Résumé

J.K. Ochsner and Dennis Andersen, in their book, Distant Corner, indicated that little is known about George C. Meeker's partnership with the long-established Seattle architect, William E. Boone (1830-1921): "Information on Boone's partner, George C. Meeker, is scarce, as he never maintained a permanent residence in Seattle. From 1878 to 1883-84, and from 1888 to 1892-1893, he is listed in Oakland city directories, and from 1892-1902, he is listed in San Jose city directories. thereafter, he resided in Oakland until his death in 1919 at age sixty-nine. Meeker may have lived in Puyallup after 1884, but in March 1886, he returned permanently to California to become 'assistant architect' on a state insane asylum in San Jose. The firm still advertised as Boone and Meeker in early 1888, but by February 1889, Boone was listed alone." (See Jeffrey Karl Ochsner and Dennis A. Andersen, Distant Corner Seattle Architects and the Legacy of H.H. Richardson, [Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2003,) p. 332, note #45.)

Partner, Schulze and Meeker, Architects, San Francisco, CA, c. 1889-1890; in 1889, George C. Meeker and Henry A. Schulze had an office in San Francisco's Flood Building.

Partner, Reid and Meeker, Architects, Los Gatos, CA/San Jose, c. 1892-1895; Susan Dinkelspiel Cerny and Beth A. Armstrong wrote in An Architectural Guidebook to San Francisco and the Bay Area: "Architect Francis W. Reid, raised in the Willow Glen neighborhood of San Jose in the 1880s, set up an architectural office in Los Gatos in 1890 after graduating from the local University of the Pacific. In 1892, he and architect George C. Meeker formed the firm of Reid and Meeker. Before moving to Alameda in 1896, Reid and the firm of Reid and Meeker designed a number of significant houses [in Los Gatos}." (See Susan Dinkelspiel Cerny and Beth A. Armstrong, An Architectural Guidebook to San Francisco and the Bay Area, [Layton, UT: Gibbs Smith, 2007], p. 198.) While working in the Reid and Meeker partnership, Meeker lived in San Jose, CA, c. 1893.

Draftsman, Oakland, CA, c. 1907-1917. It is not known for whom he worked during this time. The Polk-Husted Directory Company, Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda City Directoriesof 1907, (p. 739), 1912, (p. 614), 1916, (p. 584), and 1917, (p. 901), indicated that Meeker worked as a draftsman, while that of 1918, (p. 772), did not list an occupation, suggesting, perhaps, that the architect had stopped working by that time.

Relocation

Meeker, like many architects of the 19th century following the mass-expansion of railway networks in the US, took advantage of this new technology, relocating far from his birthplace and moving periodically. Born in Union, NJ, in 1849, Meeker had arrived in CA by at least 1875 and worked in an architectural partnership with William E. Boone that had offices in both Seattle and Oakland, CA.

Before coming to CA, he lived with Josiah Meeker and his family in Roxbury, NJ; according to the US Census of 1860, the household contained seven, Josiah Meeker (born c. 1818), his wife, Catherine (born c. 1819), children Sarah (born c. 1843), Caroline (born c. 1851), snf Catherine (born c. 1857) and a servant, Mary Hulbert (born c. 1843). (See Ancestry.com, "1860 United States Federal Census for George Meeker," Source Citation: Year: 1860; Census Place: Roxbury, Morris, New Jersey; Roll: M653_703; Page: 319; Image: 318; Family History Library Film: 803703.) The 1868 City Directory of Elizabeth, NJ, (p. 187), recorded that George worked as a draughtsman and lived at 201 Elizabeth Avenue.

The US Census of 1870 recorded that Josiah was a "country merchant" ain Roxbury, and had a significant fortune, owning $10,000 in real estate and $5,000 in personal assets. In 1870, George worked as a broker's clerk. (See Ancestry.com, "1870 United States Federal Census for George Meeker,"Source Citation: Year: 1870; Census Place: Roxbury, Morris, New Jersey; Roll: M593_878; Page: 477A; Image: 378; Family History Library Film: 552377.)

Five years later, Meeker lived with his father, then 62, in Brooklyn, Alameda County. (Brooklyn was annexed to Oakland in 1872.) (See Ancestry.com, "California, Voter Registers, 1866-1898 for George Cook Meeker." Source Citation: California State Library, California History Section; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4 - 2A; CSL Roll Number: 1; FHL Roll Number: 976447.) The 1878 and 1879 Oakland City Directory (p. 333 and 350, respectively), recorded that his residence was at 1422 6th Ave., the latter volume indicating that he was living with his widowed mother. Meeker lived at 335 East 12th Street in Oakland's 7th Ward in 1888 and 1890. He had moved to San Jose, CA, by 1892, living in the city's Second Ward at 383 North 3rd Street, where he lived until at least 1896. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: California State Library, California History Section; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4 - 2A; CSL Roll Number: 126; FHL Roll Number: 977290 and Ancestry.com, 1896 CA Voter's Register, California State Library, California History Section; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4 - 2A; CSL Roll Number: 126; FHL Roll Number: 977290.)

The San Jose City Directory of 1900 (p. 300) placed him living in a residence at 232 South 2nd Street.

The 1906 Oakland City Directory (p. 336) noted that Meeker lived at 1464 7th Avenue, but worked as an architect in San Francisco; this would not be surprising given all of the building activity there in the wake of the catastrophic earthquake and fire of 04/18-19/1906.

The US Census of 1910 listed Meeker as living with is widowed sister, Annie E. Yelland, (born c. 1856 in NJ), and a servant, Sigrid Schulze, (born c. 1886 in Denmark) at 1464 7th Avenue in Oakland.Meeker was listed a “house architect” in the census.(See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: Year: 1910; Census Place: Oakland Ward 7, Alameda, California; Roll: T624_71; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 0139; FHL microfilm: 1374084, accessed 09/15/2020.)

During most of the 1910s, Meeker resided at 1924 7th Avenue in Oakland, as confirmed by 1912-1918 Polk-Husted Directory Company, Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda City Directoriesof 1912, (p. 614), 1916, (p. 584), and 1918, (p. 772.).

Parents

The Meeker Family had deep roots in NJ, and specifically, Essex County. His father, James T. Meeker, worked, according to the US Census of 1870, as a "country merchant," his mother, Joanna, maintained the household.

Biographical Notes

Meeker applied for a US Passport on 07/20/1907 to enable him to travel in Europe. His passport application stated that he intended to return to the US "within two years." He asked that his passport be forwarded to a friend or acquaintance at 245 Broadway in New York, NY.

Meeker arrived in New York, NY, on 12/09/1907 aboard the S.S. Cretic sailing from Naples, Italy. (See Source Citation: Year: 1907; Arrival: New York, New York; Microfilm Serial: T715, 1897-1957; Microfilm Roll: Roll 1057; Line: 30; Page Number: 4)

At age 57, Meeker stood 5-feet, 7-inches tall, and was was described as having a fair Caucasian complexion with an oval face, medium forehead, grey eyes, aquiline nose, medium mouth, round chin, and grey hair. (See Source Citation: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; NARA Series: Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925; Roll #: 44; Volume #: Roll 0044 - Certificates: 38214-39113, 19 Jul 1907-08 Aug 1907.)

Duane Dietz, in his typescript, Architects and Landscape Architects of Seattle, 1876-1959, n.p., called Meeker, 'George L. Meeker."

• Union, NJ (Architect's Birth)
  Union, NJ

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