In the 1850s, JJ Meek became a planter and quite wealthy. The Civil War nearly bankrupted him.

From "A History of Mississippi," by Robert Lowry and William H McCardle, page 552
"PANOLA COUNTY WAS established February 9th 1836. By an act of the Legislature, passed the 14th of February, 1836, A. B. Saunders, Chas. Bowen, B. W. Wilson, and John C. Henderson were appointed commissioners to organize the county.
Among the early settlers of the county were Orville Harrison, D. J. Goff, E. Q. Vance, father of Hon. C. B. Vance, who represented the county in the State Senate in 1878 and 1880 ; Garland G. Nelson, John Rayburn, who was first Senator from the county; David McKinney, Thos. B. Hill, both of whom represented the county in the lower branch of the Legislature; Jeff J. Meek, John R. Dickens, W. B. Dickens; the family of Killa- brew, R. N. Childress, a member of the Legislature from the county; Isaac N. Davis, familiarly known as "Panola Davis," who served the county as State Senator for four years ; Thos. F. Wilson, William and John H. Keith, J. T. M. Burnbridge, the first probate judge after the organization of the county; J. C. Armstrong, first clerk of the county; Jas. L. Fletcher, L. J. Taylor, the father of Hon. Robert L. Taylor, a lawyer of distinction, who has been prominent in Mississippi politics for a number of years; he served the county one term in the State Senate, and was in 1889 a popular candidate for the nomination of Governor, and was a delegate from the State at large in the Constitutional Convention of 1890; Simpson Lester, Monroe Kyle, father of Hon. John C. Kyle, who served one term as State Senator, two terms as Railroad Commissioner, and is now a member of Congress from the district in which be lives; Hon. Anthony Foster, who was twice a member of the Legislature from the county; David Butts, Dr. Henry Lard, Wilson T. Caruthers; Dr. C. K. Caruthers has represented the county in both branches of the] Legislature and is now State Senator; E. H. Bolton, George P. Anderson, Garland G. Nelson, Dr. Me- Mullen, Wm. R. Robertson, R. W. Brahan and W. M. Estelle ; the two latter represented the county in the lower branch of the Legislature."
Published by R.H. Henry & Co., 1891
Original from the University of Michigan
Digitized Jul 14, 2006 (Google)
648 pages

US Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865
Name: Jefferson J. Meek
Side: Confederate
Regiment State/Origin: Mississippi
Regiment Name: 42 Mississippi Infantry
Regiment Name Expanded: 42nd Regiment, Mississippi Infantry
COMPANY: I
Rank In: Captain
Rank In Expanded: Captain
Rank Out: Captain Rank Out
Expanded: Captain
Film Number: M232 roll 28

According to muster roll records, Capt JJ Meek created his own unit at Panola Co., MS on 27 Mar 1862. He was 52 years old. He resigned 24 Aug 1863, and was replaced by R M Buchanan.


1850 census for Marshall County, Southern Division, Mississippi shows his occupation as a clergyman.
Name: J J Meek
Age: 47
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1803
Birth Place: Tennessee
Gender: Male
Home in 1850(City,County,State): Southern Division, Marshall, Mississippi
Household Members:
Name Age
James Bolten 0
Elizabeth R Meek 15
H A E Meek 37
J J Meek 47
James A Meek 14
Jos A Meek 20
Lucy A Meek 3
Malsey K Meek 5
Martha B Meek 10
Permelia F Meek 6
Robt D Meek 8
Thos J Meek 0

1860 Census
Name: J J Meek
Age in 1860: 51
Birth Year: abt 1809
Birthplace: Tennessee
Home in 1860: Panola, Mississippi
Gender: Male
Post Office: Pleasant Mount
Household Members:
Name Age
J J Meek 51
H A Meek 46
R D Meek 18
M F Meek 15
M K Meek 13
Lucy A Meek 12
J G Meek 11
S P Meek 9
Virginia Meek 4
J E Hoke 28 (male, b MS, overseer)
Mary F Waldron 4 (granddaughter)
J W Waldron 2 (male, b MS, grandson)

1870 Census
Name: Jefrson Meck
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1804
Age in 1870: 66
Birthplace: Tennessee
Home in 1870: Township 7 Range 6, Panola, Mississippi
Race: White
Gender: Male
Post Office: Como
Household Members:
Name Age
Jefrson Meck 66
Hetie Meck 57
Thos Meck 20
Saml Meck 18
Virginia Meck 14
Mary Waldren 12 (granddaughter)
Jeferson Waldren 11 (grandson, one initial is W)
Jno Lemmers 23 (b 1847 in TN, farmer)

1880 Census
Name: J. J. Meek
Home in 1880: Sardis, Panola, Mississippi
Age: 71
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1809
Birthplace: Tennessee
Relation to Head of Household: Self (Head)
Spouse's Name: H. A. E.
Father's birthplace: Maryland
Mother's birthplace: Virginia
Occupation: Minister Of Gospel
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Male
Household Members:
Name Age
J. J. Meek 71
H. A. E. Meek 67
S. P. Meek 25
W. J. Waldren 21 (grandson, b 1859 in MS, father b in MS, mother b in TN)

To view tinype photos of the family, tentatively dated about 1861, click here.

• Married: 1832

1. Elizabeth A Meek b: 11 Aug 1834 in Mississippi
2. James Alexander Meek b: 3 Mar 1836 in Chulahoma, Marshall County, Mississippi
3. William McEwen Meek b: 17 Apr 1838
4. Martha Bolton Meek b: 18 Jul 1840 in Mississippi
5. Robert Donahoo Meek b: 1842 in Mississippi
6. Permelia Frances "Fannie" Meek b: 9 Apr 1844 in Mississippi
7. Malsey K Meek b: 1845 in Marshall Co., MS
8. Lucy A Meek b: 1847 in Marshall Co., MS
9. John G Meek b: 1849 in Mississippi
10. Thomas Jefferson Meek b: 3 Jan 1850 in Marshall Co., MS
11. Samuel P Meek b: 22 Feb 1856 in Panola Co., MS
12. Virginia Tennessee Meek b: 15 Jan 1859 in Mississippi