of an "Exhibition" at that Academy on the evening of April 7th, 1854, when he was not yet twelve years of age, presents him as having delivered two "Orations," appeared In a dialogue and a little play.

Two years later, when only fourteen years of age, he went to Lumber City, Clearfield county, to teach school and it has been family tradition that he lost his job because he was so small of stature that he could not control the large boys of the school. On the day of his funeral John Q. Miles cleared him of this failure by referring to the incident and declaring that the juvenile pedagogue had not been run out, but mastered the situation and finished the term creditably.
His next occupation was as a clerk in Furst's store at Milroy where he remained until he returned to accept a similar position in the store of George Gates at Stormstown. Stormstown was then a busy trade centre and at nights the big store was the rendezvous for scores of men. It was the duty of the young clerk to sleep in the place and it is little wonder that physical fear was hard to conceal by this undersized boy of less than sixteen when the primitive times and his sense of responsibility are considered. And we here recall an incident that reveals a diamond in the rough so truly that we regard it worth recounting.

The late "Bill" McElhattan, so well known in Bellefonte, was one of the crowd that gathered nightly about the stove in Gates' store to bell ghost stories and swap yarns well calculated to make young blood run cold. It was he who discovered the unrest of the new clerk and it was he who left the crowd when locking up time came and slipped back to the store to offer company to the boy through the vigils of the night in that gloomy, spooky room. And from that night until the one P. Gray Meek relinquished the job "Bill" McElhattan slept in the bed with him and never a soul knew of the unforgettable kindness it was.

He had saved a little money and with this he bought some patent rights on a churn. With an old horse and a two wheeled gig he started to make his fortune selling the rights. His territory was through the New England States and his letters home reveal that all was not gold that glistered. His resourcefulness stood him in good stead, however, for he struck upon the, happy practice of interesting some prospect with only one cow. Then he would have to make headquarters there until they could accumulate enough cream for a churning, all the time slipping out into nearby territory locating other probable buyers.

In the early fall of 1861, then slightly over 18 years of age, he came to Bellefonte and in partnership with the late Senator Cyrus T. Alexander, rented the "Democratic Watchman," which was then owned by Samuel Shugert, Daniel Garman, John Hoffer and one other gentleman whose name we cannot recall, but our impression is that it was Major William F. Reynolds. That was just after the dual Douglass and Breckenridge campaign. It turned out that Alexander was for Douglass and Meek was for Breckenridge and as they could not reconcile their differences they could not agree upon a policy for the paper. Mr. Meek had no money to buy his partner out so the only alternative was to sell, which he did for twenty-five dollars, a sum that would indicate that the "Watchman" at that time wasn't considered a very valuable property.

He went back to his home and worked that fall and winter so that by spring of 1862 he had saved enough money to buy the Interest of one of the four owners of the property and entered into an agreement with the other three that he was to have sole control and given an opportunity to buy their interests out of earnings. He assumed control on June 1st, 1862, and at once threw all the force of his persevering character into its columns. They were trying days and partisanship was bitter. Opposition, both passive and active, was on all sides and the most tragic incidents of his life fell upon the young editor. It was not the moral principle of slavery that he stood against It was what he regarded as a violation of a fundamental tenet of Democracy, the rights of the States, but in the heat and passion of those awful days, he was misunderstood. And to-day when we all feel that the horrors of the world war that we hope is now closed, have been due as much to too strongly centralized government as to any other cause we are constrained to ask the question as to whether the editor of eighteen-sixties might not have been looking to the far off fall of 1914?

In 1863 he was arrested and taken before Squire Weaver on the charge of "high treason" and bound over, Samuel Gilliland having his bondsman. That a justice of the peace had jurisdiction in a case of high treason, or how he could have been guilty of such an offense in the publication of a newspaper only, or by what authority bonds could be required, is one of the mysteries only explained by the distorted views of those troublous times.

In 1864 he was twice arrested for publishing articles that grated harshly upon the ears of those who opposed freedom of the press and the Democratic party. And in March of 1865 soldiers, who were billeted in the old jail on the hill, marched to his office, which was then located on the second floor of what was then known as "the Iron Front" building, and later Reynolds opera house, and placed him under arrest.
Two privates, with fixed bayonets and an officer with drawn sword, marched into his office and found him settling an account with H. Y. Stitzer. While one soldier guarded a nearby window the other guarded the door and the officer laid his hand on Mr. Meek's shoulder, saying: "You are my prisoner." He was not yet twenty-three years old and weighed less than one hundred pounds and while it probably did not appear so at that time we look back upon it from this date as at least an amusing spectacle--the thought of that slip of a man being marched up the middle of Allegheny street by three stalwart soldiers armed to the teeth.

On the way to the jail he slipped a note, which he had written during the five minutes the lieutenant had accorded him in which to complete his business with Mr. Stitzer, to John Moran.
It was a message to his young wife, then almost a total stranger and with scarce a friend in the town, apprising her of his predicament. That afternoon he was marched down the street to the station and started on the way to a military prison in Harrisburg.

A crowd followed the procession, some friends were in it, but for the most part it was a hooting, menacing gathering. There was more of prophecy than he knew in one shout of a friend, the old Jewish merchant, Abram Sussman, who shouted from his store front: "You may take him to Harrisburg now, but by God we'll send him down there to make laws for you before we get through with this."

He remained in the famous cotton factory prison from Tuesday until the next Tuesday when he was released upon taking an oath to return for trial when called. What the charge was he never knew as he was never called.

In May of 1865 he was arrested for the last time b United States marshall Hartshorn, upon the oath of Clearfield postmaster named Frank. He was taken to Pittsburg and bound over for appearance before the United States circuit court sitting in Eric. Later the marshal offered to settle the case for $300, but the proposal was refused and trial demanded. It never came and that indictment, if there was one, is still on the docket.

Two years later, on August 10th, 1867, he was chosen by acclamation b the Democratic county convention as its candidate for Assemblyman, and in the issue of the "Watchman" of August 16th we find one of the only two references this modest man has ever made to his own, ambitions in the paper that he edited for fifty-seven years. It follows:

"The editor of this paper has to thank his fellow Democrats for the unusual compliment of a nomination by acclamation for first term in the Assembly. His record is well known and the sentiments he has often expressed remain unchanged. Should he be elected, of coarse, he will do all that in his judgement will be best for the interests of party and the country."

He was elected by a majority of 615. Joseph L. Neff of Potter township, was his opponent.

He was nominated in 1868 and elected by a majority of 312. Andrew Gregg was his opponent. In pursuance of the rotation rule he declined to be a candidate In 1869, but entered the lists again in 1870 and was elected by a majority of 714. His opponent was R. H. Duncan.
In this campaign both for the nomination and the election, he had serious opposition within his own party for he had advocated the repeal of the Public Library act, which was really a camouflaged Law Library, which authorized the purchase of law books with public funds. This was resented by the lawyers. everywhere and they made trouble for the one who dared to destroy their rights--as they viewed them. He had pushed through his railroad fence law for Centre county and his lumbermen's act, referred to in another column of this issue in the splendid tribute paid his memory by Hon. Ellis L. Orvis, however, and the farmers, lumbermen and others saw in him a constructive friend and saved the day for him.
In 1871 he was again a candidate for the Assembly and elected by a majority of 386. His opponent was Robert McFarlane. He had trouble in this campaign also, for the Public Library Act had been repealed and the "Watchman" had taken a stand against the building of the then promoted Lewisburg, Centre and Spruce Creek railroad through Pennsvalley on the proposed narrow guage plan.

The men who subscribed the $500,000 in Pennsvalley were opposed to a narrow guage road, but the promoters insisted on building it that way because it would be cheaper.

At the organization of the last session of the Assembly in which he sat he was the nominee of his party for the office of Speaker of the House. He was then thirty years old.

In 1873, 1875 and 1876 he had the endorsement of Centre county for State Senator. The counties then constituting the district were Centre, Huntingdon, Mifflin and Juniata.

Here we let the Hon. George D. Herbert, of Harrisburg, staunch friend and devoted disciple of Democracy, take up the story of his activities in the wider realm of state politics.

In 1882, when the late Robert E. Pattison became the nominee of the Democratic party for GOVERNOR Mr. Meek was unanimously chosen by the party leaders as Secretary of the State Committee. The party organization sensed the victory which was subsequently achieved and with complete harmony and hope put its best foot forward. William Uhler Hensel was made chairman of the committee and with Meek as his Chief of Staff inaugurated a campaign that was as daring as it was in some features sensational. For the first time in any State special trains were engaged and groups of orators sent into every county.

Chairman Hensel who was an orator of great force and eloquence traveled with the speakers and Secretary Meek directed the movements of the-party from the headquarters in Philadelphia. The Republican campaign managers imagined that they were having much fun about what they termed the "Democratic Hippodrome" and chaffed Meek incessantly on his "railroad circus." But he was not diverted from his purpose and as the daily reports came to him of the enthusiasm created wherever the campaigners stopped, he quietly accepted the banter and confidently predicted the result.

In those days party service was properly rewarded and when the successful campaign yielded not only a Democratic Governor but a substantial majority in the House of Representatives, Secretary Meek was literally invited to choose his own reward. While earnest and active in politics Mr. Meek never neglected his editorial duties which had by this time become to him "a labor of love." He liked public life and found pleasure in the association of men who directed public affairs. But he always kept in view his obligations as an editor and selected the office of Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives for the reason that he could discharge the duties of that office and give necessary attention to the editing and publishing of his newspaper.
Upon the expiration of his term as Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives Mr. Meek settled down to his business life with the purpose of giving only spare time to politics thereafter. But it was impossible for him to maintain that resolution. At each State convention of his party he met so many friends and was handed out so many enticements to resume political activity that he finally yielded and in 1890 was elected Senator in the General Assembly for the district of which Centre county is part, by the largest majority ever given any candidate. While still in that service. President Cleveland appointed him to the office of Surveyor of Customs at the port of Philadelphia. It was purely a personal appointment, a token of the high regard in which President Cleveland held him.

In 1900 he was chosen by the Democratic State convention in session at Harrisburg, as its nominee for Auditor General of Pennsylvania. Political conditions were such in the State as to discourage any hope of election. He made no active campaign for the office and was defeated by E. B. Hardenberg of Wayne county by a majority considerably less than that normally rolled up for Republican candidates.

In 1902 the Democratic convention of Pennsylvania, sitting at Erie, nominated Robert E. Pattison for Governor the third time.
P. Gray Meek imagined that upon his retirement from the office of Surveyor of Customs he had retired from polities forever, so far as active work was concerned. He still attended the conventions and showed unabated interest in party organization and success. But he wanted to view the processes from his comfortable home in Bellefonte. He had such an admiration for Robert E. Pattison, however, and so strong a desire to see him succeed again that a direct personal appeal from the candidate compelled him to again accept the office of Secretary of the Democratic State Committee. During the campaign which ensued he gave his time and efforts until "it hurt" but to no purpose. Governor Pattison was defeated.

From that time on for several years Mr. Meek continued to act as Secretary of the State Committee. Each new Chairman insisted on that as a condition of his own service. The office became increasingly burdensome as the labors of the other party officials were shifted upon his shoulders and finally his health was broken by the strenuous efforts in the campaign of 1909 for Justice of the Supreme Court when LaRue Munson, of Williamsport, was the candidate of the party. For nearly a year he suffered and sometimes his life was despaired of. But he was as determined a fighter against sickness as he was in politics and in 1911 he resumed activity as State Secretary, continuing until the reorganization of the party in 1912.

Widely known he was popular with the rank and file of the voters and implicitly trusted by the leaders. Wallace, Randall, Speer, Hall, Mutchler and Pattison equally confided in him because he was true to his word and faithful to his obligations. He was honored by the party but gave more
than he got.

Mr. Meek's intimacies extended to every section of the State. Much of his time was spent in Harrisburg where he was as well known as any resident. His official life in Philadelphia brought him into contact with leading business and professional men and officials and his service as Secretary of the State Committee established relations with politicians of all parties. He had difference with men, of course, but no enmities and he was as free from prejudice as he was from cant and hypocrisy."

