Meeker, S. F.

Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana
The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville, 1890
Submitted by: Suzanne Shoemaker
sshoemaker@cp-tel.net

S. F. MEEKER, M. D., is a native of West Feliciana Parish, La., where his birth occurred in the year, but when a child he left his birthplace with his father, and was reared to manhood near the city of Baton Rouge. His advantages were excellent in his youth, and he was graduated from Oakland College, Miss., in 1856, and in the fall of the same year began the study of medicine under Dr. Day, of Baton Rouge, and Dr. Natt, of New Orleans. He then attended three courses of lectures in the University of Louisiana, at New Orleans, and graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1859. The same year he made a trip north, but in the fall of 1860 located in Rapides Parish, near Lecompte, and from this place joined the Confederate Army in May, 1861, becoming a member of Company H, Eighth Louisiana Regiment, and remaining on active duty until June 6, 1865. He went out as a private, but was examined after the battles around Richmond, and was assigned to the Seventh Louisiana as assistant surgeon in time to participate in the battle of Chantilly. He served in the capacity of assistant surgeon until September, 1864, when he was appointed surgeon on Gen. Hayes' staff, after which he was transferred to the Trans-Mississippi Department, and was at Natchitoches until the close of the war. The four following years he was engaged in planting in Rapides Parish, but has since devoted his time to the practice of healing art, in which he has met with flattering success.

He was elected a member of the State Legislature in 1884, serving in so admirable and capable a manner that he was re-elected in 1888. He was married in 1866 to Miss Elizabeth Compton, a native of this parish, and of a family of eight children born to them, six are lining: Matilda, Elizabeth, Joseph H., John, Howard and Louise. Dr. Meeker is a son of Moses L. and Matilda (Flower) Meeker, the former of whom was born in Elizabeth, N. J., but upon reaching manhood went west and became associated in business with Longworth & Smith, produce dealers of Cincinnati, Ohio, the latter being the first United States Senator from Ohio. Mr. Smith, of this firm, used some money belonging to the company in the interest of Aaron Burr, and so repugnant were the Burr sentiments to Mr. Meeker that he sold out and came to Louisiana, taking up his abode in West Feliciana Parish, where he met and married Mrs. Matilda (Flower) Finley. In 1857 they settled near St. Louis, Mo., where they made their home until after the war, then returned to Louisiana, and here Mr. Meeker passed form life at the age of eighty-two years. The mother's father was a native of Reading, Penn., and removed to Louisiana in 1770, and was one of the pioneer physicians around Baton Rouge. The maternal great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, Richard Carpenter by name, was from Providence, R. I., and was a Quaker. He resided twenty miles below Baton Rouge, and died there, having been engaged in planting, at which he acquired considerable wealth. Dr. Meeker inherits English, Scotch and Welsh blood of his ancestors and is a man of strong characteristics. Although he is no office-seeker, he is very popular with all, and was put in office in order to carry a point in legislation, which he has accomplished.