The Midway Fort family of the week is that of Harvey Henry Meeks K2QX-NFN and Sarah Catherine Meeks KWJJ-GBN: written by Jerry Duke.

The Meeks family can be traced from Virginia to the Carolina’s, then on to Kentucky and finally arriving in Indiana somewhere around 1810. Harvey’s great-grandfather, Athe Meeks I was killed and his grandfather Athe Meeks II seriously injured in an Indian attack in 1812. In spite of this, the family made Indiana home for decades.

Harvey Henry Meeks was born on April 9, 1838, in Newtonville, Spencer County, Indiana to William Athe Meeks, the son of the family member wounded in the previously mentioned Indian attack, and Mary Elizabeth Rhodes. This couple was married in 1837, and Harvey was their first child.

William’s uncle, Priddy Meeks, had been converted to the Mormon faith and brought the gospel to them and they were baptized in 1840, and moved to Nauvoo along with Priddy and his family, sometime thereafter. The widow of the slain patriarch of this family, Margaret Virginia Sneed, lived to receive the gospel and died at age 90 in Nauvoo, Illinois in 1843. The 1830 and 1840 Indiana Censuses listed her with the family of Thomas Carter and her daughter, Margaret Elise Meeks. The Carters also moved on to Nauvoo. They were presumably members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints as well.

The William Meeks family added more children to their family while in Nauvoo. The couple received their endowments in the Nauvoo Temple before the departure of Brigham Young for the west. William went west with the vanguard group of Saints to give assistance but left his family behind and then returned to bring them up to Iowa. The 1850 Census has the family in Pottawattamie County, Iowa with six children between the ages of ten and eight months. Harvey was the oldest and the others were as follows: Henry age 8, Elizabeth age 6, Mary age 4, William age 2, and Joseph age 8 months. The ages of the children are inaccurate in this Census and have them listed as younger than their real age. In 1852, they migrated to Utah with the David Wood Company. Harvey was still just a boy at fourteen.

The family settled in Springville, Utah, but shortly moved to Salt Creek, now Nephi, Utah. William became a United States Deputy Marshall. In 1856, William and his family relocated to Fort Supply in what is now Wyoming to answer the call of Brigham Young. They were pulled from Fort Supply in 1857 due to the approach of Johnston’s Army during the Utah War with the federal government. They moved back to Provo, Utah.

An account by Patrice G. Bracken entitled: “History of William and Mary Elizabeth Rhodes (Rhoads) Meeks related the following account: In the summer of 1858, William Meeks and others drove their cattle up Provo Canyon to “Provo Valley” (which is now the Heber area) and established ranches. In the winter of 1858-59 a group met to discuss settlement of the new area and William Meeks was chosen to oversee the group. William was involved in cattle ranching, and he and several others established the first lumber mill in the area………. William and his family probably lived in the Heber area for several years, although William was replaced as leader of the settlers in the spring of 1860. William’s daughter Mary Jane Meeks Pearce wrote that William and his family moved to St. George in 1862.”

William James Mortimer, compiler and editor of “How Beautiful Upon the Mountains: Centennial History of Wasatch County” stated several times that William Meeks was removed as the settler’s leader because he never established a permanent home in the valley. The 1860 Census taken by census taker, Jesse Bishop on October 3, 1860, establishes William and his family as residents. There is no evidence that William stayed the winter of 1859-1860, and he had a child born in Provo, Utah in August of 1859 and was probably reluctant to bring a new child into this untested and potentially dangerous environment. William Wall replaced William Meeks as the group leader in the spring of 1860, but William did return and lived in the valley for two years.

While William and his family moved on, his oldest child, Harvey Meeks, remained behind and became a thirty-year resident of the Heber Valley and specifically Midway. Harvey is listed twice in the 1860 Census, once with his own family and secondly with the family of Absalom Porter Dowdle, his soon to be father-in-law. On Christmas Day 1860, he married Sarah Catherine Dowdle in Center Creek. One account states that this marriage was the first in the Heber Valley, however this claim is countered in “How Beautiful Upon the Mountains”. It reads: “There were other interests in the new valley, too, for the records show that on Christmas Day, 1860, Charles C. Thomas claimed as his bride, Emmaline Sessions. They were married by Thomas Rasband in the first ceremony to be performed in the valley. That evening another couple, Harvey Meeks and a Miss Dougal were married in Center Creek by Silas Smith.” There is no footnote to what records are being referred to, but presumably these are church records or perhaps just a journal entry. Sarah Catherine Dowdle, the name of Harvey’s bride, was certainly inadequately recorded in this account.