The impression has been given by the press of the State that Mr. Meek was present and a party to the work of the much talked of Allentown convention at which Webster Grim was nominated for Governor and the Keystone party had its birth. Such was not the case. He was ill at Atlantic City at the time and those in a position to know are convinced that if he had been at Allentown C. LaRue Munson's name would not have been withdrawn from that convention.
Berry and Bonniwell would not then have bolted and John K. Tener would never have been Governor of. Pennsylvania.

That was the beginning of Mr. Meek's long illness. It was then that the beginning arterio sclerosis was discovered and he was sent home with the advice to withdraw from all activities that might sap at his nervous system.
He remained as inactive in politics as he couLd but the trouble progressed, progressed so insidiously that on the night of February 12th, 1915, he threw down his pen and ended his active life on the paper that he had spent his life in making.

Since that time he had lived quietly at his home able to be about until six months ago when he became confined to his room and became so weakened that he fell an easy victim to the attack of pneumonia that precipitated his death on Sunday afternoon at 5 :20.

In January, 1862 he married Susan M., only daughter of George W. Meek of Ferguson township. To them were born six children: Rachael Luella, who died in September, 1909: Mary Gray, Elizabeth Breckenridge, and George Reuben, of Bellefonte; Dr. Eloise Meek, in public health service at Trenton, N. J., and Winifred Barron, wife of Thomas King Morris, of Pittsburgh.

Funeral services were held at his home in this place at 10:30 o'clock Wednesday morning. They were conducted by Rev Dr. E. H. Yocum, of the Methodist church of which Mr. Meek was a member, assisted by Rev. Dr. Ambrose Schmidt, of the Reformed church.

The pall bearers were Hon. A. C. Morris, Col. William P. Humes, Hon. John Noll, James H. Potter, Charles L. Gates, Hammon Sechler, A. Y. Wagner, Hon. James Schofield, Dr. J. L Seibert, Isaac Mitchell, Col. H. S. Taylor, John M. Keichline, Bellefonte; George D. Herbert, of Harrisburg; Capt. William H. Fry, Pine Grove Mills; Hon. John John T. McCormick, State College; James E. Swabb, Linden Hall; Cyrus Brungard and D. J. Meyer, Centre Hall; W. M. Grove, Spring Mills; Dr. G. S. Frank and William H. Smith, Millheim; John H. Beck, Nittany; J. Hile Giffin, Stormstown; H. T. McDowell and Abram Weber, Howard; Jerry Donovan, Axe Mann; John Q. Miles, Martha Furnace; J. T. Merryman, Bald Eagle a Dr. F. K. White, Philipsburg.

Interment was made in the family mausoleum in the Union cemetery."¹

Reference: Person Source.^9,10

; from Ancestry: [quote] COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD, pages 24-25.
P. GRAY MEEK, a citizen of Bellefonte, Centre county, and at present Surveyor of the Port at Philadelphia, has descended from a long line of ancestors, who were conspicuous in the early history of our country and of the State of Pennsylvania.

The ancestral history of our subject appears in the sketch of Reuben H. Meek, his father. For nearly forty years P. Gray Meek has edited and published the Watchman at Bellefonte, and been prominently identified with the public affairs of the Commonwealth. He was born in Patton township, Centre county, Penn., July 12, 1842. His education was limited to that afforded by the common schools, and he began life as a school teacher at Lumber City, Clearfield county, in the winter of 1856-57. The next year he was a clerk, then worked on a farm, and followed what he could find to do that would permit an honest living, until May, 1861. He then, though but a boy, became junior editor of the Democratic Watchman, then a four-page paper, six columns to the page, with a circulation of less than five hundred. The paper had practically been abandoned by its owners on account of the bitter feeling that existed against Democratic journals, and young Meek found no easy task in satisfying his readers and keeping out of the clutches of the provost marshals. His first articles attracted attention, and it was but a couple of months until the owners thought him too out-spoken and radical, and he was requested to resign his position. He then returned to his father's farm, where he worked until July, 1862, when he managed to purchase a half interest in the paper, and assumed editorial control of it. The paper itself, small and with a limited patronage; the most influential men of the party denouncing it as too radical and out-spoken; the merchants of the place refusing to give it their patronage; its youthful editor experienced the fact that he was on the unpopular side of public opinion, but believing himself right refused to allow these conditions to stifle his convictions, or change its policy, and gained a reputation for consistency and plainness of speech which eventually secured for his paper that success which has since attended it, and made his reputation as an editor. Mr. Meek was not only a sententious but courageous writer, and during the Civil war the feeling toward him by those holding opposite views was exceedingly bitter and extreme, as was shown by the many arrests he was subjected to. On one occasion he was arrested and taken before a justice of the peace in Bellefonte, charged with "high treason;" shortly after this a county grand jury presented him for publishing "improper political matter;" following these he was arrested on oath of provost marshals three different times, and taken before the United States Court at Pittsburg, for his out-spoken denunciation of the policy of the Republican administration. In all these cases, except the first, which was never heard of after being placed on the justice's docket, nolle prosses were entered by the courts. In March, 1865, he was taken from his office, without notice and without any preferred charge, by a company of United States soldiers and incarcerated in the military prison at Harrisburg, from which he was released after taking an oath to return for trial when demanded, a requirement that was never enforced.

His constituents never lost confidence in him, and in 1867, 1868, 1870, 1871, they elected him to the House of Representatives by large majorities. While in the House he was instrumental in having an act requiring railroads to fence their lines in Centre county, or pay for the stock killed (known as the railroad fence law) and the lumberman's lien act passed, which added to his popularity with those classes of his section, as both of these measures have proven of material benefit to laboring men and farmers. In 1872 he was secretary of the Democratic State Committee, and in 1873, 1875 and 1876, he had the indorsement of the county convention for State Senator. He was defeated by ex-Gov. Curtin for the nomination for Congress in 1878 in Centre county, by two votes in the convention. In 1882 he accepted the position of editorial secretary of the Democratic State Committee, and prepared the greater part of the documents for the campaign of 1882; and served as one of its secretaries, during the campaigns of 1883 and 1884. He was elected chief clerk of the House of Representatives in January, 1883, and filled that position during the memorable regular and special sessions of that year. As showing the manner in which he performed the duties of this position, we give, out of many of the same character, this single extract from one of the leading journals of the State: "On Saturday last Mr. P. Gray Meek, chief clerk of the House of Representatives, completed the settlement of his accounts, turned over to the Governor the remnant of the State's property in his charge, and left for his home. In his departure he carried with him not only the consciousness of having discharged his duty with fidelity, but the respect alike of the members and citizens with whom his official duties brought him in contact. During the protracted sessions in which Mr. Meek presided at the clerk's desk, covering a period of eleven months, he has been an intelligent and zealous champion of economy and reform. He has been faithful to every obligation which the arduous duties of the office imposed."

In 1890 Mr. Meek was elected to the Senate by a majority approximating 5,000. He was made a member of the committee on Appropriations, Banks, Insurance and Congressional Apportionment, and prepared the Congressional and Senatorial Apportionment bills presented and advocated by the Democrats. His principal effort during this session was put forth to secure legislation taxing un-naturalized persons for poor purposes. At the session of 1893 he served on committees on Banks, Congressional Apportionment, Insurance, Legislative Apportionment, Public Printing and other committees, and again prepared the several Apportionment bills that his party presented and supported. Before his term as senator expired he was (in February, 1894) appointed Surveyor of the Port at Philadelphia by President Cleveland, which position he continues to hold. The following extracts from the press speak for themselves: "The well-rounded periods in the life of P. Gray Meek, the fighting editor of the Bellefonte Democratic Watchman, would fill a book and provide a good start for another one. As legislator, senator and proprietor of the best known and thoroughly successful country weekly paper, his career has been one alternating storms and sunshine, for he is nothing if not aggressive, and his type of Democracy is founded on the ultra-Jacksonian standard, with a mixture of the Jeffersonian article. To know Editor Meek is to know a clever and genial editor with an opinion and of sterling ability to back it up. He has literally cut out his career from surroundings severely hostile in character, and whether in the right or wrong he has always had the courage of his convictions.

"The Watchman, under the capable management of Senator Meek, has been a very creditable journal. Its proprietor is a natural-born newspaper man, and a thorough believer in the principles of the Democratic party, and has been largely instrumental, in his career as a journalist, in keeping the party solid in party ranks. His paper is regarded by the State newspaper fraternity as one of the best edited and finest printed weeklies in the Commonwealth. It enjoys a large circulation throughout many of the different States of this country. One of the finest and best-equipped job offices in Pennsylvania is connected with it, and the machinery of the entire plant is run by the water power from the springs, whose waters flow by the building. Mr. Meek is assisted in the editorial work by his son, George R. Meek, who is a graduate of Pennsylvania State College, and a very able and forcible writer."

In January, 1862, Mr. Meek was married to Miss Susan M., only daughter of George W. Meek, of Ferguson township, Centre county, and to them were born six children: Rachel L., Mary Gray, Elizabeth Breckinridge, George R., Eloise and Winifred Barron. The eldest daughter is associated with her father and brother in the conduct of the paper. Elizabeth and Eloise are both graduates of the Bellefonte High School and of the Pennsylvania State College, as is also George R., the latter from the High School in 1886 and from the State College in 1890, and since 1893 he has been the managing editor of the Democratic Watchman. The family adheres to the religious faith of their ancestors, that of the Methodist Episcopal Church. [end quote]
from Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.^11,12

; He was owner and editor of the Democratic Watchman, and became a well-known Copperhead during the Civil War. His anti-Lincoln and anti-war editorials earned him an arrest for Treason, which was later overturned. He was elected to the State House of Representatives from 1867-70. He was elected to the State Senate in 1870.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *
HON. P. GRAY MEEK

Hon. P. Gray Meek, of Bellefonte, is a descendant of Robert Meek, who emigrated from Edinburgh, Scotland, before the Revolutionary war, and who had six sons who served in that war in Maryland, Penn-sylvania, and New Jersey regiments, three of whom perished in the service. Capt. George Meek (son of Robert) settled in what is now Ferguson township and raised a large family. He was the companion of James Harris in his early surveying expeditions, as will be seen by reference to the general history. William Meek, son of Capt. George, was the grand-father of P. Gray Meek, Of the grandfather and grandmother mention is made in the biographical sketch of Rev. Johan B. Meek.
P. Gray Meek was a son of Reuben H. Meek (see biographical sketch of the latter), and born on his father's farm, in Patton township, July 12, 1842. His education was limited to that afforded by the common schools, and he began life as a school-teacher at Lumber City, Clearfield Co., in the winter of 1855-56. The next year he was a clerk, then worked on a farm, and followed what he could find to do that would permit an honest livelihood until May, 1861. He then became junior editor of the Democratic Watchman.
Being too radically Democratic to suit the Republicans and the owners of the paper (it was in August of that year presented by a grand jury composed of twenty-one Republicans and two Democrats for publishing "treasonable matter") - under the pretext of saving the paper from being excluded from the mails, Mr. Meek was requested by the proprietors to resign his position and to take the responsibility for the radical tone of the paper during his connection with it, which he did.
Mr. Meek then returned to his father's farm, where he worked until the following July, when he purchased a half-interest in the Watchman and assumed editorial control of it. In 1863 he was arrested and taken before Squire Weaver on the charge of high treason and bound over, Samuel Gilliland, Esq., becoming his bondsman. That a justice of the peace had jurisdiction in a case of high treason, or how he could be guilty of such an offense in the publication of a newspaper only, or by what authority bonds could be required, Mr. Meek has not been able to discover. The case was never called.
It was very difficult to keep the paper up. Without money when he made the purchase, the paper itself small, with a limited patronage, the most influential men of the party denouncing it as too radical and outspoken, the merchants of the place refusing to give it their patronage, Mr. Meek was running against popular public opinion, nevertheless he gained a reputation for consistency and plainness of speech which eventually secured his paper that success which has since attended it and made his reputation as an editor.
During the year 1864 he was twice arrested for the publication of political articles that grated harshly upon the ears of those who opposed free-dom of speech and the Democratic party; but both cases were discontinued at the expense of the prose-cutors. In March, 1865, he was arrested in his office by a company of United States troops, taken to Harrisburg, and imprisoned in what was known as the cotton-factory barracks. Mr. Meek could never as-certain what the charge was upon which he was arrested, and was released, after six days' incarceration, upon taking an oath to report for trial when called on, and as he has never been called on he is in his own judgment still a paroled prisoner.
In May of the same year he was arrested by a United States marshal named Hartshorn, upon the oath of a Clearfield postmaster named Franke, charged with having published articles discouraging enlistments, taken to Pittsburgh, and bound over for trial. When that time came Hartshorn offered to have the case withdrawn for three hundred dollars. This Mr. Meek refused to give, demanded a trial whereupon a nolle prosequi was entered, and he was discharged.
In 1867 and 1868, Mr. Meek was nominated by the Democratic County Convention by acclamation for member of the Legislature and elected by large majorities, and in 1870 and 1871 again elected, serving four years in all. While in the House he was instrumental in having the acts known as the railroad fence law and the lumberman's lien act passed, which added to his popularity with the far-mers and workingmen of the county. In 1872 he was secretary of the Democratic State Committee, and 1873, 1875, and 1876 received the indorsement of the County Convention for State senator, and was beaten by ex-Governor Curtin for the nomination for Congress in 1878 in the county by two votes in the convention. In 1882 he accepted the position of editorial secretary of the Democratic State Com-mittee, and prepared the greater part of the documents for the campaign of 1882.
Mr. Meek was married in January, 1862, to Miss Susan M., only daughter of George W. Meek, of Ferguson township, and they have a family of six children.

