The Ezra Meekers Mansion is a beautiful example of late Victorian architecture. It was built by a man of importance who was involved in the Oregon Trail, hops farming in the Puyallup Valley, and a variety of other projects. Ezra Meeker’s wife, Eliza Jane, fell in love with Queen Victoria’s home in England and told him that she could build one for him. It took a year, but they eventually got it done.
Ezra Meeker’s first land claim
Ezra Meeker first staked a land claim in the Cowlitz River in 1853. He and his family later moved to the Puyallup claim with Jerry Stilly in 1862. Meeker will build a mansion on the property and it will cost $26,000. He will also give the town council the deed to Pioneer Park. In 1862, Puyallup incorporated with Meeker as mayor. However, he will lose his property during this time.
Meeker began collecting notes in 1903 for a book titled Pioneer Reminiscences of Puget Sound. The manuscript later became a book, The Tragedy of Leschi. In 1911, Meeker and Eliza celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in Puyallup.
In 1887, Meeker built a large mansion in Puyallup. The house cost $26,000 to build, and Meeker hired an Italian artist to paint the ceiling details. Meeker occupied the house for about a year and a half. Later, the family moved into the mansion. Meeker was the first mayor of Puyallup and later became postmaster. Eliza was also a major figure in the suffrage movement.
The Meekers had borrowed money to make their trip to the Pacific Northwest. Ezra Meeker and his family lost land and money on this trip. However, they did not lose hope and returned to the region. Meeker planted hops in the area to make beer. The climate was perfect for growing hops, and his crops yielded four or five times the usual amount. He then went on to the Klondike gold fields. Meeker also owned a general store and served as postmaster and mayor of Puyallup.
Meeker was a pioneer, a writer and a community leader who was very passionate about the Oregon Trail. He was a past president of the Pioneer Association of the State of Washington and the Oregon Trail Memorial Association. He also made several trips during the last two decades of his life to the Oregon Trail, where he placed historical markers. His mission was to preserve both the physical path and the memory of those who walked the Oregon Trail.
His marriage to Eliza Jane Sumner
The marriage of Ezra Meeker to Eliza Jane Sumner was celebrated on May 13, 1851. Rather than pay a wedding fee, Meeker offered to divide 300 rails with the minister in lieu of paying the fee. The marriage produced six children and lasted for 58 years. However, Eliza Jane Meeker was unhappy with the way her uncle treated her.
Ezra Meeker was born in Butler County, Ohio, and moved to Indiana as a child. In 1851, he and his family traveled to the Oregon Territory, surviving the six-month journey. They briefly lived in Portland before moving north to settle near the Puget Sound. They eventually made it to Puyallup, where they began growing hops and selling them for use in beer.
While living in Indiana, Meeker’s wife, Clara Miner, was a cook for Meeker. Clara Miner continued to live with the Meekers until her death in 1918. She was an important part of the Meekers’ life.
Despite his successful career as a merchant, Ezra Meeker was also an influential advocate for the preservation of the Oregon Trail. In his later life, he retraced his journey to the Pacific Northwest. He also served as the first mayor of Puyallup, Washington.
Meeker’s lifework was to honor the memory of those who endured the long journey and eventually settled in Oregon City. In addition to his personal dedication to the Oregon Trail, he also preserved the path’s physical remnants. This is how he became a national celebrity.
In 1853, Meeker stakes a claim on the Cowlitz river and then moves to the Jerry Stilly claim in Puyallup. In 1862, he gives the town council the deed to Pioneer Park and later on, he is elected mayor of Puyallup.
His time as mayor of Puyallup
The Ezra Meekers Mansion is a beautiful, large house that dates back to the late 19th century. The home has fifteen rooms and six fireplaces. There are also frescoed ceilings and leaded windows. Built in 1887, the home is now a historical landmark on the U.S. Register of Historic Places. It is decorated for the holidays, and features original furniture and hand-painted ceilings. In the early twentieth century, Meeker was known as the “Hop King of the World,” and he traveled the country to promote the local product.