Sarah was just fourteen at the time of this marriage. She was the daughter of Absalom Porter Dowdle and Sarah Ann Holladay. She was born in Missouri as her parents were migrating to Utah. The group stopped to winter in Pueblo, Colorado and then continued to Utah arriving just a few days after Brigham Young’s Company on July 29, 1847. Her early story is recorded in her mother’s biography submitted by M Margebecraft on November 3, 2018, author not submitted. https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/memories/KWJL-WBG

Harvey Meeks had a cabin on the east side of the old fort in Midway that they apparently occupied from 1866 for about two years. They also had a home and large farm on river road. north of the town. They lived here and raised a large family of twelve children, eight of which survived to adulthood. Besides farming, Harvy also acted as a teamster for the LDS Church. He became disappointed with leaders over their distribution of church resources to the needy. This may have been the reason he moved his family to Uinta County, Wyoming, near Fort Bridger, in about 1890. His Uncle Athe also moved from southern Utah to this area of Wyoming at about this same time. An ancestor said that Harvey “delighted in well bred horses and always drove a beautiful span of high-spirited animals”.

Harvey’s 1915 obituary, contributed by G. Otto Hopkins read: “Harvey H. Meeks goes to reward.

Former Mountain View resident dies at Hudson Wyo. at a ripe old age. Harvey Henry Meeks, an aged citizen of Hudson, Wyo., passed away Sunday, October 17. Mr. Meeks came to Hudson in the year 1914 from Mountain View, Wyoming where he had been for some time engaged in ranching and cattle raising. He at one-time lived-in Evanston, Wyo. Mr. Meeks was born in Spencer County, Indiana in 1838. In 1852 he immigrated to Utah, where he lived for many years. It was in Utah; he became acquainted with Miss Sarah H. Dowdle, to whom he was married in 1863. To this union were born twelve children, four of whom preceded their father in death. Mr. Meeks was a member of the Mormon church; he was at one time prominent in his church duties and other church activities. He was a great reader of his Bible, and a devout Christian. He prided himself on his humor and in dealing justly with his fellow men”. (One will notice his marriage year is incorrect and Sarah’s last name is misspelled.)

His character might be summed up by his epitaph. “After all, when a man comes to die, all that he will have left, is what he has given away”.

Shakespeare said that the good one does is often interred with their bones. That appears to be the case with Sarah Catherine Dowdle Meeks. I have found no entries that address her personal characteristics. An ancestor with any insight into her person should submit it to FamilySearch. She died on March 29, 1936, in Thermopolis, Wyoming and was buried in Hudson Cemetery, Hudson, Fremont, Wyoming next to her husband.

Children of Harvey and Sarah C. Meeks

Brief Life History of Harvey Porter
When Harvey Porter Meeks was born on 11 June 1862, in Heber City, Wasatch, Utah, his father, Harvey Henry Meeks, was 24 and his mother, Sarah Catherine Dowdle, was 16. He married Amanda Betty Pehrsson on 21 November 1887, in Coalville, Summit, Utah. They were the parents of at least 3 sons and 1 daughter. He lived in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, in 1880 and Election District 6 Carter, Uinta, Wyoming, United States in 1900. He died on 25 December 1938, in Thermopolis, Hot Springs, Wyoming, at the age of 76, and was buried in Monument Hill Cemetery, Thermopolis, Hot Springs, Wyoming.

Brief Life History of Sarah Jane
When Sarah Jane Meeks was born on 19 July 1865, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, her father, Harvey Henry Meeks, was 27 and her mother, Sarah Catherine Dowdle, was 19. She lived in Utah, in 1870. She died on 12 August 1873, at the age of 8, and was buried in Midway, Wasatch, Utah.

Brief Life History of William Joseph
When William Joseph Meeks was born on 12 April 1868, in Pine Valley, Washington, Utah, his father, Harvey Henry Meeks, was 30 and his mother, Sarah Catherine Dowdle, was 21. He died on 6 June 1868, at the age of 0, and was buried in St. George, Washington, Utah.

