MEEKS The never-ending mystery part two

 Here is the continuation of the Meeks story provided by Gregg L. K. Leeser on April 18, 2013.  Again, I cannot verify the accuracy, but I did not want the story lost in case some or all of it is accurate. Perhaps Mr. Leeser or his family will find us again and be able to provide the documentation. 

From Gregg L. K. Leeser April 18, 2013

Samuel Meeks (the elder) born 1788. He was illiterate and in 1850 did not know his place of birth. In 1860 he gives it as Tennessee. I have also seen records which have given it as Kentucky and Virginia. He was NOT killed during the Civil War and did not serve and was not sent to a prisoner of war camp. One very badly written book mistakenly states that Samuel Meeks of the 11th KY Cav died in Camp Douglas. The 11th KY Cav was formed in Madison County, KY and only about 8 men joined up when that unit was based in Monticello. One of these was the younger Samuel Meeks, who I hope I've shown did not die during his time in captivity. Samuel Meeks (the elder) would have been around 75 years old at the time and as he had already given up his children because of his inability to care for them, I doubt that he went marching off to war. Additionally, there is not one record that I am aware of that suggests he did. Wayne County, also has a great deal of pride in their soldiers and they have nothing that lists him as having served either. His wife: Polly Ann Buttram She was born ca. 1824 in Kentucky, the daughter of Emsley Buttram and Elizabeth Chriswell. There is no date of death for her. I have seen many people list her date of death as 1855??? The only possibilities I have seen are that a Mary Ann Meeks is listed in the 1860 Mortality Schedule (Polly usually is a nickname for Mary, but NOT ALWAYS) I'm not ready to just grab the first possibilty. Also, in the Wayne County, KY courthouse there is a pretty numerous file which gives details in Samuel Meeks (the elder) all but giving up his three children as he could not take care of them. This took place after the 1860 Census and it would therefore be unlikely that if Polly died in 1855, that he would have held on to them that long as the children would have actually be easier to care for and more help as they matured. Although unlikely, there is always the possibility that she just left. There is nothing that I am aware of that either says she is dead and when she died. (per paperwork at Wayne County KY courthouse re: children of Samuel Meeks, Census records, mortality schedule, the pictures of who Samuel Meeks the younger referred to as his foster parents formerly held by Agnes Kuethe Peterson, etc)

Known children of Samuel Meeks and Polly Ann Buttram (of there were others they either died at a very young age or were not living in the same household in 1850 and 1860 (per Census Records):
1.Samuel Meeks (information above as Samuel Meeks the younger)
2. King Solomon William Meeks ca 1850 - (?)
married Leander Arthur.
3. Vianna Meeks 15 Jul 1854 - 01 Apr 1923 married Theophilus Pennington
The children can be verified by the abovementioned court documents on file at the Wayne County, KY courthouse. King and Vianna may sound like odd names, but in that area and with the families with the surname Meeks they are not. There is nothing that can confirm which of the two King Meeks is the one who died in Pulaski Co. KY. Although Vianna Meeks Pennington has a death certificate with incorrect information, her children's records list her correctly as Vianna Meeks. My grandfather would speak of Uncle King Meeks of Burnside, KY. and Clay Meeks...that is all I have to go on)
Samuel Meeks (the elder). I refer to him as that because I have seen nothing that would indicate who his parents were. He could have a father named Samuel. I have seen people list Adam or Asa and some other names for his parents. Any of the one's listed on other's charts would require that both parents be under 10 years of age at the time Samuel Meeks (the elder) was born. Not likely. Also, with the family being illiterate and not land owners it is not likely that there are many documents out there pertaining to them. Meeks is not considered a Wayne County surname per the Historical Society and other surrounding areas need to be combed through. Also, it is possible, but not a given, that the elder Samuel Meeks had previously been married anywhere from once to who knows how many times. This is not proven fact, just things to think about.
A quick note about Emsley Buttram and Elizabeth Chriswell. Someone got the idea that Emsley Buttram was married twice and had a middle intial of 'A'. Neither is the case. There are two Emsley Buttrams, however, they also appear in two Censuses at the same time in the same county. This person didn't bother to look at anything to closely. Emsley A. and Emsley Buttram are almost 15 years different in age. Emeley is married to Elizabeth Chriswell and Emsley A. is married to Nancy. Emsley Buttram was born in North Carolina and Emsley A. was born in Virginia. The differences are obvious. Emsley Buttram did not die in 1860 as he is alive and well in 1870 still living with his wife Elizabeth. Know clue where that one came from. Neither Emsley Buttram nor Elizabeth, his wife, appear in Wayne Co, KY in the 1880 Census. Also, other than the parents of Emsley and his paternal grandparents, anything else about the Buttrams and Pattersons is just conjecture. If the DAR won't asccept it, I certainly wouldn't. Elizabeth Chriswell: someone found a death record for a Margaret Redenhouse in Wayne Co., KY whose parents are listed as William and Elizabeth Chriswell and that she was born in Rowan Co., NC. Suddenly with no proof, William and Elizabeth Chriswell were crowned the parents of Elizabeth Chriswell Buttram. As there is not just one Buttram family in Wayne Co., KY, I didn't know that sharing a maiden name with someone automatically made them your sister. There is nothing that I have seen that indicates that Elizabeth and Margaret Chriswell are sisters and therefore that William and Elizabeth Chriswell are the parents of Elizabeth Chriswell. Genealogy can not be a guessing game or just a data entry job where information posted by strangers is taken as fact and entered.
I have a lot of extranious information about the Meeks/Harris/West families that make some odd connections in Madison/Wayne/Pulaski Counties in Kentucky and several Missouri Counties. I personally can't determine the exact relationships and such, but am happy to brainstorm if someone has any ideas. Thanks.
Gregg L. K. Leeser