In 1850 the sons of Bazil Meek who appeared in the Henry Co., KY census were Jonathan, Jesse and Joseph. By 1860 all had left the area.

It is known that Jeremiah left before 1830 and died in Indiana. Also, it is known that Joseph moved to White Co., IN after 1850. It is speculate that Sarah in the 1850 census, living with Hiram, is the widow of Joshua. She was known as Sally in the marriage record. Until recently, it was not known what had happened to the other five sons.

In a matter of luck, a fellow genealogist provided me with various records from Clay Co., IL, including the 1850 through 1880 census, marriage and cemetery records. Eventually, more records were obtained and and contact was made with a couple of descendants.

Following is a discussion of each of the five sons and their connection to Clay County.

James Meek was born between 1802-04. He is not in the 1840 Henry County census. He is listed in the 1850 census of Clay County . It is thought that he was the first member of the Meek family to settle in Clay County. He could possibly be the James Meek who purchased land in what is now Richmond County on 23 Mar 1840.

James appears in the 1860 and 1870 census of Marion Co., IL. He lived very close to Oskaloosa Township in Clay County where the rest of the family resided. Some of his children and grandchildren moved to the state of Washington.

Barlow Meek appears in the 1850 Census of Clay Co., IL at age 45. The son of Bazil was born between 1804 and 1810 according to Henry Co., KY census records before 1850. He appears in the 1855 state census of Clay County. His second wife was Leannah Sutton. It is known that her family had preceeded the Meek family to Clay County. She is listed without Barlow in the 1860 census of Clay County. Apparently he had died by this time.

Jacob Meek was born between 1815 and 1820. He appears in the 1840 census of Henry County. Jacob appears in the 1850 Clay County census. The census indicates that he lived next door to Barlow.

A marriage records for Rachel Jones on 14 Jun 1847 in Oldham Co., KY is likely, but not proven, to be for the Clay County Jacob. Members of the Jones family moved from Henry County to Clay County.

Jacob died 4 Aug 1860. Rachel and the children were listed in the 1860 census. His probate records indicates that he had little land or wealth. Some of his children and grandchildren remained in Clay County.

Jonathan Meek was born about 1798 in Henry Co., KY. He appears in the Henry County census between 1820 and 1850. He moved to Clay Co., IL after the census was taken on 15 Aug 1850. He purchased several tracks of land in Clay County in November 1850. He died 28 Nov 1853 in Clay County according to cemetery records. His will was dated 25 Nov 1853 and was signed by his son, Squire. He signed with a signiture and appears to have been educated. He left property to his sons and appears to have had considerable land holdings. His wife and son, Jonathan, appear in the 1860 census of Clay County.

Jesse Meek, son of Bazil was born about 1814 and listed in the 1850 Henry County census with a wife Louisa and four sons. This same family appears in the 1860 Clay County census with three of four sons. He resided next door to Barlow’s widow. A Clay Co., IL cemetery record list Meek, Jessey. died May 24, 1861, age 49 yr, 6 mos.

Some of Jesse's children moved to Coffee Co., KS and later to the state of Oregon.

Summary:

Of the five Henry County brothers, only James, now in Marion County, lived past 1870. James is 68 in the 1870 census and it is presumed that he died shortly afterwards.

The five sons of Bazil Meek left 15 sons. Fourteen of them can be identified in the records. These families might have been a significant force in the county. However, by 1870 very few of Bazil’s grandchildren remained. It is known that a couple of them moved, but the fate of most is not known. It is assumed that the Civil War took it toll on this group as it did so many others.

A few other Meek families had moved into the county by 1870, but their origins are not known. In the end, only a few Grandsons or Great Grandsons, remained in Clay County into the 1900’s. George Meek, son of Jeremiah, son of James was in Louisville Township in 1910. and John, son of Jacob, lived in Oskaloosa Township in 1900 with his adult children.

Why did they go there? A brief discussion on some related families that moved from Henry County to Clay County before the Meek family.

It is known that members of the Meek family moved to Clay Co., IL from Henry Co., KY around 1850. It would appear that they were drawn there by some of their former neighbors.

The 1884 County History provides some information on the early settlers of Oskaloosa Township. Three men named Smith, Romines and Eaton were thought to be the first settlers. After a short time they sold out (section 28) to John Sutton in 1829. John was the son of Elijah Sutton of Henry Co., KY. Elijah Sutton was an early settler of Henry County along with Bazil Meek, Daniel Rawlings and John Stuart.

Several of Elijah’s children married people from Henry County named Meek and Rawlings.

Jane was the second wife of Levi Rawlings.

Leannah married Barlow Meek a son of Bazil Meek. They moved to Clay County before 1850. Four of Barlow’s brothers also moved to Clay County.

Mary married Elijah Dillman who’s daughter Martha married Talbott Rawlings a son of Levi Rawlings. A Samuel Dillman arrived in 1834.

Elijah’s son William married Mahala Craig and Levi’s son, Elijah, married Martha Craig. These women are likely daughters of an another early settler, John Craig who came in 1831.

It is also known that Levi’s sister, Elizabeth, was the first school teacher in the township. She married an unknown John Meek in Henry County.

Levi’s sister, Rebecca, married Nathan Cull. He purchased land in Section 18, Oskalossa TWP 4 Sep 1843.

Another sister, Mary, married John Stuart. Three of their children married children of Bazil Meek and several grandchildren married Bazil's grandchildren.

A daughter of Levi, Sarah, married a son of John Stuart, Thomas P. Stewart.