Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-03-14
CAPT. MEEKER IS
BORNE TO GRAVE
Private Funeral Service for Of
ficer Who Distinguished
Himself in Navy.

Funeral services for Captain Edward
Percy Meel1er, L. S. ". native of
this city was held in private today
at the home of his son, George r.
Meel1er of 178 Hancock street, Brook
Ign. Rev. A. w f. Darlington will
| officiate in the absence of the rector
of st. AIMS Episcopal Church, on the
Heights, of which Captain Meeker
was a member.
Captain Meeker was seventy-eight
years old. He died yesterday at the
home of his son, with whom he had
lived since last Christmas, the day
on which the captains wife was
buried. The captain was operated
upon year ago for cancer at the
Brooklyn Naval Hospital. He was a
member of the family of Meekers who
We're among the Oldest residents of
Essex county.
In addition TO the son with whom
he lived, Captain MeelSer is survived
by three grandchildren. Alfred L.,
George r. jr.. and Miss Elinor Meeter.
Captain Meeker was born in this
city in 1886, the son of William Lewis
and F. V. Francisco Meeker. He was
of the eighth generation of Meekers
in this country, and the home of
William Meeker, the founder of the
family, is still standing at Lyons
Farms. Captain Meeker's great
grandfather, Jonathan Meeker, was
captain of the Essex Troop In the
Revolutionary War.
Captain Meeker entered the United
States navy on August g. 1859, as cap
tain's clerk on the United States
frigate Congress, IN the Brazil squad
ron. He was then made flag officers
0larly tho AJinnacnfa %
Atlantic blockading squadron, during
1862, and afterward commanded a
section of howitzers in General Nc
Cooks batteries at the battles of
Roanoke Island, Fort Thompson and
Newbern, N, c., being especially COM
mended on the field by General Burn
side for gallant conduct at Fort
Thompson.
He was appointed a second lieu-
tenant of marines June ID, 1862. and
led battalion of marines at Morris
and Folly Islands, S. c., in the cap
ture of Fort Wagner in 1853. He was
made a first lieutenant in 1864. and
transferred to the flagship Colorado
of the North Atlantic blockading
squadron. where he served during
1S64-5. He was breyted captain
January IA. 1865, for gallant and meri-
torious conduct at the capture of Fort
Fisher He then went on the flag
ship Colorado of the European squad
ron for two years. became the fleet
marine officer of Pacific station in
1926, and was promoted to a cap
taincy in 1877, and was fleet marine
officer of the South Atlantic squadron
during 1879-S2. going with the Pan
anna expedition in 1884. He was In
charge of the receiving ship Vermont
during fSS8-90, at the navy yard,
Brooklyn. and the recruiting rendez.
vous, New York city. for two years.
He was with the Chicago at the
North Atlantic station from 1892 until
his retirement, March Is. 1993 on his
own application, after thirty years
continuous service.
Captain Meeker was on October g.
1892, sent from the Chicago to protect
the United States consular office In
La Guayra, Venezuela, during the
troubles in that city. When he re-
turned to the Chicago he reported that
several of the men had been drunk
and dlsorderly. On the strength OF
his official report he was reprlmanded
The report showed that the LIQUOR
had been given to the men by con-
sular employee, In spite of the fact
that, at Captain Meeker's request. the
consular employees had been warned
against doing so. The excellence OF
Captain Meeker'S conduct in la
Guayra was shown by the fact that
the consul, Philip @. Hanna, requested
his department to notify the Navy
Department of the captains splendid
services, and that other consular Of
ticers were glad TO find shelter at
the American consulate during the
trouble.
Considerable surprise was caused by
the reprimand of Captain Meeker.
Then came the news that Admiral
Walker had ordered him court-mar-
tailed. His fellow officers decided that
he had already been sufficiently hu
inflated, but the admiral insisted,
and the court met and sentenced Cap
tain Meeker to a years suspension
with pay. The decision of the court
martial was reversed by Secretary Of
the Navy Benjamin r. Tracy.
When Burnsides command landed
at Newbern, N. c., in 1865, Captain
MeelSer accompanied them with 100
men, who were attacked by the Con-
federates. He signaled for reinforce
ments and was ordered to stay at his
post till the last man. When General
Burnside reached them but three men
were found alive. One of the three
was Captain Meeker 1t was then he
was made a second lieutenant. The
court martial in 1892 was the first
instance of the kind on record.