Introduction: Remembering Lucinda Meek (1815–1906)
This remarkable family history, recorded by M.A. (Zonie) Ericksen at age 92, offers a vivid and personal account of the Meek family’s migration, hardships, and legacies across Tennessee and Texas. For descendants like me, it also illuminates the life and lineage of Lucinda Meek, my 4th great-grandmother, born September 22, 1815, in Dickson County, Tennessee. She lived through nearly a century of American history, passing away at 90, in 1906 in Tennessee.
While Lucinda does not appear in the 1903 Tidwell family photograph I've shared elsewhere, her presence is deeply felt through her connection to this branch of the Meek and Tidwell families. Her story weaves into the larger fabric of frontier life, survival, and the enduring values of kinship and perseverance that define so many of our Southern roots.
The following document—originally preserved by relatives and shared on Ancestry—reflects not only historical movement and Civil War realities but the voice of a granddaughter honoring generations past. I'm proud to continue that effort.
HISTORY OF THE MEEK FAMILY
by M.A. (Zonie) Ericksen, age 92, daughter of
Rachel Meek Brooks
“Moses Meek came to America from the Emerald Isle in colonial days* and aided the colonists to throw off the yoke of tyranny of the British and remained with the army until victory.
He later settled in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. One of his sons, Josiah, married Marguerite Edmondson to whom was born John Meek on November 27, 1805. The maternal Grandfather of John Meek was a hero of the revolution.
In 1806 Josiah moved his family to Tennessee, locating in Dickson County, which is known as “Middle Tennessee.” In later years one daughter was named Charollette Tennessee. By this we may assume that they lived near Charlotte, Tennessee.
We have no record of the death of Josiah Meek (b. ca 1780 d 1821 in Tenn.), but since he left a family of nine children he must have been past middle age. He died in Tenn., leaving a family consisting of five sons and four daughters. The sons were John, Moses, Harvey, James and Christopher. The daughters were Rachel, Lucindy, Margret and Anne. John became a farmer, Harvey a financier, Christopher a minister and James a cotton planter. James migrated to Mississippi, then later to South Texas where he lived until his death. James was quite wealthy before the war freed his slaves and took away his property. Harvey Meek migrated to Ellis County, Texas where he lived until his death. He came here soon after the surrender. Only Christopher remained in Tennessee.
In 1847 John Meek joined a company of emigrants headed for Texas. At this time the family consisted of: his wife, Mahalia Tidwell Meek; children, Orlena, Rachel, Christopher C., Margaret Jane and Cave Johnson Meek. They settled near Gilmer, the county seat of Upshur County. Here, under many hardships, they farmed with some success. The war was soon to disrupt them along with others. Here the family increased. Three daughters were born: Carolina Christian (Carma), Lucinda and Charlotte Tennessee. Two young sons also were born but they died in infancy.
Again they moved west to Collin County, Texas, near McKinney, the county seat. Martha Eugenie was born here in 1852. She was destined to live to be the oldest member of the family by living to the age of 98. Two years later the mother, Mahalia Meek, died with the birth of the twelfth child. Aunt Rachel never ceased to grieve over the suffering of her mother and often spoke of it to her daughter, Zonie. Soon John took to himself a young wife, Elizabeth Freeman, and again the family increased. Two daughters, Artemisia and Sarah Elizabeth, were born. When Sarah Elizabeth was nine days old this mother died. Orlena Meek married Ben Earp in Upshur County. About this time John Meek bought a slave woman, Emily, and her son, Henry. More about this later. While in Collin County Christopher married Octava Day, Margaret married Tom Day. Rachel married Heustice (Doc) Brooks. Life moved fast in Collin County with births, deaths and marriages.
Again, westward was the watchword. The family moved to Stephenville in Erath County where they lived for two years, 1863–64. Doc Brooks' family and the Earp family moved to Wise County in 1854 and took homesteads. Christopher, Margaret and Tom Day and family joined them later and remained here two years. They then moved to Erath County where they joined Grandpa John Meek.
Then came the war between the states. Grandpa was too old to go but Cave, at the age of 17, joined the Texas Rangers. He was young and immature. He almost died twice. He was located near Velasco, Texas at the time of the surrender. Grandpa went to see him but he was not able to come home for he was too weak and had no clothes. When Grandpa returned, all hands got busy and spun yarn, wove cloth, and made the cloth into some clothes so he could come home when he had recuperated sufficiently. Chris also did frontier duty, possibly with a mixture of Texas Rangers and soldiers. He was said to have participated in the Battle of Dove Creek under Captain Totten. This was a battle with the Indians. It was soon discovered that he was an expert at making hats so he was put at work making hats for the Confederate soldiers. After all the other family had moved to Erath County, Ben Earp, who had become Captain Earp in the Confederate Army, and Doc Brooks, who thus far had remained on the homestead in Wise County, until the Indian raids had become so severe and so frequent on the settlers, decided to go back to Upshur County where Earp’s father and his family still lived. So leaving cattle on the range they moved back to Upshur County. About the time they got settled here the surrender came and that changed everything once more. The Confederate Soldiers were bitter towards the ex-slaves and there were many free negros in that part of Texas. In 1865 they loaded their wagons with their families and the remains of their stock, which had been greatly reduced, and started to find a new location. In those days the roads led to river crossings, and settlements grew up around each crossing. Some ten miles north of where Morgan now stands, they found a nice place to camp, rest and think of where to go next. They were on Hogstone Creek, and the country was beautiful. Just by coincidence, Grandpa Meek and Aunt Mug came riding up. It did not take much persuasion to convince them that the Pulacy country, in what is now Hood County, was the place to go. Soon the Meek Clan was settled up and down the Pulacy Valley. It was a fertile valley surrounded by hills and cedar brakes which offered protection from Indian raids, which were frequent in those days. They were all settled there after the war around 1864.
Here Grandpa married twice more but later was separated from both wives. He died at the advanced age of 96 years and two months, in January 1902. He was a very nice quiet man whose advice was respected on most any subject.”
reason to believe that Moses’ father James Adam”Adam” Meek came from County Antrim, Ireland to Maryland - but we are not 100% sure as it appears that Moses may have been born in Maryland. Further research / ongoing required.
This family story was originally added to Ancestry.com by MaryMilling on February 17, 2016. It was described as "Given to me by Bill Cowan in 1995." Bill was a cousin of Roscoe Gorman Milling Jr.