James M. Meek

JAMES M. MEEK. - Prominent among Kansas City's young attorneys is James M. Meek, who is not alone one of the able representatives of the legal profession, but who is a leader in Democratic politics and holds the office of chief deputy county attorney. This capable and discriminating lawyer and official was born at Avalon, Missouri, June 17, 1877, and is the son of William L. K. and Katherine (Wagoner) Meek. The father, who was a native of Topeka, Indiana, is yet living, but the mother who was a native of the state of Missouri, passed on to the Undiscovered Country when he whose name inaugurates this review was a child but four years of age. By that lamentable event four children were left motherless, Mr. Meek being the youngest of the number. The father was at one time a clergyman of the Christian Union church and was also active in the mercantile field in Missouri and western Kansas. The Rev. Mr. Meek, who is today a citizen of Topeka, Indiana, is a trustee of the college at Trenton, Missouri, originally the Grand River College at Edenburg, Missouri. It has at different periods of its history been known as the William Jewell College and as the Christian Union College.

Mr. Meek enjoyed the advantage of a good education, pursuing his higher studies in the Grand River Union College and in the Kansas University, and was admitted to the bar of Kansas by examination in 1901. He subsequently matriculated in the Kansas City School of Law, and was graduated from that noted institution in 1902, being then admitted to the bar of Missouri. Thus thoroughly reinforced in a theoretical way, he proudly displayed his professional shingle and entered upon an active practice of the law. He was in association with T. A. Pollack for a time and almost immediately gained recognition for attainments of high quality. He became first assistant county attorney in 1906 and was subsequently elected county attorney. Since 1909 he has held the office of chief deputy county attorney, to whose duties he has given faithful service.

Mr. Meek is a prominent member of the Kansas City (Kansas) Bar Association and is high in Masonry, having attained to the thirty-second degree and being a member of Wyandotte Lodge, No. 3, Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons, and of Caswell Consistory, No. 5. At the present time he is chairman of the Democratic City Central Committee.

On October 15, 1907, Mr. Meek became a recruit to the ranks of the Benedicts, Miss Marie Dobbins becoming his wife. Mrs. Meek is a native of Kansas City, Kansas. This happy marriage has been blessed by the birth of a son and a daughter, named James H. and Katherine W., and their home is one of the attractive spots of the city.