(from John Blair Linn, "History of Centre and Clinton Counties, Pennsylvania", 1883, pp. 247-248)
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Folkenroth, Nancy, "Those Bellefonte Meeks", T&G January 1987, pp. 26-34.


"I have always wished I could write novels or an autobiographical effort that would tell the whole story of Grandfather and his family. They were a most interesting, lively, and unconventional crowd."
So wrote Peter Gray Meek '32 of his grandparents P. Gray and Susannah Meek and their six children: Rachel, Mary, Elizabeth, George, Eloise, and Winifred. This "unconventional crowd" was but a single branch of one of Centre County's oldest and most distinguished families. P. Gray and his brood excelled at nearly everything they put their hands to; among their number were two newspaper editors, a doctor and medical missionary, a teacher and scientist, and a published poet. The Meeks were long involved in community affairs in their hometown of Bellefonte, and they took an active interest in goings-on at The Pennsylvania State College as well. Not only did four of the six Meek children attend the College, but P. Gray and his family contributed largely to Penn State's development from a small agricultural college to a major arts-and-sciences university.
P. Gray Meek was a descendant of Scottish emigrants who came to the eastern United States from Edinburgh before the Revolutionary War. He was born on his father's farm in Patton Township on July 12, 1842, and his education was limited to that afforded by the common schools. He began his professional life as a schoolteacher in Lumber City, Clearfield County, during the win-ter of 1855-56. The next year he was a clerk; then he tried his hand at farming. He finally found a vocation that suited him in May 1861 when he became junior editor of Bellefonte's Democratic Watchman. The Watchman was then a four-page paper, six columns to the page, with a circulation of less than five hundred. The weekly had been established six years previously to support James Buchanan; because of the bitter feeling that then existed against Democratic journals, the paper had been all but abandoned by its owners. Young Meek, himself an eager Democrat who relished a challenge, meant to rescue the Watchman from oblivion.
His first articles attracted attention, certainly, but the paper's proprietors found his work too radical in tone. After only two months, Meek's bosses asked him to resign his position. He did, but the following year he managed to purchase a half interest in the paper, and this gave him greater control over its content. Under his direction, the Watchman of the 1862-65 period established itself as one of the most outspoken Copperhead journals in the North. In lengthy editorials Meek castigated abolitionism, President Lincoln, and the ineptitude of the Union Army. By 1863, Meek was advocating political recognition of the Con-federacy as the only hope of ending the bloody Civil War.
His pro-South, anti-war sympathies earned him many enemies. The young editor was denounced by members of his own party, and many Bellefonte merchants refused to give the Watchman their patronage. But Meek believed himself right and would not be stifled by public opinion or pressure from advertisers. Between 1862 and 1865 he was arrested five times for publishing treasonable material, though no formal charges were ever leveled against him. On one occasion three heavily armed soldiers pa-raded the diminutive editor, who never weighed more than 100 pounds in his life, through the streets of Bellefonte to the railroad station for a trip to a Harrisburg prison. Meek's response to such official harassment was to print eloquent defenses of free speech and to intensify his anti-war editorial campaign.
Despite continued insults, threats, and even physical abuse, he stood fast. His consistency and plainness of speech gained readers and earned him a solid reputation as an editor. His tenacity and courage were conceded even by those who dis-agreed with his politics. When the feisty Meek decided to run for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1867, Bellefonte voters had enough confidence in his abilities to elect him by a large majority. He served four terms in the House, several terms as secretary and chief clerk of the Democratic State Committee, and was elected to the state senate in 1890.
It was during his years in public office that P. Gray Meek, ever one to stand and be counted, took a stand for The Pennsylvania State College. In the 1 1800s a battle raged between College president George Atherton and members of the Penn-sylvania State Grange about the sort of curricu-lum offered at Penn State. The Grangers wanted the College to remain primarily an agricultural school. Atherton wished to attract more students to the College by offering courses in engineering and the liberal arts. The controversy came to the attention of Governor Pattison, who made two trips to the College to investigate the situation. Meek was convinced, with Atherton, that a broader range of courses was necessary to the school's survival. He was a good friend and col-league of Pattison's and appealed to the governor to consider Atherton's position. Thanks to Meek's influence, Pattison eventually approved an ex-panded curriculum for Penn State.
Meek was also responsible, during his years in the state Senate, for helping to keep Penn State in the black. He engineered the appropriation of badly needed special funds for the College at a time when the school was nearly bankrupt. And he further supported the institution by renting a house in the village of State College for the express purpose of sending his children to Penn State.
Throughout his career in politics, he remained editor of the Democratic Watchman. And he had found time in his busy life to marry and raise a family. On that subject P. Gray's grandson Peter Meek writes, "Even Grandfather's private life excited comment. His wife, my grandmother Susannah, was his first cousin. She lived on the tract of land west of Pine Grove Mills that had belonged to the Meeks since the Revolutionary War. The families opposed the marriage prima-rily because of the close blood relationship, although marriage between cousins was not ille-gal at that time. They objected also because Grandfather and his branch of the family were so much poorer. But you can imagine how much effect opposition had on P. Gray Meek! He and Grandmother were not of the right social stripe for top Bellefonte society of the day, and this made life lonelier and harder for the young country couple, especially since Grandfather's politics were anathema to the better people of the 'town. But they were both extremely likable and socially skillful, and in time they were, economically and otherwise, completely at home in the best circles in the state."
By 1900 P. Gray Meek, politician, newspaper editor, and family man, was a well-known public figure respected for his long years of service to the State College and Bellefonte communities. Old age never mellowed his combative nature; Meek's Watchman editorials of the early 1900s were as caustic as those of the 1860s. Though often at the center of controversy, Meek never hesitated to say what he thought, and he never lost the courage of his convictions. He died on February 16, 1919. Three days later the town of Bellefonte paid him tribute by stopping its business and gathering at the courthouse for a memorial service. There, at the place where Meek had once been publicly branded a traitor to his country, the townspeople gathered with Pennsylvania's most prominent men to eulogize him. The Watchman dedicated its next edition to the man who had nurtured it lovingly and courageously for more than half a century. That issue contained the following decla-ration: "So long as men read and think, his voice will be heard and continue to mould some thought."
There is no doubt that P. Gray Meek influenced the thinking of each of his six children. All were as strong-willed, intelligent, and independent as their father. Meek gave to his son and five daughters the benefit of his own example and the advantage of sound schooling. Comments Peter Meek: "Grand-father was a believer in the value of formal educa-tion. And he didn't hold to the notion that college was only for boys. My aunts had the same oppor-tunities as my father George; they were uncom-monly well educated for women of their day. The eldest, Rachel, was sent to Wellesley, and then worked at the Watchman. The second daughter, Mary, attended a finishing school in Bordentown, New Jersey, and she too helped run the Watch-man for years. Then Grandfather became inter-ested in affairs at Penn State and my father and his three youngest sisters went there. Grandfather actually rented a house in State College, installed a chaperone and a housekeeper, and sent four of his children there to live. It set a few tongues wagging, but he didn't care."
Peter continues, "Winifred, the youngest Meek child, attended the College, but I don't believe she took a degree. She was quite artistically inclined and went on to study music at the Curtis Conserv-atory in Philadelphia. She wrote poetry too; some of it was published in local magazines. Aunt Win-ifred was the only one of the Meek girls who ever married. Her husband was Mr. Thomas King Morris, who also went to Penn State and was a Phi Gamma Delta."
The three middle children, Elizabeth, George, and Eloise, figure more prominently in Penn State history. Elizabeth was the only girl in her class, and she took her bachelor's degree with top honors in 1889. After graduation she spent several months studying art under Rhoda Holmes Nich-ols of New York, specializing in the decoration of china. But Elizabeth, known as the "brains of the family," was by nature a scholar, and she dedi-cated the whole of her professional life to the sciences. She taught for a short time at a women's college in Houston, then returned to her alma mater as an instructor in biology. Almost single-handedly Elizabeth organized, and later took charge of, the department of bacteriology at Penn State. She earned her master's degree at State in 1898, then went to Chicago University where she did research to find the cause of a mysterious disease that threatened the success of incubating chickens. This work was interrupted by recalls to the College for special teaching assignments, and by research pilgrimages to Syracuse and Cornell universities, the University of Pennsylvania, and other institutions. She was at the same time work-ing for her doctorate when she suddenly broke under the strain of the many activities she was engaged in. During a visit home she suffered a complete nervous breakdown and was confined to bed for eight years.
Peter Meek says of his aunt's mysterious illness: "She spent those years in her room at the Meek home in Bellefonte, or in various hospitals in eastern cities, Grandfather sought a diagnosis of her baffling and continuing condition, but no doc-tor ever determined exactly what the problem was. My earliest memory of her is of a frail little person always in bed surrounded by papers and scientific publications. While I was in grammar school she recovered enough to get about, and she was fairly active for a time. Then she took to her bed for nine years more, making occasional trips to Hopkins and such places, seeking a cure for what had to be primarily a psychosomatic, or possibly psychiatric, ailment. My father George always contended she went to bed to get out of housework, which she did not enjoy. Every time Aunt Bess would appear to regain her health, her sisters, who both worked full time for the Watchman, would discharge the household help and rely on Bess to do the work, So Bess would take to her bed again and the maid would be rehired to wait on her!"
Between illnesses Elizabeth devoted her ener-gies to pushing public health programs in Bellefonte, Peter Meek recalls that his aunt was consid-ered most strange because she spent her own money to subsidize baby clinics, health education programs for the general public, and a Red Cross chapter in Bellefonte. She even bought a dentist's chair for one of the town's schools. She was also thought light years ahead of her contemporaries in the progressiveness of her ideas. It was Elizabeth who made the first scientific study of the bacterio-logical content of Bellefonte's milk supply and urged the precautions later adopted to reduce contamination. And her lectures to her students on the subjects of zoology and bacteriology were used by teachers who succeeded her and by other authorities in those fields.
"Aunt Elizabeth was a gifted woman," says Peter Meek. "It's a damn shame she decided to be sick for so much of her life." She died at the family's Bellefonte home in July of 1942.