The Ezra Meekers Mansion is now operated as a museum and event center. A group of DAR women uncovered family documents in the mansion. Among these documents was a letter from Ezra Meeker to his daughter Caroline Osborne about their 1906 trip along the Oregon Trail.
The Meekers family was a pioneer in Puyallup, and the mansion is a National Historic Landmark. The mansion was the home of the first mayor of the town, and his son was elected to a second term in 1893. The Puyallup Historical Society owns the mansion and is open for tours.
Meeker also helped start the Washington State Historical Society. He was an active member and served as president during the society’s 1903-1904 years. The museum also houses Meekers’ wagon, which is on display at the museum. You can also explore the museum’s collections, including photographs of the Meekers family. The Washington State Historical Society is a great place to visit if you are interested in local history.
Meekers Mansion was built in the late 1880s. The Meeker family left their log cabin for the mansion in 1890. Since then, many people have lived in the house, and it has even served as a nursing home and hospital. Over the years, Meekers Mansion has been carefully restored. It is now owned by the Puyallup Historical Society, and tours are scheduled regularly.
His ox-drawn wagon
The ox-drawn wagon is a reminder of Meeker’s journey from Puyallup, Washington, to Oregon Territory. Meeker was a pioneer who crossed the Oregon Trail with his young wife and seven-week-old baby in 1852. After settling in Washington, he worked as a lumberjack, longshoreman, and shopkeeper. Later, he became a hops farmer. He was interested in preserving the historic trail and made it a point to preserve it.
In 1903, Meekers arranged to have the ox-drawn wagon placed on a National Highway. He also arranged for local historical societies to put up markers commemorating Meekers’ journey. The dedication ceremonies, which were usually held in Washington, Idaho, and Wyoming, attracted large crowds. Most of the markers cost less than $100.
The ox-drawn wagon is one of the most popular exhibits at Ezra Meekers Manor. The wagon is a replica of the wagon that Meeker used to travel the Oregon Trail. It was used for various purposes, from carrying mail to transporting people from one town to another. This piece of artifact has a unique story and deserves a place in a museum.
Located in the city’s historic district, this home is a place of rich history. A collection of historical artifacts reflects the mansion’s rich and diverse history. Many of the rooms feature antique furniture. Many of the furnishings are decorated with beautiful, detailed artworks. Some even have a touch of Victorian-era flair.
A relic from Meeker’s historic trips along the Oregon Trail is now part of the mansion’s interior. The wagon’s ox-drawn design was a symbol of the man’s dedication to the Oregon Trail and history. During his life, Meeker dedicated monuments to the trail and gave history talks.
His illness
During his lifetime, Dr. Ezra Meekers helped establish the Pacific Northwest as a destination for American settlers. Besides the Mansion itself, Ezra Meekers’ daughter Kikisoblu, known as Princess Angeline, lived in nearby Puyallup. Legend has it that her ghost haunts Pike Place Market.
Ezra Meeker’s wife Eliza Jane, a native of Puyallup, became interested in the Suffragettes. She served as the Co-Vice President of the Puyallup Woman’s Equal Suffrage Association. Eliza Jane also had a passion for education. In addition to hosting numerous community events at her mansion, she also opened a lending library in 1862. In 1885, she was appointed a lady commissioner by the Governor of Louisiana. She traveled with her husband to the New Orleans Exposition in 1885.
Meeker’s illness occurred while he was in Detroit visiting Henry Ford, who offered to install better shocks in Lincoln line of cars. Meeker’s health declined and he was hospitalized in Detroit. Eventually, he was unable to travel by Oxmobile and took a train to Seattle. He died in his sleep on December 3, 1928.
Meeker also took part in the Washington State Historical Society. He was a member of this organization from 1891 to the 1930s and served as its president. In addition, he visited the Pacific Northwest several times to speak to school groups. He was one of the founding fathers of the Washington State Historical Society.
Meeker Mansion is now the home of the Ezra Meeker Historical Society. The mansion was once a log cabin. The Meekers family lived in the log cabin until the 1890s when they built the new home. Ezra Meeker lived in the mansion for several years, but his illness kept him away for extended periods. The house was eventually bought by the Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic.
