Alameda County
Biographies
WILLIAM MEEK
As an honored pioneer of Alameda county, and as a true type of the energetic, progressive and enterprising men who actively assisted in the development of the fertile and productive agricultural region lying in and around Eden township, William Meek, late of San Lorenzo, is worthy of special mention in this biographical volume. When he located here, forty-five years ago, even the wild beasts had not fled before the advancing steps of civilization, but, with the dusky savage, roamed at will through the country. Haywards was then a small hamlet, with few habitations, and the adjacent towns and villages all grew under his observation. In the advancement and growth of this section of the country he took an important part, and at the same time, by the exercise of a wise foresight and sagacity of purpose, he accumulated considerable wealth, and became one of the largest landholders of this vicinity. A native of Ohio, he was born in the year 1817, a son of William Meek, Sr.
A Virginian by birth, William Meek, Sr., grew to manhood in his native state. Subsequently following the tide of emigration westward he became a pioneer settler of Ohio, for a few years being an honored resident of that state. Subsequently removing with his family to Iowa, he settled near Keokuk. With his son William, the subject of this sketch, he secured a state right to dam that part of the Des Moines river lying between Keokuk and Bonaparte, and afterwards(sic) erected a mill, which he operated successfully for many years, carrying on a substantial business.
Reared in Ohio, William Meek acquired a limited education in the district school, and after removing with his parents to Iowa assisted his father in his milling operations for a number of seasons. Of a venturesome disposition, and with a “desire to try the hazard of new fortunes,” he joined a party of emigrants, and in April, 1846, started overland for Oregon, taking with him a wagon-load of small grafted trees, and a quantity of seeds, his being the first lot of fruit trees taken to the Pacific coast, although seedlings had previously been introduced by the Hudson Bay Company. Locating in the town of Milwaukee, on the Willamette river, about five miles from Portland, he formed a copartnership with H. Llewelling, whom he had known in Iowa, and established a nursery. In 1848, soon after receiving news of the discovery of gold in California, he joined the first train that started for the gold fields, breaking the road to Fort Sutter, and picking up some of the Lassen party while on the way. For a year or more he worked in the mines, but was not particularly successful in his venture.
Returning to Oregon, Mr. Meek continued in the nursery business, having both nurseries and orchards, and for a few years was engaged in lumbering on a large scale. Losing money in the latter operation, and likewise becoming involved in debt, he severed his connection with the firm to which he belonged, giving up the lumber business. Devoting his entire attention then to the cultivation and shipping of fruit, Mr. Meek began selling to California as well as Oregon markets, from 1855 until 1859 buying nearly all the fruit raised in Oregon, and shipping it to San Francisco and the mines, where he received enormous prices for it, often selling pears for $5 apiece. Disposing of his Oregon interests in 1859, Mr. Meek located in Alameda county, Cal., near Haywards, in the Spanish grant, purchasing the ranch now owned by his heirs. In 1866, when the land was divided, he had a clear title to two thousand and ten acres of land, formerly belonging to the De Soto rancho grant. There were no improvements on the place to speak of, although a small orchard occupied the site of the present house and grounds. Mr. Meek subsequently sold one hundred and eighty-nine acres of his original purchase, but he also bought adjoining land. Building a large reservoir in the foothills, about three and one-half miles from the substantial house that he erected, he had water piped to all parts of his farm, subjecting it to irrigation, and was the first agriculturist of this locality to plant extensively. As a general farmer and stock-raiser he met with eminent success, and from time to time increased his operations. He purchased one hundred and thirty acres of land on Alameda creek, and on Costa grant became owner of six hundred and forty acres, giving him possession in all of three thousand acres of as rich and valuable land as can be found in this part of the state. A man of energetic activity, he continued the management of his vast estate until his death, in 1880, at the age of sixty-three years. He was everywhere respected and honored for his integrity, and though he had but little time to devote to public matters was an ardent supporter of the principles of the Republican party, and served two or more terms as county supervisor. Before coming to California he was made a Mason and subsequently became a charter member of Sycamore Lodge No. 179, F.& A.M, of Haywards.
Mr. Meek married first, in Iowa, about 1845, Sarah Stone, who died in early womanhood, leaving one child, Sarah C., who married Frank Hinkley, and is now deceased. After the death of his first wife Mr. Meek went to Oregon, and a few years later married Fidelia Stone, a sister of Sarah Stone. Their father, Silas Stone, removed from Pennsylvania, where his daughters were born, to Iowa, and from there came across the plains, in 1851 or 1852, to California, becoming a pioneer settler of Contra Costa county, his daughter Fidelia being then a young woman. She survived her husband eleven years, dying, in 1891, at the age of fifty-six years. She was a most estimable woman, highly esteemed for her many sterling qualities, and was a faithful member of the Congregational Church. Of her union with Mr. Meek five children were born, namely: H. W.; Susie M., wife of E. L. Doram, of Avalon, Cal.; William E.; Ethel M., wife of A. Sutton, of San Francisco; and Silas, who died at the age of four years. The estate of Mr. Meek has never been divided, but was managed by his oldest son, H. W., until the younger son, William E., became of age, when he assumed his full share of the responsibility, and has since assisted his brother in its care. Prior to his death, Mr. Meek had planted about three hundred acres of fruit trees, and his sons have since planted nine hundred acres more. They make a specialty of raising premium apricots, their trees in 1903 yielding over eight hundred tons of this luscious fruit. The Meek estate is one of the most valuable in Eden township, taking in nearly all the land between San Lorenzo, where the family home is located, and Haywards, and even a part of the latter town, and the land not included in the large orchards is worth from $300 to $350 per acre.
A native of Oregon, H. W. Meek was born on the 12th of April, 1859, in Milwaukee. Coming with his parents to San Lorenzo when very young, he received his early education in the public schools, after which he entered the University of California, where he was graduated in 1877. His father dying soon afterward, he assumed the management of the family property, having charge of the whole estate until his brother, William E., was old enough to assist him. In the growth and development of this part of Alameda county Messrs. H. W. and W. E. Meek have taken an active part, contributing generously toward the establishment of all beneficial projects. They were two of the five progressive men that owned and constructed the electric railway from Oakland to Haywards, its fourteen miles being completed in 1891. H. W. Meek served as president of the road until 1902, when it was sold. He and his brother were also associated with the company that built up an extensive and lucrative business in raising and shipping asparagus, and are also heavy stockholders in the local electric light and power plant. H. W. Meek married Hattie E. Webb, who was born in Massachusetts, and came to California when a child. Three children have blessed their union, namely: William Harold, Gladys Webb and Harriet Elizabeth. Mr. Meek is a prominent member of the Masonic order, belonging to the lodge and to Oakland Commandery No. 11, K.T.
Transcribed
9-1-16 – Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 1303-1304. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2016 Marilyn R. Pankey.
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