Perhaps the most adventurous of the Meek children was the next-to-youngest daughter, Eloise. George once described this sister as "spirited, smart, restless, and ever inquisitive. Eloise always wanted to find out about other people and other places. She always wanted to know what was going on somewhere else."
As did her older sister, Eloise distinguished herself at Penn State, and she was graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1892. Several years later she entered the Women's Medical Col-lege in Philadelphia and was awarded her Doctor of Medicine degree in 1899. She then did special work in the children's clinic at Howard Hospital, Philadelphia, and spent a year as an intern at the State Infirmary of Massachusetts in Tewksbury. In 1902 she settled in Johnstown, where she practiced general medicine for a number of years.
Eloise, or Nell as she was known to her family, desired to see the world, so in the fall of 1911 she jumped at the chance to take charge of the Hoyt Memorial Hospital in Jhansi, India. She worked as a medical missionary in this steamy locale for two years, then devoted six months to visiting hospitals in India, China, and Japan.
Nell volunteered for overseas medical service during World War One, and worked in the for-eign quarters of Philadelphia during the flu epidemic of 1918. After earning her doctorate in public health, she was employed by the U. S. Public Health Service at various locations, and became a medical advisor for the Firestone Rubber Company.
Her next important assignment took her to the frigid Far North. She was sent by the government to an Alaskan settlement called Akiak to head a medical facility much like the one she had man-aged in India. Nell "mushed" hundreds of miles through Alaskan snows to reach her destination, then lived in somewhat primitive conditions in the village itself. The mails were one of her few connections with the outside world. Nell wrote long, colorful letters to her family back home, filled with details of her life on the tundra, In one account she described Alaska as "a curious med-ley of discomfort, fun, privation, beautiful scen-ery, and loneliness. Where I'm situated, there is no daily paper, no wireless news, no railroads, and no telephones. One depends entirely on magazines and weekly papers for news of what's happening elsewhere, Getting from place to place is difficult too. The climate is too rigorous to attract any but the most hardy, and travel accommodations are so poor that one could almost go around the world in the time it takes to go only short distances here. Travel is made mainly by dogsled, so one feels cut off if not owning dogs. The sleds glide smartly on crusty snow, but a rise of only a few degrees in temperature can make the going peril-ous. Crossing a river covered with several inches of melted snow, feeling the ice bend under one's feet, hearing a crackling sound that seems to come from all sides, is a sensation I do not care often to repeat."
Nell wrote that the food lacked variety and was often indifferently handled ("1 fear Bess would be horrified to see how little care is taken as to bugs") and that mosquitoes and enormous flies were a constant problem. "Fish is an Alaskan staple," she recorded, "and there are awful, smelly fish-cleaning camps everywhere. Most people here dress in parkas and mukluks, and I find such garb cumbersome and impossible to get used to. Coot-ies are a common problem among the natives; virtually everyone has some variety of them. And the isolation of this area is spooky. Naturally Alaska has busy, modern cities, but in these parts the villages are separated by miles and miles of hilly, blue-white terrain. Here and there on these bare, lonely stretches, a stark, solitary cross marks the last sleep of a none-too-hardy traveler."
Despite the hardships Nell found her life excit-ing. "While the landscape is harrowing, it is also breathtakingly beautiful. And one finds, in the most out-of-the-way places, people of warmth, spirit, and great good humor. Isolation has not dulled the sociability of these friendly souls."
She felt that her sojourn in Alaska had improved her skills as a physician. "I am the only doctor in town," she wrote to her father, "so I see a little bit of everything. I've treated folks with ills ranging from toothaches to bad backs to heart trouble to tuberculosis. I've done more doctoring in six months here than in ten years back home."
Nell's own failing health forced her to return to the United States in 1923. She continued her work in public health for a few more years, but the extremes of climate in India and Alaska had taken their toll on her once-sturdy constitution. She died following an operation for appendicitis in De-cember 1926.
The Meek women were far ahead of their time in ideas and accomplishments. Their father, P. Gray, noted their doings with enormous pride and some bemusement. "He loved their courage and independence," says Peter Meek, "because he had always striven to instill those qualities in them. They were doers, always in the midst of things. When the girls were in school, the house Grand-father rented for them in State College was quite a popular gathering place for the students. In the 1 880s the entire class of 1892 was suspended and denied the use of the campus after some sort of protest had taken place. All the kids found asylum in the little orchard behind the Meek house. Knowing Grandfather's rebellious nature, I'm sure he was amused to see all those tents pitched in the girls' yard, and to know that the kids were being fed by the cook he had hired, with supplies he had provided. He was that indulgent and generous with his daughters that almost nothing they did made him angry. But it was a different story with his son - my father - George."
P. Gray was apparently quite demanding of his only son. George himself, in some reminiscences written less than a year before his death in 1948, maintains that he was sent to Penn State "so my sisters and the housekeeper could look after me. It took the whole caboodle of them to keep me in line." It is recorded that George was something of a ringleader on campus, and that whenever any sort of mischief was afoot, such as the unauthorized firing of the Old Main cannons, or a "fishing" expedition in which the chapel minister's toupee was literally hooked from his head, George was suspected of being the instigator of it. But although he caused some commotion at Penn State, George Meek was also involved in much that was worthwhile at the College.
He was a member of the class of 1890. His enthusiasm for sports made him a leader in early-day athletics at Penn State. He played tennis, joined the cycling team, and was a manager of tennis, baseball, and football squads. He sat on the school's first faculty-student committee on athletics. George was on the staff of the FreeLance, the student publication that preceded the Collegian, and was editor-in-chief of the first La Vie, published by the junior class in 1889. He belonged to Phi Gamma Delta, was vice president of the Democratic Club, a member of the banqueting band, and business manager of the Glee Club. It was his class of 1890 that persuaded the College trustees to permit dancing at the school, and gave the first Junior Prom. George also helped secure the recognition of college fraternities by the authorities, then took steps to bring fraternities to the College.
He is given credit for adopting the school's first official colors as well. "There were no colors when I came here," George wrote. "I was on some committee or other and was responsible for picking something. I thought pink and black might be striking. I put together a deal with the Tryon Company of Philadelphia. They made a bunch of caps and blazers and I had to buy them, then sell them to the students. I made out financially. Every-one wanted a blazer, even though the pink on them was actually an awful shade of cerise. It turned out the jackets weren't colorfast. After about three weeks in the sun, the cerise stripes faded to nearly white. So we changed the colors to blue and white."
After graduation George wanted to study law, but his father was much involved in his own public career in Harrisburg and Philadelphia, and he made George take over for him at the Watch-man. George objected at first but soon developed a liking for the work. He became editor-in-chief upon his father's death in 1919.
George immersed himself in Bellefonte's com-munity affairs. He served as borough treasurer for a time and held the job of postmaster for ten years. He was one of the founders of what is now Centre Community Hospital, serving faithfully on its board of directors. He maintained a keen interest in politics; in 1932 he was elected an alternate delegate-at-large to the Democratic National Convention.
George enjoyed his recreation too. He was an avid fisherman and had his own camp at Fishing Creek for most of his life. Another favored pas-time made him the center of attention on occa-sion: he liked to perform in local talent produc-tions, particularly minstrel shows. A fellow performer, Mr. James "Jimmy" Hughes, head-master at the Bellefonte Academy, once told of an incident that illustrated George's ever-present quick wit. "At a show in Bellefonte one evening," said Jimmy, "George was the star of our little musical, and I was an endman. At one point in the program, George was delivering a mono-logue that had the audience in stitches. Suddenly a head of cabbage thrown from the gallery landed at his feet. George waited for the uproar to die down, and then said graciously: 'We all hoped that you would like our show, but we didn't expect anybody to lose his head over it.' For a long time nobody would believe the whole act had not been planned in advance."
George Meek was seventy-seven when he died. The town of Bellefonte mourned his passing as it had the deaths of his parents and sisters. Of the Meek children, only Mary survived her brother, and when she died in 1949, it was the end of an era. The Meek family home was sold. The Demo-cratic Watchman was by then a thing of the past, having ceased publication in 1942. But P. Gray Meek and his six remarkable children are remem-bered still, as makers of history in Centre County and colorful figures in Penn State lore.^13,14,15

Peter Gray Meek was listed as a resident in Reuben Heron Meek and Mary Ann Gray's household in the census report on 24 October 1850 at Patton Township, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA;
p. 269-A; Lines 25-32; Dwelling 135; Family 135
     25 MEEK, Reuben H. 47 [1803] M Farmer PA
     26 " , Mary 37 [1813] F PA
     27 " , Mary E. 16 [1834] F PA
     28 " , Theresa 14 [1836] F PA
     29 " , Dempster 9 [1841] F (sic) PA
     30 " , Peter 11 [1839] M PA
     31 " , Leonidas 6 [1844] M PA
     32 " , Sarah 4 [1846] F PA.¹⁶ Peter Gray Meek was Linn [1883:247-8]: "...he began life as a schoolteacher at Luamber city, Clearfeild Co., in the winter of 1855-6." between 1855 and 1856 at Lumber City, Clearfield Co., Pennsylvania, USA.¹⁷ He was teach in 1856 at Lumber City, Clearfield Co., Pennsylvania, USA.¹

Peter Gray Meek was listed as a resident in Reuben Heron Meek and Mary Ann Gray's household in the census report on 20 August 1860 at U. S. Census, Patton Township, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA;
p. 732; Lines 19-25; Dwelling 1509; Family 1555
     19 MEEK, Reuben H. 58 [1802] M Farmer 4000 1050 PA
     20 " , Mary A. 46 [1814] F PA
     21 " , Theresa 21 [1839] F PA
     22 " , Gray 20 [1840] M PA
     23 " , Dempster 17 [1843] M PA
     24 " , Leonidas 15 [1845] M PA
     25 " , Sarah J. 10 [1850] F PA.¹⁸

; U.S., Civil War Draft Registrations Records, 1863-1865
Name: P Gray Meek
Residence: Bellefonte, Centre, Pennsylvania
Class: 1
Congressional District: 18th
Age on 1 July 1863: 22
Estimated birth year: abt 1841
Race: White
Marital Status: Married
Place of Birth: Pennsylvania
Source Citation: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D.C; Consolidated Lists of Civil War Draft Registration Records (Provost Marshal General's Bureau; Consolidated Enrollment Lists, 1863-1865); Record Group: 110, Records of the Provost Marshal General's Bureau (Civil War); Collection Name: Consolidated Enrollment Lists, 1863-1865 (Civil War Union Draft Records); ARC Identifier: 4213514; Archive Volume Number: 1 of 2.
Source Information: Ancestry.com. U.S., Civil War Draft Registrations Records, 1863-1865 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.
Original data:
Consolidated Lists of Civil War Draft Registrations, 1863-1865. NM-65, entry 172, 620 volumes. ARC ID: 4213514. Records of the Provost Marshal General’s Bureau (Civil War), Record Group 110. National Archives at Washington D.C.¹⁹

Peter Gray Meek and Susannah Mary Meek appeared in the census of 4 June 1870 at U. S. Census, Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA;
p. 776-A, lines 7-14, dwelling 70, family 68
     7 MEEK, Peter G 27 [1843] M W Editor & Pub. $9000 $8380 PA
     8 " , Susan 27 [1843] F W Keeping House PA
     9 " , Lula 8 [1862] F W PA Attended school
     10 " , Mary 5 [1865] F W PA
     11 " , Bessie 3 [1867] F W PA
     12 " , George 9/12 [1869] M W PA Sept.
     13 JONES, Francis 16 [1854] N Black Domestic Serv PA
     14 MEEK, Olive (Olie?) 23 [1847] M W Works in Printin Office PA.²⁰

Peter Gray Meek and Susannah Mary Meek appeared in the census of 17 June 1880 at U. S. Census, Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA;
p. 247-A, Lines 6-14, Dwelling 39; Family 51
     6 MEEK, P. Gray W M 38 [1842] Married Editor "Watchman" PA PA PA
     7 " , Susan M W F 37 [1843] Wife Married Keeping House PA PA PA
     8 " , Rachel W F 16 [1864] Dau Single at school PA PA PA
     9 " , Mary G W F 14 [1866] Dau Single at school PA PA PA
     10 " , Bessie B W F 12 [1868] Dau Single at school PA PA PA
     11 " , George R W M 10 [1870] Son single at school PA PA PA
     12 " , Nellie K W F 8 [1872] Dau Single at school PA PA PA
     13 " , Winifred W F 5 [1875] Dau Single PA PA PA
     14 " , Olie W W M 34 [1846] Brother Single Printer PA PA PA.²¹

Peter Gray Meek and Susannah Mary Meek appeared in the census of 4 June 1900 at U. S. Census, Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA;
p. 1-B & 2-A (37A); Lines 97-100, 1-4; Dwelling 16; Family 23
     97 MEEK, P. Gray Head W M July 1842 57 Married 38yrs [1862] PA PA PA Publisher
     98 " , Susan M Wife W F June 1848 56 Married 38yrs [1862] PA PA PA
     99 " , Lulu R Dau W F Oct 1864 35 Single PA PA PA
     100 " , Mary Gray Dau W F June 1867 32 Single PA PA PA
(p. 2A)
     1 " , Elizabeth B. Dau W F July 1868 31 Single PA PA PA Teacher
     2 " , George R. Son W M Sept. 1870 29 Single PA PA PA Editor
     3 " , Eloise Dau W F May 1872 27 Single PA PA PA Physician
     4 WILLIAMS, Henry Servant B M Jan 1879 21 Single PA PA PA Servant.²²