Brief Life History of David Henry
When David Henry Meeks was born on 30 June 1870, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, his father, Harvey Henry Meeks, was 32 and his mother, Sarah Catherine Dowdle, was 24. He married Nancy Isabel Wall on 2 December 1889, in Lyman, Uinta, Wyoming. They were the parents of at least 1 son and 4 daughters. He lived in Dingle, Bear Lake, Idaho, in 1910. He died on 28 June 1946, in Blackfoot, Bingham, Idaho, at the age of 75, and was buried in Grove City Cemetery, Blackfoot, Bingham, Idaho.

Brief Life History of Electa Ann
When Electa Ann Meeks was born on 15 June 1873, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, her father, Harvey Henry Meeks, was 35 and her mother, Sarah Catherine Dowdle, was 27. She married William Lamonia Colton on 12 October 1891, in Ogden, Weber, Utah. They were the parents of at least 6 daughters. She lived in Searchlight, Clark, Nevada, in 1910 and Burbank, Los Angeles, California, United States in 1910. She died on 24 May 1928, in Glendale, Los Angeles, California, United States, at the age of 54, and was buried in Glendale, Los Angeles, California.

Brief Life History of Mary Elizabeth
When Mary Elizabeth Meeks was born on 12 July 1876, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, her father, Harvey Henry Meeks, was 38 and her mother, Sarah Catherine Dowdle, was 30. She married Charles Alexander Driskell on 20 September 1896, in Smiths Fork, Uinta, Wyoming. They were the parents of at least 5 sons and 3 daughters. She lived in Election District 16, Fremont, Wyoming, in 1920 and Jackson, Teton, Wyoming, in 1930. She died on 4 September 1966, in Idaho Falls, Bonneville, Idaho, at the age of 90, and was buried in Aspen Hill Cemetery, Jackson, Teton, Wyoming.

Brief Life History of Mahalia
When Mahalia Meeks was born on 30 June 1878, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, her father, Harvey Henry Meeks, was 40 and her mother, Sarah Catherine Dowdle, was 32. She died on 10 November 1884, in her hometown, at the age of 6.

Brief Life History of John Jared
When John Jared Meeks was born on 23 September 1880, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, his father, Harvey Henry Meeks, was 42 and his mother, Sarah Catherine Dowdle, was 34. He married Elizabeth Shelton on 17 May 1901, in Heber City, Wasatch, Utah, They were the parents of at least 3 sons and 4 daughters. He lived in Election District 6 Carter, Uinta, Wyoming, in 1900. He died on 23 February 1960, in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, at the age of 79, and was buried in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah.

Brief Life History of George Wiley
When George Wiley Meeks was born on 1 June 1882, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, his father, Harvey Henry Meeks, was 44 and his mother, Sarah Catherine Dowdle, was 36. He married Anna Myrtle Brasfield on 1 February 1912, in Fremont, Idaho. They were the parents of at least 1 son. He lived in Mountain View, Uinta, Wyoming, in 1910 and Election District 2, Fremont, Wyoming, United States in 1920. He died on 28 February 1962, at the age of 79, and was buried in Hudson, Fremont, Wyoming.

Brief Life History of Susan Malissa
When Susan Malissa Meeks was born on 3 November 1884, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, her father, Harvey Henry Meeks, was 46 and her mother, Sarah Catherine Dowdle, was 38. She died on 10 November 1884, at the age of 0, and was buried in Midway, Wasatch, Utah.

Brief Life History of Martha Henrietta
When Martha Henrietta Meeks was born on 4 February 1885, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, her father, Harvey Henry Meeks, was 46 and her mother, Sarah Catherine Dowdle, was 38. She married William David Hoyt about 1911, in Hudson, Fremont, Wyoming. They were the parents of at least 3 sons and 2 daughters. She lived in Hudson, Fremont, Wyoming, in 1930 and Election District 2, Fremont, Wyoming, in 1940. She died on 24 June 1961, in Riverside, Riverside, California, at the age of 76, and was buried in Hudson, Fremont, Wyoming.

Brief Life History of Thomas Elmer Hollas
When Thomas Elmer Hollas Meeks was born on 4 August 1888, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, his father, Harvey Henry Meeks, was 50 and his mother, Sarah Catherine Dowdle, was 42. He married Irene about 1908, in Utah. He lived in Election District 2, Fremont, Wyoming, in 1920 and Judicial Township 4, Glenn, California, in 1940. He died on 10 July 1957, in Willows, Glenn, California, at the age of 68, and was buried in Willows Cemetery, Willows, Glenn, California.

Heber Valley Heritage Foundation