William Meek was an industrious and intrepid early American pioneer and during his lifetime created two thriving American towns, the first being Meek's Mill, St Joseph, Michigan [later renamed Constantine] and the second Meek's Mill, Van Buren, Iowa [later rename Bonaparte].
William Meek was born on 02 Apr 1784 in Brooke, West Virginia to parents Robert and Elizabeth (Alexander) Meek, and his family migrated early to Wayne County Ohio. In 1804 young William Meek met and married Elizabeth Johnson. To this marriage was born 9 children, 6 boys and 3 girls, all of which were born in Wayne County, Ohio, except for the youngest, William, who was born in 1830 in Constantine, Michigan.
In 1829 William Meek and his family were among the first settlers of Constantine, building the first house there, a log cabin of the usual primitive style of construction, and cleared off and plowed a few acres the first year. William Meek was attracted to the spot by noting its future advantages as an ideal manufacturing point with the ready availability of water and lumber. Here he erected the first dam and mill, using the mill for both lumber and corn. It is said that the mill was erected in a mere 20 days. In Constantine, he was known as the proprietor of the town, Chief Justice, and later Associate Judge of the County Court of St. Joseph, Michigan. Here he also spearheaded the incorporation of businesses to help improve the town's economy; creating the Niles and Constantine Canal corporation to develop needed transportation routes and the Bank of Constantine to aid consumers in getting needed loans to purchase homes and property.
Around 1839 William Meek sold off many of his interests in the town of Constantine and looked West for new places to explore, chosing Iowa and Texas. After exploring both places he decided upon Van Buren County, Iowa for his next enterprise. Here he again planned and developed the successful town of Bonaparte and again engineered dams and mills. This time his dams were not just for lumber and corn but also for the manufacturing of woolen goods. His woolen mill was so successful that he shipped complete garments all over the East, and the trousers he shipped to England were declared among the finest made.
After living a very successful and fulfilling life, William Meek died on August 9, 1863 in Bonaparte, Iowa.
William Meek was an industrious and intrepid early American pioneer and during his lifetime created two thriving American towns, the first being Meek's Mill, St Joseph, Michigan [later renamed Constantine] and the second Meek's Mill, Van Buren, Iowa [later rename Bonaparte].
William Meek was born on 02 Apr 1784 in Brooke, West Virginia to parents Robert and Elizabeth (Alexander) Meek, and his family migrated early to Wayne County Ohio. In 1804 young William Meek met and married Elizabeth Johnson. To this marriage was born 9 children, 6 boys and 3 girls, all of which were born in Wayne County, Ohio, except for the youngest, William, who was born in 1830 in Constantine, Michigan.
In 1829 William Meek and his family were among the first settlers of Constantine, building the first house there, a log cabin of the usual primitive style of construction, and cleared off and plowed a few acres the first year. William Meek was attracted to the spot by noting its future advantages as an ideal manufacturing point with the ready availability of water and lumber. Here he erected the first dam and mill, using the mill for both lumber and corn. It is said that the mill was erected in a mere 20 days. In Constantine, he was known as the proprietor of the town, Chief Justice, and later Associate Judge of the County Court of St. Joseph, Michigan. Here he also spearheaded the incorporation of businesses to help improve the town's economy; creating the Niles and Constantine Canal corporation to develop needed transportation routes and the Bank of Constantine to aid consumers in getting needed loans to purchase homes and property.
Around 1839 William Meek sold off many of his interests in the town of Constantine and looked West for new places to explore, chosing Iowa and Texas. After exploring both places he decided upon Van Buren County, Iowa for his next enterprise. Here he again planned and developed the successful town of Bonaparte and again engineered dams and mills. This time his dams were not just for lumber and corn but also for the manufacturing of woolen goods. His woolen mill was so successful that he shipped complete garments all over the East, and the trousers he shipped to England were declared among the finest made.
After living a very successful and fulfilling life, William Meek died on August 9, 1863 in Bonaparte, Iowa.