Peter Gray Meek and Susannah Mary Meek appeared in the census of 20 April 1910 at West Ward, Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA;
p. 3-B, Lines 76-80, Dwelling 52, Family 63
     76 MEEK, P Gray Head M W 68 [1842] Married 45yrs PA PA PA Editor Country Paper
     77 " , Susan M Wife F W 68 [1842] Married 45yrs 6-children-born 5-children-living PA PA PA
     78 " , Mary G. Dau F W 41 [1869] Single PA PA PA Assisteant Editor
     79 " , Elizabeth B. Dau F W 40 [1870] Single PA PA PA Instructor State College
     80 " , George R Son M W 38 [1872] Single PA PA PA Vice Presdient Bank.²³

     Rachel Luella Meek was born on 27 October 1863 at Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA; Went to Wellesley, then worked at the Democratic Watchman. Never married.
DOB from 1900 Census.^2,3
Rachel Luella Meek died on 27 September 1909 at Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA, at age 45; Ancestry.com - Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985
     Name: R Lula Meek
     Event Type: Death
     Death Date: abt 1909
     Death Place: Centre
     Burial Date: 27 Sep 1909
     Burial Place: Bellefonte, Centre, Pennsylvania
     Organization Name: Trinity United Methodist Church
     Source Citation: Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Historic Pennsylvania Church and Town Records; Reel: 358.
     Source Information: Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
     Original data: Historic Pennsylvania Church and Town Records. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Historical Society of Pennsylvania.


Ancestry.com - Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1964
     Name:     Rachel Luella Meek
     Gender:     Female
     Race:     White
     Age:     45
     Birth Date:     27 Oct 1863
     Birth Place:     Pennsylvania
     Death Date:     27 Sep 1909
     Death Place:     Bellefonte, Centre, Pennsylvania, USA
     Father:     P Gray Meek
     Mother:     Susanna Mary Meek
     Certificate Number:     82279
     Source Citation: Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission; Pennsylvania, USA; Certificate Number Range: 082001-085600
     Source Information: Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1964 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
     Original data: Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates, 1906–1963. Series 11.90 (1,905 cartons). Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.^1,4,3
Rachel Luella Meek was buried after 27 September 1909 at Union Cemetery, Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA; from Find A Grave website:
     Birth:      Oct., 1864
     Death:      Sep., 1909
     Family links: Parents:
      P. Gray Meek (1842 - 1919)
      Susanna Mary Meek (1843 - 1921)
     Siblings:
      Rachel L. Meek (1864 - 1909)
      Mary Gray Meek (1866 - 1949)*
      Elizabeth Breckenridge Meek (1869 - 1942)*
      George Reuben Meek (1870 - 1948)*
      Eloise Meek (1873 - 1926)*
      Winifred Barron Meek Morris (1876 - 1930)*
     Burial: Union Cemetery, Bellefonte, Centre County, Pennsylvania, USA
     Created by: Melinda Klitz
     Record added: Apr 27, 2013
     Find A Grave Memorial# 109609804.⁵
     Rachel Luella Meek was also known as Rachel "Lulu" Meek.

Rachel Luella Meek was listed as a resident in Peter Gray Meek and Susannah Mary Meek's household in the census report on 4 June 1870 at U. S. Census, Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA;
p. 776-A, lines 7-14, dwelling 70, family 68
     7 MEEK, Peter G 27 [1843] M W Editor & Pub. $9000 $8380 PA
     8 " , Susan 27 [1843] F W Keeping House PA
     9 " , Lula 8 [1862] F W PA Attended school
     10 " , Mary 5 [1865] F W PA
     11 " , Bessie 3 [1867] F W PA
     12 " , George 9/12 [1869] M W PA Sept.
     13 JONES, Francis 16 [1854] N Black Domestic Serv PA
     14 MEEK, Olive (Olie?) 23 [1847] M W Works in Printin Office PA.⁶

Rachel Luella Meek was listed as a resident in Peter Gray Meek and Susannah Mary Meek's household in the census report on 17 June 1880 at U. S. Census, Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA;
p. 247-A, Lines 6-14, Dwelling 39; Family 51
     6 MEEK, P. Gray W M 38 [1842] Married Editor "Watchman" PA PA PA
     7 " , Susan M W F 37 [1843] Wife Married Keeping House PA PA PA
     8 " , Rachel W F 16 [1864] Dau Single at school PA PA PA
     9 " , Mary G W F 14 [1866] Dau Single at school PA PA PA
     10 " , Bessie B W F 12 [1868] Dau Single at school PA PA PA
     11 " , George R W M 10 [1870] Son single at school PA PA PA
     12 " , Nellie K W F 8 [1872] Dau Single at school PA PA PA
     13 " , Winifred W F 5 [1875] Dau Single PA PA PA
     14 " , Olie W W M 34 [1846] Brother Single Printer PA PA PA.⁷

Rachel Luella Meek was listed as a resident in Peter Gray Meek and Susannah Mary Meek's household in the census report on 4 June 1900 at U. S. Census, Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA;
p. 1-B & 2-A (37A); Lines 97-100, 1-4; Dwelling 16; Family 23
     97 MEEK, P. Gray Head W M July 1842 57 Married 38yrs [1862] PA PA PA Publisher
     98 " , Susan M Wife W F June 1848 56 Married 38yrs [1862] PA PA PA
     99 " , Lulu R Dau W F Oct 1864 35 Single PA PA PA
     100 " , Mary Gray Dau W F June 1867 32 Single PA PA PA
(p. 2A)
     1 " , Elizabeth B. Dau W F July 1868 31 Single PA PA PA Teacher
     2 " , George R. Son W M Sept. 1870 29 Single PA PA PA Editor
     3 " , Eloise Dau W F May 1872 27 Single PA PA PA Physician
     4 WILLIAMS, Henry Servant B M Jan 1879 21 Single PA PA PA Servant.⁸

     Mary Gray Meek was born on 20 June 1866 at Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA; Aged 41 in 1910 Census = b ca 1869
Aged 32 in 1900 Census with DOB "June 1867."^2,3,4
Mary Gray Meek died on 14 December 1949 at Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA, at age 83; Ancestry.com - Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1964
     Name:     Mary Gray Meek
     Gender:     Female
     Race:     White
     Age:     83
     Birth Date:     20 Jun 1866
     Birth Place:     Bellefonte, Pennsylvania
     Death Date:     14 Dec 1949
     Death Place:     Bellefonte, Centre, Pennsylvania, USA
     Father:     Peter Gray Meek
     Mother:     Susannah Meek
     Certificate Number:     104247
     Source Citation: Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission; Pennsylvania, USA; Certificate Number Range: 103201-105750
     Source Information: Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1964 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
     Original data: Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates, 1906–1963. Series 11.90 (1,905 cartons). Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.^5,4
Mary Gray Meek was buried after 14 December 1949 at Union Cemetery, Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA; from Find A Grave website:
     Birth:      Jun., 1866
     Death:      Dec., 1949
     Family links: Parents:
      P. Gray Meek (1842 - 1919)
      Susanna Mary Meek (1843 - 1921)
     Siblings:
      Rachel L. Meek (1864 - 1909)*
      Mary Gray Meek (1866 - 1949)
      Elizabeth Breckenridge Meek (1869 - 1942)*
      George Reuben Meek (1870 - 1948)*
      Eloise Meek (1873 - 1926)*
      Winifred Barron Meek Morris (1876 - 1930)*
     Burial: Union Cemetery, Bellefonte, Centre County, Pennsylvania, USA
     Created by: Melinda Klitz
     Record added: Apr 27, 2013
     Find A Grave Memorial# 109610244.^5,4
     She was Helped run "The Watchman" (father's newpaper) for many years at Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA.

Mary Gray Meek was listed as a resident in Peter Gray Meek and Susannah Mary Meek's household in the census report on 4 June 1870 at U. S. Census, Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA;
p. 776-A, lines 7-14, dwelling 70, family 68
     7 MEEK, Peter G 27 [1843] M W Editor & Pub. $9000 $8380 PA
     8 " , Susan 27 [1843] F W Keeping House PA
     9 " , Lula 8 [1862] F W PA Attended school
     10 " , Mary 5 [1865] F W PA
     11 " , Bessie 3 [1867] F W PA
     12 " , George 9/12 [1869] M W PA Sept.
     13 JONES, Francis 16 [1854] N Black Domestic Serv PA
     14 MEEK, Olive (Olie?) 23 [1847] M W Works in Printin Office PA.⁶

Mary Gray Meek was listed as a resident in Peter Gray Meek and Susannah Mary Meek's household in the census report on 17 June 1880 at U. S. Census, Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA;
p. 247-A, Lines 6-14, Dwelling 39; Family 51
     6 MEEK, P. Gray W M 38 [1842] Married Editor "Watchman" PA PA PA
     7 " , Susan M W F 37 [1843] Wife Married Keeping House PA PA PA
     8 " , Rachel W F 16 [1864] Dau Single at school PA PA PA
     9 " , Mary G W F 14 [1866] Dau Single at school PA PA PA
     10 " , Bessie B W F 12 [1868] Dau Single at school PA PA PA
     11 " , George R W M 10 [1870] Son single at school PA PA PA
     12 " , Nellie K W F 8 [1872] Dau Single at school PA PA PA
     13 " , Winifred W F 5 [1875] Dau Single PA PA PA
     14 " , Olie W W M 34 [1846] Brother Single Printer PA PA PA.⁷

Mary Gray Meek was listed as a resident in Peter Gray Meek and Susannah Mary Meek's household in the census report on 4 June 1900 at U. S. Census, Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA;
p. 1-B & 2-A (37A); Lines 97-100, 1-4; Dwelling 16; Family 23
     97 MEEK, P. Gray Head W M July 1842 57 Married 38yrs [1862] PA PA PA Publisher
     98 " , Susan M Wife W F June 1848 56 Married 38yrs [1862] PA PA PA
     99 " , Lulu R Dau W F Oct 1864 35 Single PA PA PA
     100 " , Mary Gray Dau W F June 1867 32 Single PA PA PA
(p. 2A)
     1 " , Elizabeth B. Dau W F July 1868 31 Single PA PA PA Teacher
     2 " , George R. Son W M Sept. 1870 29 Single PA PA PA Editor
     3 " , Eloise Dau W F May 1872 27 Single PA PA PA Physician
     4 WILLIAMS, Henry Servant B M Jan 1879 21 Single PA PA PA Servant.⁸

Mary Gray Meek was listed as a resident in Peter Gray Meek and Susannah Mary Meek's household in the census report on 20 April 1910 at West Ward, Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA;
p. 3-B, Lines 76-80, Dwelling 52, Family 63
     76 MEEK, P Gray Head M W 68 [1842] Married 45yrs PA PA PA Editor Country Paper
     77 " , Susan M Wife F W 68 [1842] Married 45yrs 6-children-born 5-children-living PA PA PA
     78 " , Mary G. Dau F W 41 [1869] Single PA PA PA Assisteant Editor
     79 " , Elizabeth B. Dau F W 40 [1870] Single PA PA PA Instructor State College
     80 " , George R Son M W 38 [1872] Single PA PA PA Vice Presdient Bank.⁹

Mary Gray Meek appeared on the census of 16 January 1920 in the household of Susannah Mary Meek at U. S. Census, Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA; p. 7B, Lines 58-60, Dwelling 148; Family 150
     58 MEEK, Susan Head F W 77 [1843] Widow PA PA PA None
     59 " , Mary G daughter F W 49 [1871] Single PA PA PA Society Editor
     60 " , Elizabeth B daughter F W 47 [1873] Single PA PA PA None.¹⁰

Mary Gray Meek appeared in the census of 23 April 1930 at U. S. Census, Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA; p. 6-B, lines 85-86, Dwelling 113, Family 123
     85 MEEK, Mary G. Head Rent F W 60 [1870] Single PA PA PA Reporter Newspaper
     86 " , Elizabeth B.Sister F W 55 [1875] PA PA PA PA None.¹¹

