Joseph Anderson Meeks, CSA

From the Farmerville "Gazette"; issue of Wednesday, 25 January 1899, page 3, column 1: Mr. J. A. Meeks, an old citizen of ward two, died last Thursday evening, after a lingering illness. - - - NOTE: Joseph Anderson Meeks (6 May 1830 – 19 Jan 1899) was the son of Mark Meeks, Sr. (1795 – 1891) and Ann Chambers (1802 – 1857/1858). He married on 24 December 1850 in Union Parish Louisiana to Harriett Ann E. Auld [Hartie, Harty] (24/25 Dec 1835 – 27 Jan 1914), the daughter of Margaret Jane Ward (c1812 – 1880/1893) and Elijah Michael Auld (c1811 – 1877/1880). Joseph Meeks was buried in the Shady Grove Cemetery a few miles southeast of Farmerville, Union Parish Louisiana.

On 6 May 1862, Monroe LA, at the age of thirty-two, Joseph A. Meeks enlisted as a 3rd corporal in Company G, 31st Regiment Louisiana Infantry; many of Harty's relatives served in the same unit. Meeks stated to his enlistment officer that he was farm born in Fayette County Alabama. The officer reported that Meeks had black eyes, black hair, a dark complexion, and his height was 5'9¾". - - - He developed a "pulmonary consumption – an extension abscess in left lung" in August and received a medical discharge on 17 February 1863, by order of Lt.Gen. Pemberton. - - - After recovering, Meeks enlisted as a private in Company E, 3rd Regiment Louisiana Infantry. - Was taken a prisoner of war - & parolled 16 June 1865 in Shreveport LA. - - - In October 1898, just a few months prior to his death, Joseph applied for and received a pension based upon his Confederate military service. Meeks died just a few weeks after the State of Louisiana officially granted his pension. After his death, Harty received a widow's pension.

Joseph & Harty's children:
1. Nacy Meeks - b. 1 Jan 1852 - aft.1910 - - md. ca. 1875 to Elizabeth Armstrong - b. Oct 1851 - d. 1900/04 - - md. 20 Dec 1904 to Mollie Roan, widow
2. Lucretia L. Meeks - b. 19 Sep 1853 - d.aft. 1900
3. Elijah M. Meeks - b. 14 Aug 1855 - d. 25 Sep 1873
4. John Jurd Meeks - b. 20 Mar 1857 - d. 11 Oct 1897 (age 40) - md. Permelia Elizabeth “Betty” Auld - b. 8 Feb 1859, Farmerville - d. 5 Aug 1931, Mer Rouge
5. Ellen Jane “Betsy” Meeks - b.6 Apr 1859 - d.aft. 1885 - md. On 30 Nov 1880 to John E. Bell, who apparently died by 1885, for “Betsy” remarried on 20 Aug 1885 to James Benton Purdy
6. Isabella Meeks - b. 12 Jan 1861 - d. 22 July 1867.
7. Ann Meeks - b. 27 July 1864 - d. 22 May 1922 - md. On 21 Feb 1881 in Bradley Co. AR to Joseph (Jacob?) William Wesley Johnson - b. 27 Sep 1861 Union Co. AR - d. 28 June 1913.
8. Mary H. “Mollie” Meeks - b. 22 Feb 1866 - d. 1896 - md. on 26 June 1887 to John Thomas Dumas - b. Oct 1845 - d. 6 Jan 1931
9. James Wm. H. Meeks - b. 1 July 1866 - d. 1949 - md. on 27 April 1893 to Ada Brantley - b. 1875 - d. 1945.
10. Elizabeth “Eliza” Meeks - b. 18 July 1870 - d.aft. 1900 - md. on 30 Aug 1891 in Union Parish to George W. Phillips - b. Aug 1855 - d.aft. 1900.
11. Roza Meeks - b. 27 July 1875 - d. 10 Sep 1874
12. David Daniel Meeks - b. 26 July 1873 - d.aft. 1900.