The Meek - Heusser - Smith (Smyth) - Clark (Clarke) Family

James Patrick Meek, son of James Meek and Mary Meachan, was born in Johnstone, Scotland in 1879. He left Scotland in 1897, sailing aboard the Ethiopia with his uncle, Thomas Meek, and he arrived in Paterson, New Jersey to join his aunt and uncle, the McCaughleys.

Martha Mary Heusser, daughter of Johann Jakob Heusser and Suzanna Huber, was born in 1887 in Uetikon, Switzerland. Her family emigrated to North Haledon, New Jersey when she was a small child.

In 1916, James and Martha were married in Our Lady of Lourdes Church, in Paterson and they eventually settled in Elizabeth, New Jersey where they raised six children: Catherine, Martha, Helen, James Joseph, and the twins, Mary and Betty.

John J. Smith (Smyth), son of Bryan Smyth and Rose Reilly, was born in Oldcastle, County Meath, Ireland in 1875. He sailed on the Germanic from Liverpool in 1900 and joined his brother, Patrick, who was already living in Elizabeth.

Mary Francis Clark (Clarke), daughter of Michael Clarke and Mary Anne Kilbride, was born in Drinaghan, County Sligo, Ireland in 1885. Accompanied by her cousin Nellie Cox, Mary departed Queenstown (Cobh) on the Campania in 1904 and also arrived in Elizabeth where several aunts and uncles already lived.

John and Mary were married in Elizabeth in 1917 and bought a home at 740 Madison Avenue where they raised their daughter Rose Mary.

James Joseph Meek and Rose Mary Smith met while attending St Mary's High School in Elizabeth. They were married at Blessed Sacrament Church in 1948 and lived first in Elizabeth before buying their home in Westfield, where they raised four children, Pat, Peg, Bob and Beth.

This is their story and the story of those who came before them.

My Family History

• Surname List


• Index of Individuals


• InterneTree


• Sources

Family Photos

• James P. Meek and Martha Heusser at their wedding (10 KB)
  April 24, 1916
• John J. Smith and Mary Clark at their wedding (5 KB)
  September 12, 1917
• James J. Meek (27 KB)
  World War II - Air Force
• Rose Mary Smith (4 KB)
  1946
• The Heussers in Switzerland about 1880 (37 KB)
  Johann (John) Heusser with his mother Susanna Muller Heusser and his sisters, Lina and Regula
• The Heussers in 1904 (59 KB)
  Back Row: John, Martha, Lena; Front Row: Susanna, Fred, Johann (John)
• The Heusser sisters (37 KB)
  Lena and Martha
• Catching the bouquet at Helen Meek's wedding 1945 (37 KB)
  Front: Betty and Mary Meek; Middle: Martha Meek Fitzpatrick, Martha Heusser Meek, Kate Meek McDonach; Back: May Heusser, Kate & Mary McCaughley

Family Tree Maker Reports and Trees

• Descendant Tree of John Meek (PDF Format)


• Descendant Tree of James Martin (PDF Format)


• Descendant Tree of Eugene (Owen) Kilbride (PDF Format)


• Descendant Tree of Hans Jacob Huber (PDF Format)

Related Links

• The earliest reference to the surname Meek in Ireland
• Why the Meeks may have left Ireland to go to Scotland