     Elizabeth "Bess" Breckinridge Meek was born in July 1869 at Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA; Aged 40 in 1910 census = b ca 1870.²
Elizabeth "Bess" Breckinridge Meek died in July 1942 at Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA.³
Elizabeth "Bess" Breckinridge Meek was buried in July 1942 at Union Cemetery, Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA; from Find A Grave website:
irth:      Jul., 1869
Death:      Jul., 1942


Family links:
Parents:
P. Gray Meek (1842 - 1919)
Susanna Mary Meek (1843 - 1921)

Siblings:
Rachel L. Meek (1864 - 1909)*
Mary Gray Meek (1866 - 1949)*
Elizabeth Breckenridge Meek (1869 - 1942)
George Reuben Meek (1870 - 1948)*
Eloise Meek (1873 - 1926)*
Winifred Barron Meek Morris (1876 - 1930)*

*Calculated relationship

Burial:
Union Cemetery
Bellefonte
Centre County
Pennsylvania, USA

Created by: Melinda Klitz
Record added: Apr 27, 2013
Find A Grave Memorial# 109610174.³
      ; Only girl in her class at Penn State. Took top honors with degree in 1889. From PGM notes: "After graduation she spent several months studying art under Rhoda Holmes Nichols of New York, specializing in the decoration of china. But Elizabeth, known as the "brains of the family," was by nature a scholar, and she dedicated the whole of her professional life to the sciences. She taught for a short time at a women's college in Houston, then returned to her alma mater as an instructor in biology. Almost singlehandedly, Elizabeth organize, and later took charge of, the department of bacteriology at Penn State. She earned her master's degree at State in 1898, then went to Chicago University where she did research to find the cause of a mysterious disease that threatened the success of incubating chickens. This work was interrupted by recalls to the College for special teaching assignments, and by research pilgrimages to Syracuse and Cornell universities, the University of Pennsylvania, and other institutions. She was at the same time working for her doctorate when she suddenly broke under the strain of the many activities she was engaged in.

"During a visit home she suffered a complete nervous breakdown and was confined to bed for eight years. She spent those years in her room at the Meek home in Bellefonte, or in various hospitals in eastern cities. Grandfather sought a diagnosis of her baffling and continuing condition, but no doctor ever determined what the problem was. My earliest memory of her is of a frail little person always in bed surrounded by papers and scientific publications. While I was in grammar school, she recovered enough to get about, and she was fairly active for a time. Then she took to her bed for nine years more, making occasional tirps to Hopkins and such places, seeking a cure for what had to be primarily a psychosomatic, or possibly psychiatric, ailment. My father George always contended she went to bed to get out of housework, which she did not enjoy. Every time Aunt Bess would appear to regain her health, her sisters, who both worked full itme for the Watchman, would discharge the household help and rely on Bess to do the work. So Bess would take to her bed again and the maid would be rehired to wait on her!"

"Between illnesses Elizabeth devoted her energies to pushing public health programs in Bellefonte. Peter Meek recalls that his aunt was considered most strange because she spent her own money to subsidize baby clinics, health education programs for the general public, and a Red Cross chapter in Bellefonte. She even bought a dentist's chair for one of the town's schools. She was also thought light years ahead of her contemporaries in the progressiveness of her ideas. It was Elizabeth who made the first scientific study of the bacteriological content of Bellefonte's milk supply and urged the precautions later adopted to reduce contamination. And her lectures to her students on the subjects of zoology and bacteriology were used by teachers who succeeded her and by other authorities in those fields."

Elizabeth "Bess" Breckinridge Meek was listed as a resident in Peter Gray Meek and Susannah Mary Meek's household in the census report on 4 June 1870 at U. S. Census, Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA;
p. 776-A, lines 7-14, dwelling 70, family 68
     7 MEEK, Peter G 27 [1843] M W Editor & Pub. $9000 $8380 PA
     8 " , Susan 27 [1843] F W Keeping House PA
     9 " , Lula 8 [1862] F W PA Attended school
     10 " , Mary 5 [1865] F W PA
     11 " , Bessie 3 [1867] F W PA
     12 " , George 9/12 [1869] M W PA Sept.
     13 JONES, Francis 16 [1854] N Black Domestic Serv PA
     14 MEEK, Olive (Olie?) 23 [1847] M W Works in Printin Office PA.⁴

Elizabeth "Bess" Breckinridge Meek was listed as a resident in Peter Gray Meek and Susannah Mary Meek's household in the census report on 17 June 1880 at U. S. Census, Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA;
p. 247-A, Lines 6-14, Dwelling 39; Family 51
     6 MEEK, P. Gray W M 38 [1842] Married Editor "Watchman" PA PA PA
     7 " , Susan M W F 37 [1843] Wife Married Keeping House PA PA PA
     8 " , Rachel W F 16 [1864] Dau Single at school PA PA PA
     9 " , Mary G W F 14 [1866] Dau Single at school PA PA PA
     10 " , Bessie B W F 12 [1868] Dau Single at school PA PA PA
     11 " , George R W M 10 [1870] Son single at school PA PA PA
     12 " , Nellie K W F 8 [1872] Dau Single at school PA PA PA
     13 " , Winifred W F 5 [1875] Dau Single PA PA PA
     14 " , Olie W W M 34 [1846] Brother Single Printer PA PA PA.⁵

Elizabeth "Bess" Breckinridge Meek was listed as a resident in Peter Gray Meek and Susannah Mary Meek's household in the census report on 4 June 1900 at U. S. Census, Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA;
p. 1-B & 2-A (37A); Lines 97-100, 1-4; Dwelling 16; Family 23
     97 MEEK, P. Gray Head W M July 1842 57 Married 38yrs [1862] PA PA PA Publisher
     98 " , Susan M Wife W F June 1848 56 Married 38yrs [1862] PA PA PA
     99 " , Lulu R Dau W F Oct 1864 35 Single PA PA PA
     100 " , Mary Gray Dau W F June 1867 32 Single PA PA PA
(p. 2A)
     1 " , Elizabeth B. Dau W F July 1868 31 Single PA PA PA Teacher
     2 " , George R. Son W M Sept. 1870 29 Single PA PA PA Editor
     3 " , Eloise Dau W F May 1872 27 Single PA PA PA Physician
     4 WILLIAMS, Henry Servant B M Jan 1879 21 Single PA PA PA Servant.⁶

Elizabeth "Bess" Breckinridge Meek was listed as a resident in Peter Gray Meek and Susannah Mary Meek's household in the census report on 20 April 1910 at West Ward, Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA;
p. 3-B, Lines 76-80, Dwelling 52, Family 63
     76 MEEK, P Gray Head M W 68 [1842] Married 45yrs PA PA PA Editor Country Paper
     77 " , Susan M Wife F W 68 [1842] Married 45yrs 6-children-born 5-children-living PA PA PA
     78 " , Mary G. Dau F W 41 [1869] Single PA PA PA Assisteant Editor
     79 " , Elizabeth B. Dau F W 40 [1870] Single PA PA PA Instructor State College
     80 " , George R Son M W 38 [1872] Single PA PA PA Vice Presdient Bank.⁷

Elizabeth "Bess" Breckinridge Meek appeared on the census of 16 January 1920 in the household of Susannah Mary Meek at U. S. Census, Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA; p. 7B, Lines 58-60, Dwelling 148; Family 150
     58 MEEK, Susan Head F W 77 [1843] Widow PA PA PA None
     59 " , Mary G daughter F W 49 [1871] Single PA PA PA Society Editor
     60 " , Elizabeth B daughter F W 47 [1873] Single PA PA PA None.⁸

Elizabeth "Bess" Breckinridge Meek was listed as a resident in Mary Gray Meek's household in the census report on 23 April 1930 at U. S. Census, Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA; p. 6-B, lines 85-86, Dwelling 113, Family 123
     85 MEEK, Mary G. Head Rent F W 60 [1870] Single PA PA PA Reporter Newspaper
     86 " , Elizabeth B.Sister F W 55 [1875] PA PA PA PA None.⁹

     George Reuben Meek was born on 14 September 1869 at Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA; Aged 9 months in 1870 census; 38 in 1910 Census (b ca 1872); However, death certificate says b 14 Sept 1870, which must be wrong given that he was living by June 1870 at the time of the census.^2,3,4 He married Ellen Downing Valentine, daughter of Jacob D. Valentine Sr. and Deborah Elizabeth Downing, on 20 April 1910 at Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA,
; Original Certificate No. 8313, Clerk of the Orphan's Court of Centre County, PA
John Hewitt, Minister of the Gospel.^5,6
George Reuben Meek died on 4 January 1948 at Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA, at age 78; Ancestry.com - Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1964
     Name:     George R Meek
     Gender:     Male
     Race:     White
     Age:     77
     Birth Date:     14 Sep 1870
     Birth Place:     Bellefonte, Pennsylvania
     Death Date:     4 Jan 1948
     Death Place:     Bellefonte, Centre, Pennsylvania, USA
     Father:     P Gray Meek
     Mother:     Susannah M Meek
     Spouse:     Mary E Valentine
     Certificate Number:     2006
     Source Citation: Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission; Pennsylvania, USA; Certificate Number Range: 013501-016500
     Source Information: Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1964 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
     Original data: Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates, 1906–1963. Series 11.90 (1,905 cartons). Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.^7,3
George Reuben Meek was buried after 4 January 1948 at Union Cemetery, Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA; from Find A Grave website:
     Birth:      Sep., 1870
     Death:      Jan., 1948
     Family links: Parents:
      P. Gray Meek (1842 - 1919)
      Susanna Mary Meek (1843 - 1921)
     Spouse: Ellen Downing Valentine Meek (1878 - 1971)*
     Siblings:
      Rachel L. Meek (1864 - 1909)*
      Mary Gray Meek (1866 - 1949)*
      Elizabeth Breckenridge Meek (1869 - 1942)*
      George Reuben Meek (1870 - 1948)
      Eloise Meek (1873 - 1926)*
      Winifred Barron Meek Morris (1876 - 1930)*
     Burial: Union Cemetery, Bellefonte, Centre County, Pennsylvania, USA
     Created by: Melinda Klitz
     Record added: Apr 27, 2013
     Find A Grave Memorial# 109609870.⁸
     EDV-grandfather.

; (Note from Town & Gown article): "P. Gray [Meek] was apparently quite demanding of his only son. George himself, in some reminiscences written less than a year before his death in 1948, maintains that he was sent to Penn State "so my sisters and the housekeeper could look after me. It took the whole caboodle of them to keep me in line." It is recorded that George was something of a ringleader on campus, and that whenever any sort of mischief was afoot, such as the unauthorized firing of the Old Main cannons, or a "fishing" expedition in which the chapel minister's toupee was literally hooked from his head, George was suspected of being the instigator of it. But although he caused some commotion at Penn State, George Meek was also involved in much that was worthwhile at the College. He was a member of the class of 1890... George took over from his father at the Watchman and became editor-in-chief when his father died in 1919.

George Reuben Meek was listed as a resident in Peter Gray Meek and Susannah Mary Meek's household in the census report on 4 June 1870 at U. S. Census, Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA;
p. 776-A, lines 7-14, dwelling 70, family 68
     7 MEEK, Peter G 27 [1843] M W Editor & Pub. $9000 $8380 PA
     8 " , Susan 27 [1843] F W Keeping House PA
     9 " , Lula 8 [1862] F W PA Attended school
     10 " , Mary 5 [1865] F W PA
     11 " , Bessie 3 [1867] F W PA
     12 " , George 9/12 [1869] M W PA Sept.
     13 JONES, Francis 16 [1854] N Black Domestic Serv PA
     14 MEEK, Olive (Olie?) 23 [1847] M W Works in Printin Office PA.⁴

George Reuben Meek was listed as a resident in Peter Gray Meek and Susannah Mary Meek's household in the census report on 17 June 1880 at U. S. Census, Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA;
p. 247-A, Lines 6-14, Dwelling 39; Family 51
     6 MEEK, P. Gray W M 38 [1842] Married Editor "Watchman" PA PA PA
     7 " , Susan M W F 37 [1843] Wife Married Keeping House PA PA PA
     8 " , Rachel W F 16 [1864] Dau Single at school PA PA PA
     9 " , Mary G W F 14 [1866] Dau Single at school PA PA PA
     10 " , Bessie B W F 12 [1868] Dau Single at school PA PA PA
     11 " , George R W M 10 [1870] Son single at school PA PA PA
     12 " , Nellie K W F 8 [1872] Dau Single at school PA PA PA
     13 " , Winifred W F 5 [1875] Dau Single PA PA PA
     14 " , Olie W W M 34 [1846] Brother Single Printer PA PA PA.⁹

George Reuben Meek was listed as a resident in Peter Gray Meek and Susannah Mary Meek's household in the census report on 4 June 1900 at U. S. Census, Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA;
p. 1-B & 2-A (37A); Lines 97-100, 1-4; Dwelling 16; Family 23
     97 MEEK, P. Gray Head W M July 1842 57 Married 38yrs [1862] PA PA PA Publisher
     98 " , Susan M Wife W F June 1848 56 Married 38yrs [1862] PA PA PA
     99 " , Lulu R Dau W F Oct 1864 35 Single PA PA PA
     100 " , Mary Gray Dau W F June 1867 32 Single PA PA PA
(p. 2A)
     1 " , Elizabeth B. Dau W F July 1868 31 Single PA PA PA Teacher
     2 " , George R. Son W M Sept. 1870 29 Single PA PA PA Editor
     3 " , Eloise Dau W F May 1872 27 Single PA PA PA Physician
     4 WILLIAMS, Henry Servant B M Jan 1879 21 Single PA PA PA Servant.¹⁰

George Reuben Meek was listed as a resident in Peter Gray Meek and Susannah Mary Meek's household in the census report on 20 April 1910 at West Ward, Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA;
p. 3-B, Lines 76-80, Dwelling 52, Family 63
     76 MEEK, P Gray Head M W 68 [1842] Married 45yrs PA PA PA Editor Country Paper
     77 " , Susan M Wife F W 68 [1842] Married 45yrs 6-children-born 5-children-living PA PA PA
     78 " , Mary G. Dau F W 41 [1869] Single PA PA PA Assisteant Editor
     79 " , Elizabeth B. Dau F W 40 [1870] Single PA PA PA Instructor State College
     80 " , George R Son M W 38 [1872] Single PA PA PA Vice Presdient Bank.¹¹

George Reuben Meek and Ellen Downing Valentine appeared in the census of between 6 January 1920 and 7 January 1920 at North Ward, Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA; p. 3A; Lines 24-27; Dwelling 61; Family 34
     24 MEEK, George R Head M W 49 [1871] Married PA PA PA
     25 " , Ellen D Wife F M 41 [1879] Married PA PA PA
     26 " , Peter G Son M W 8 [1912] Single PA PA PA
     27 " , George R Son M W 4 [1916] Single PA PA PA.¹² George Reuben Meek was the Informant for the death certificate of Susannah Mary Meek on 15 February 1921 at Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA; Ancestry.com - Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1964
     Name:     Susanna Mary Meek
     Gender:     Female
     Race:     White
     Age:     77
     Birth Date:     20 May 1843
     Birth Place:     Pennsylvania
     Death Date:     15 Feb 1921
     Death Place:     Bellefonte, Centre, Pennsylvania, USA
     Father:     George W Meek
     Mother:     Rachel Barron
     Certificate Number:     15617
     Source Citation: Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission; Pennsylvania, USA; Certificate Number Range: 014501-017500
     Source Information: Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1964 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
     Original data: Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates, 1906–1963. Series 11.90 (1,905 cartons). Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.


Death Record seen on Ancestry on same page as that of Rachel Lulu Meek
     Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985
     Burial Place: Bellefonte, Centre, Pennsylvania
     Organization Name: Trinity United Methodist Church
     Source Citation: Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Historic Pennsylvania Church and Town Records; Reel: 358.
     Source Information: Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
     Original data: Historic Pennsylvania Church and Town Records. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Historical Society of Pennsylvania.^13,14

George Reuben Meek and Ellen Downing Valentine appeared in the census of 31 May 1930 at North Ward, Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA; p. 19-B; Lines 96-99; Dwellin 495; Family 495
     96 MEEK, George R Head M W 60 [1870] Married 40yrs PA PA PA
     97 " , Ellen D Wife F W 52 [1878] PA PA PA
     98 " , Petter L. Son M W 18 [1912] Single PA PA PA
     99 " , George R. J. Son M W 15 [1915] Single PA PA PA.¹⁵ George Reuben Meek was Appointment as Postmaster between 30 June 1934 and 31 December 1943 at Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA.¹⁶

George Reuben Meek and Ellen Downing Valentine appeared in the census of 3 April 1940 at North Ward, Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA; p. 2-A; Lines 24-25; Dwelling none; Family 41
     24 MEEK, Georg R Head M W 69 [1871] Married PA Postmaster, Bellefonte PO
     25 " , Ellen D. Wife F W 62 [1878] Married PA.¹⁷

     Dr. Eloise Meek M.D. was born in May 1872 at Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA; Date from 1900 census; Find A Grave says she was b. May 1873.^3,2
Dr. Eloise Meek M.D. died in December 1926 at Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA, at age 54.²
Dr. Eloise Meek M.D. was buried in December 1926 at Union Cemetery, Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA; from Find A Grave website:
Birth:      May, 1873
Death:      Dec., 1926
Family links:
Parents:
P. Gray Meek (1842 - 1919)
Susanna Mary Meek (1843 - 1921)

Siblings:
Rachel L. Meek (1864 - 1909)*
Mary Gray Meek (1866 - 1949)*
Elizabeth Breckenridge Meek (1869 - 1942)*
George Reuben Meek (1870 - 1948)*
Eloise Meek (1873 - 1926)
Winifred Barron Meek Morris (1876 - 1930)*

*Calculated relationship

Burial:
Union Cemetery
Bellefonte
Centre County
Pennsylvania, USA

Created by: Melinda Klitz
Record added: Apr 27, 2013
Find A Grave Memorial# 109609709.²
     She was Physician, Public Health Service at Trenton, Mercer Co., New Jersey, USA.¹

; (These notes taken from "Those Bellefonte Meeks" by Nancy Folkenroth, published in Penn State's "Town & Gown" in Jan. 1987.)

"Perhaps the most adventurous of the Meek children was the next-to-youngest daughter, Eloise. Geroge (R. Meek) once described this sister as 'spirited, smart, restlss, and ever inquisitive. Eloise always wanted to find out about other people and other places. She always wanted to know what was going on somewhere else.' As did her older sister, Eloise distinguished herself at Penn State, and she was graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1892. Several years later she entered the Women's Medical College in Philadelphia and was awarded her Doctor in Medicine degree in 1899. She then did special work in the children's clinic at Howard Hospital, Philadelphia, and spent a year as an intern at the State Infirmary of Massachusetts in Tewksbury. In 1902 she settled in Johnstown, where she practiced general medicine for a number of years. Eloise, or Nell as she was known to her family, desired to see the world, so in the fall of 1911 she jumped at the chance to take charge of the Hoyt Memorial Hospital in Jhansi, India. She worked as a medical missionary in this steamy locale for two years, then devoted six months to visiting hospitals in India, China and Japan."

"Nell volunteered for overseas medical service during World War One, and worked in the foreign quarters of Philadelphia during the flu epidemic of 1918. After earning her doctorate in Public Health Service at various locations, and became a medical advisor for the Firestone Rubber Company. Her next important assignment took her to the frigid Far North. She was sent by the government to an Alaskan settlement called Akiak to head a medical facility much like the one she had managed in India. Nell "mushed" hundreds of miles through Alaskan snows to reach her destination, then lived in somewhat primitive conditions in the village itself. The mails were one of her few connections with the outside world. Nell wrote long, colorful letters to her family back home, filled with details of her life on the tundra. In one account she described Alaska as "a curious medley of discomfort, fun, privation, beautiful scenery and loneliness. Where I'm situated, there is no daily paper, no wireless news, no railroads, and no telephones. One depends entirely on magazines and weekly papers for news of what's happening elswhere."

"Getting from place to place is difficult too. The climate is too rigorous to attract any but the most hardy, and travel accomodations are so poor that one could almost go around the world in the time it takes to go only short distances here. Travel is made mainly by dogsled, so one feels cut off if not owning dogs. The sldes glide smartly on crusty snow, but a rise of only a few degrees in temperature can make the going perilous. Crossing a river covered with several inches of melting snow, feeling the ice bend under one's feet, hearing a crackling sound that seems to come from all sides, is a sensation I do not care often to repeat." Nell wrote that the food lacked variety and was often indifferently handled ("I fear Bess would be horrified to see how little care is taken as to bugs.") and that mosquitoes and enormous flies were a constant problem. "Fish is an Alaskan staple," she recorded, "and there are awful, smelly fishcleaning camps everywhere. Most people here dress in parkas and mukluks, and I find such garb cumbersome and impossible to get used to. Cooties are a common problem among the natives virtually everyone has some variety of them. And the isolation of this area is spooky. Naturally Alaska has busy, modern cities, but in these parts the villages are separated by miles and miles of hilly, blue-white terrain. Here and there on these bare, lonely stretches, a stark, solitary cross marks the last sleep of a none-too-hardy traveler." Despite the hardships, Nell found her life exciting. "While the landscape is harrowing, it is also breathtakingly beautiful. And one finds, in th most out-of-the-way places, people of warmth, spirit and great good humor. Isolation has not dulled the sensibilities of these friendly souls." She felt that her sojourn in Alaska had improved her skills as a physician. "I am the only doctor in town," she wrote to her father,"so I see a little bit of everything. I've treated folks with ills ranging from toothaches to bad backs to heart trouble to tuberculosis. I've done more doctoring in six months here than in ten years back home."

Nell's own failing health forced her to return to the United States in 1923. She continued her work in public health for a few more years, but the extremes of climate in India and Alaska had taken their toll on her once-sturdy constitution. She died following an operation for appendicitis in December 1926.⁴ Dr. Eloise Meek M.D. was also known as Eloise "Nell" Meek.

Dr. Eloise Meek M.D. was listed as a resident in Peter Gray Meek and Susannah Mary Meek's household in the census report on 17 June 1880 at U. S. Census, Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA;
p. 247-A, Lines 6-14, Dwelling 39; Family 51
     6 MEEK, P. Gray W M 38 [1842] Married Editor "Watchman" PA PA PA
     7 " , Susan M W F 37 [1843] Wife Married Keeping House PA PA PA
     8 " , Rachel W F 16 [1864] Dau Single at school PA PA PA
     9 " , Mary G W F 14 [1866] Dau Single at school PA PA PA
     10 " , Bessie B W F 12 [1868] Dau Single at school PA PA PA
     11 " , George R W M 10 [1870] Son single at school PA PA PA
     12 " , Nellie K W F 8 [1872] Dau Single at school PA PA PA
     13 " , Winifred W F 5 [1875] Dau Single PA PA PA
     14 " , Olie W W M 34 [1846] Brother Single Printer PA PA PA.⁵

Dr. Eloise Meek M.D. was listed as a resident in Peter Gray Meek and Susannah Mary Meek's household in the census report on 4 June 1900 at U. S. Census, Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA;
p. 1-B & 2-A (37A); Lines 97-100, 1-4; Dwelling 16; Family 23
     97 MEEK, P. Gray Head W M July 1842 57 Married 38yrs [1862] PA PA PA Publisher
     98 " , Susan M Wife W F June 1848 56 Married 38yrs [1862] PA PA PA
     99 " , Lulu R Dau W F Oct 1864 35 Single PA PA PA
     100 " , Mary Gray Dau W F June 1867 32 Single PA PA PA
(p. 2A)
     1 " , Elizabeth B. Dau W F July 1868 31 Single PA PA PA Teacher
     2 " , George R. Son W M Sept. 1870 29 Single PA PA PA Editor
     3 " , Eloise Dau W F May 1872 27 Single PA PA PA Physician
     4 WILLIAMS, Henry Servant B M Jan 1879 21 Single PA PA PA Servant.⁶ Dr. Eloise Meek M.D. was Directory of Deceased American Physicians, 1804-1929
Name: Eloise Meek
Birth Date: 27 May 1875
Birth Place: Bellefonte, PA
Death Date: 20 Dec 1926
Death Place: Clearfield, PA
Type Practice: Allopath
Practice Specialities: Johnstown, PA, 1901, Jhansi, India, Nov 29, 1911, Bellefonte, PA, Jan 18, 1916
Licenses: PA, 1901, IL
Practice Dates Places: Johnstown, PA, 1901, Jhansi, India, Nov 29, 1911, Bellefonte, PA, Jan 18, 1916
Medical School: Medical College of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia: Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania, 1899, (G)
Education: Bellefonte Public, High School, Penn. State Coll.
JAMA Citation: 88:188
Cause of Death: surgery, complications; (M)
Ancestry.com. Directory of Deceased American Physicians, 1804-1929 [database online]. Provo, Utah: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2004. Original data: Hafner, Arthur Wayne, ed. Directory of Deceased American Physicians, 1804-1929: a genealogical guide to over 149,000 medical practitioners providing brief biographical sketches drawn from the American Medical Association's Deceased Physician Masterfile. Chicago: American Medical Association, 1993. between 1901 and 1926 at Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA.⁷

Dr. Eloise Meek M.D. appeared in the census of 20 April 1910 at Bedford Street, Johnstown, Cambria Co., Pennsylvania, USA; p. 10-A; Line 48; Dwelling 158; Family 200
     48 MEEK, Eloise Head F W 35 [1875] Single PA PA PA Physician D. M.⁸ She was Surgeon in 1911 at Jhansi, India.⁷ She was the Informant for the death certificate of Peter Gray Meek on 16 February 1919 at At his home, Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA; Ancestry.com - Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1964
     Name:     P Gray Meek
     Gender:     Male
     Race:     White
     Age:     76
     Birth Date:     12 Jul 1842
     Birth Place:     Centre County, Pennsylvania
     Death Date:     16 Feb 1919
     Death Place:     Bellefonte, Centre, Pennsylvania, USA
     Father:     Reuben Herron Meek
     Herron
     Reuben
     Mother:     Mary Ann Gray
     Certificate Number:     19269
     Source Citation: Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission; Pennsylvania, USA; Certificate Number Range: 019001-022000
     Source Information: Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1964 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
     Original data: Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates, 1906–1963. Series 11.90 (1,905 cartons). Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.^1,9

     Winifred Barron Meek was buried at Union Cemetery, Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA. She was born on 1 February 1876 at Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA; DOB __ Feb 1876 on Find A Grave; DOB Aug 1869 in 1900 census; Feb. 1, 1876 on death certificate.^3,4,5,6 She married Thomas King Morris in 1899
; Married 1 year in 1900 census.^1,2,5
Winifred Barron Meek died on 12 November 1930 at age 54; Davidson Website cites Obituary from "Centre Reporter", 5 Nov. 1930, Centre Co. PA


Ancestry.com - Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1964
     Name:     Winefred Barron Meek Morrie [Winifred Barron Meek Morris] [Winefred Barron Meek Meek]
     Gender:     Female
     Race:     White
     Age:     54
     Birth Date:     11 Feb 1876
     Birth Place:     Bellefonte, Pennsylvania
     Death Date:     12 Nov 1930
     Death Place:     Bellefonte, Centre, Pennsylvania, USA
     Father:     P Gray Meek
     Mother:     Susanna Meek
     Spouse:     Thomas King Morris
     Certificate Number:     104783
     Source Citation: Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission; Pennsylvania, USA; Certificate Number Range: 013501-016500
     Source Information: Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1964 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
     Original data: Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates, 1906–1963. Series 11.90 (1,905 cartons). Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.^2,4,6
Winifred Barron Meek was buried on 15 November 1930 at Union Cemetery, Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA; from Find A Grave website:
     Birth:      Feb., 1876
     Death:      Nov., 1930
     Family links: Parents:
      P. Gray Meek (1842 - 1919)
      Susanna Mary Meek (1843 - 1921)
     Siblings:
      Rachel L. Meek (1864 - 1909)*
      Mary Gray Meek (1866 - 1949)*
      Elizabeth Breckenridge Meek (1869 - 1942)*
      George Reuben Meek (1870 - 1948)*
      Eloise Meek (1873 - 1926)*
      Winifred Barron Meek Morris (1876 - 1930)
     Burial: Union Cemetery, Bellefonte, Centre County, Pennsylvania, USA
     Created by: Melinda Klitz
     Record added: Apr 27, 2013
     Find A Grave Memorial# 109610082.^4,6
      ; Notes from Town & Gown article: "Winifred, the youngest Meek child, attended the College, but I don't believe she took a degree. She was quite artistically inclined and went on to study music at the Curtis Conservatory in Philadelphia. She wrote poetry too; some of it was published in local magazines. Aunt Winifred was the only one of the Meek girls who ever married. Her husband was Thomas King Morris."

Winifred Barron Meek was listed as a resident in Peter Gray Meek and Susannah Mary Meek's household in the census report on 17 June 1880 at U. S. Census, Bellefonte, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA;
p. 247-A, Lines 6-14, Dwelling 39; Family 51
     6 MEEK, P. Gray W M 38 [1842] Married Editor "Watchman" PA PA PA
     7 " , Susan M W F 37 [1843] Wife Married Keeping House PA PA PA
     8 " , Rachel W F 16 [1864] Dau Single at school PA PA PA
     9 " , Mary G W F 14 [1866] Dau Single at school PA PA PA
     10 " , Bessie B W F 12 [1868] Dau Single at school PA PA PA
     11 " , George R W M 10 [1870] Son single at school PA PA PA
     12 " , Nellie K W F 8 [1872] Dau Single at school PA PA PA
     13 " , Winifred W F 5 [1875] Dau Single PA PA PA
     14 " , Olie W W M 34 [1846] Brother Single Printer PA PA PA.⁷

Winifred Barron Meek and Thomas King Morris appeared in the census of 8 June 1900 at Lincoln Ave, Tyrone, Blair Co., Pennsylvania, USA; p. 6A; Lines 17-18; Dwelling 107; Family 113
     17 MORRIS, Thomas K Head W M Nov 1867 32 Married 1yr PA PA PA Manufacturer
     18 " , Winnafred B Wife W M Aug 1869 30 Married 1 yr PA PA PA.⁸

     David Worley Hilliard was born on 8 January 1883 at Pennsylvania, USA.¹
David Worley Hilliard died on 31 October 1943 at age 60.²

     Minor M. Meek was buried at Private Cemetery, Half Moon Township, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA. He was born on 17 September 1854 at Patton Township, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA; POB: Parents were in Patton Twp., Centre Co. in the 1850 and 1860 censuses.
DOB: Tombstone says d. 21 Mar 1855 aged 6 mos 14 d.^1,2
Minor M. Meek died on 31 March 1855 at Centre, Pentney, Pennsylvania, USA.^1,2
Minor M. Meek was buried after 31 March 1855 at Gray Family Cemetery, Buffalo Run, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA; from FindAGrave.com:
     Birth:      unknown
     Death:      Mar. 31, 1855
     Inscription: s/o R.H. & M.A. Meek, aged 6m 14d
     Burial: Gray Family Cemetery, Buffalo Run, Centre County, Pennsylvania, USA
     Created by: Tom Whitehurst
     Record added: Dec 07, 2010
     Find A Grave Memorial# 62663439.²
      ; STONE: Minor M. Meek s of R.H. and M.A. Meek d mar 31, 1855, 6m 14d.

     Breckenridge G. Meek was buried at Private Cemetery, Half Moon Township, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA. He was born on 17 September 1850.¹
Breckenridge G. Meek died on 31 October 1851 at age 1.¹
      ; STONE: ?brekenrid? G. s of R.H. and M.A. Meek d Oct 31, 1851, 1y 1m 14d.

     Sarah Kephart was born on 23 October 1815 at Phillipsburg, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA.¹ She married David G. Gearhart, son of John Gearhart and Lydia Shivery, on 23 November 1833.^2,3

Sarah Kephart died on 17 May 1896 at Phillipsburg, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA, at age 80.¹
Sarah Kephart was buried after 17 May 1896 at Phillipsburg Cem, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA;
From FindAGrave.com:
     BIRTH     23 Oct 1815, Centre County, Pennsylvania, USA
     DEATH     17 May 1896 (aged 80), Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, USA
     Family Members
     Spouse
      David G Gearhart 1812–1898
     Children
      George Enoch Gearhart 1835–1898
      John Blake Gearhart 1838 – unknown
      Mary Jane Gearhart Hartman 1843–1908
      Hannah Moore Gearhart Millard 1846–1918
      Andrew Edward Gearhart 1848–1913
      Charles Foster Gearhart 1850–1908
      Henrietta Jane Gearhart Rook 1855–1930
      Martha Clever Gearhart Heimach 1858–1929
     BURIAL     Philipsburg Cemetery, South Philipsburg, Centre County, Pennsylvania, USA
     PLOT     Section 5 Row 15
     Created by: Charles Patterson
     Added: 16 Dec 2010
     Find A Grave Memorial 62977685.¹
      ; STONE: Sarah wife of David Gearhart, 80y 6m 24d, Mother, year unreadable. Her married name was Gearhart.

     David Goss was born on 9 July 1815 at Osceola Mills, Clearfield Co., Pennsylvania, USA.³ He married Sarah Gearhart, daughter of John Gearhart and Lydia Shivery, on 2 February 1836 at Clearfield, Clearfield Co., Pennsylvania, USA.

David Goss died on 6 December 1884 at Clearfield Co., Pennsylvania, USA, at age 69.³
David Goss was buried after 6 December 1884 at Phillipsburg Cemetery, South Phillipsburg, Centre Co., Pennsylvania, USA;
From FindAGrave.com:
     BIRTH     9 Jul 1815, Osceola Mills, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, USA
     DEATH     6 Dec 1884 (aged 69), Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, USA
     Family Members
     Parents
      Abraham Goss 1762–1847
      Elizabeth Emenheiser Goss 1776–1821
     Spouse
      Sarah Gearhart Goss 1814–1902
     Siblings
      George Goss 1797–1862
      Mary Kephart Goss Hopkins 1799–1859
      John B Goss 1801–1877
      Jacob Goss 1802–1861
      Sarah Goss Kephart 1808–1887
      Abraham Goss 1810–1891
      Isaac Goss 1813–1892
      Joseph Goss 1820–1889
      Joseph Goss 1820–1889
     Children
      William Lumzon Goss 1838–1920
      Abraham E. Goss 1844–1924
     BURIAL     Philipsburg Cemetery, South Philipsburg, Centre County, Pennsylvania, USA
     PLOT     Section 5 Row 20
     Created by: Charles Patterson
     Added: 17 Dec 2010
     Find A Grave Memorial 63013081.³
     Reference: For more information on the children of David and Sarah (Gearhart) Goss, see their Find a Grave memorials.^3,4

     Archie Roberts was born circa 1845 at Mississippi, USA; Age 5 in 1850 census.² He was born between 1845 and 1847 at Mississippi, USA; Age 5 in 1850 census; aged 13 in 1860 census.^1,2
     Archie Roberts was also known as Archey Roberts.²

Archie Roberts was listed as a resident in Amos W. Roberts's household in the census report on 18 October 1850 at Oktibbeha Co., Mississippi, USA;
p. 294-B, lines 31-35, dwelling 545, family 545
     31 ROBERTS, Amos 662 [1788] M Farmer SC
     32 " , Milla 14 [1836] F SC
     33 " , Eliza 12 [1838] F SC
     34 " , Toliver 10 [1840] M SC
     35 " , Archey 5 [1845] M MS.²

Archie Roberts was listed as a resident in Caroline Furr's household in the census report on 9 June 1860 at Beat No. 1, Cherokee Co., Texas, USA;
[Note: Caroline is on the same page as her mother, Sarah FURR and several siblings.]
pp. 417-418, Lines 36-39 + 1-2, Dwelling 111; Family 111
     36 ROBERTS, Caroline 40 [1820] F House Keeping $250 NC
     37 " , James 18 [1842] M Farming SC
     38 " , John M 14 [1846] MS
     39 " , Archie 13 M [1847] MS
p. 418 (next page)
     1 " , Susan 3 F [1857] TX
     2 " , Mary 1 F [1859] TX.³