Leo's parents were:
George Washington Meeker, b. Nov. 22, 1860 in Farmington, Fulton County, IL. and d. Jan. 21, 1927 in Alhambra, Los Angeles County, CA. &
Anna Mahoney Meeker, b. Jul. 22, 1863 in NY. and d. Jun. 23, 1949 in Los Angeles County, CA.
In Aug. 1914, Leo Martin Meeker and Melba Calve Joslyn were married.
Leo & Melba Meeker's children were:
1. George Robert Meeker, b. Nov. 2, 1918 in Garden Grove, Orange county, CA. and d. Nov. 22, 2007 in San Miguel, San Luis Obispo county, CA. George marr. Mary Bernadette Conlon.
2. Marilynn Marjorie Meeker, b. Jul. 23, 1923 in Los Angeles county, CA. and d. Jan. 19, 2002 in Arcadia, Los Angeles county, CA. Marilynn marr. Willard Anton Bochte.
According to his Jun. 5, 1917 WWI Draft Registration card, 28 yr. old Leo Martin Meeker, b. Jul. 13, 1888 in Greenwood, NE., was living in Fort Morgan, Colorado and was working as a cashier at the First National Bank. He was claiming exemption from the draft because he had a wife solely dependent upon him for support. He had not had any previous military experience.
Leo was described as medium in height and build, with brown hair and brown eyes, and no physical disability that would prevent him from serving in the military.
The Long Beach Press (Long Beach, CA.), P. 2, Col. 7
Fri., Jul. 13, 1923
Leo Meeker, Banker, Thirty-Five Today; Observance Planned
Leo M. Meeker, president of the Long Beach National bank, was thirty-five years old today, and it has been said that not only is he the youngest bank president of an institution as large as the Long Beach National on the Pacific Coast, but of the country.
Mr. Meeker was brought up in the banking business as his father was a banker also. Mrs. Meeker has planned a birthday party. Mr. Meeker's father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Meeker of Alhambra, and his aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Elder of Alhambra will be present at the celebration this evening.
On Nov. 22, 1929, 39 yr. old Leo Meeker, a Banker, residing in Los Angeles and b. in Lincoln, NE., & 28 yr. old Marie Merrifield, b. in Kansas City, MO. and residing in NY., were married in Yuma, AZ., according to AZ. County Marriage Records for 1865-1972.
The Long Beach Sun (Long Beach, CA.), P. 2, Col. 4-5
Sat., Nov. 23, 1929
Leo M. Meeker and Stage Star Bride on Honeymoon
Leo M. Meeker, who bought the Exchange National Bank at First and Pine in 1921, subsequently changing the name to the Long Beach National, and in 1924 sold the bank to the Bank of Italy, according to word that was received here last night, married at Yuma, Ariz., Marie Merrifield, a Ziegfeld star of the New York stage, and the newly-married couple is now honeymooning in Mexico. They will return to the Southland about New Year's and will make their home at Brentwood Heights.
After disposing of the bank at First and Pine to the bank of Italy, Mr. Meeker remained in Long Beach about a year. Then he bought a large piece of ground at Brentwood Heights, several acres, and built a palatial home there. After he moved from Long Beach, Mr. And Mrs. Meeker became divorced in the Reno courts.
At one time Mr. Meeker owned the First National Bank of El Monte and the First national Bank of Riverside.
After moving to Brentwood Heights, Mr. Meeker became the president of the First National Bank of Beverly Hills. He is known as a very able financier, attaining a remarkable success in the financial world of Southern California when in his thirties.
Mr. Meeker's bride attracted attention in New York while singing in a church choir. With a remarkable voice and her beauty of person Marie Merrifield was offered flattering propositions from a number of leading producers. Flo Ziegfeld finally secured her services and she leaped immediately into popularity on the stage. She has played the lead in such plays as "No, No, Nanette," "Katinka," "Hit the Deck," "Five o'Clock Girl" and the "Three Musketeers."
Mrs. Meeker is a granddaughter of Andrew Jackson.
During his residence in Long Beach, Mr. Meeker devoted his entire attention to his bank on the southeast corner of First and Pine. Under his presidency, the bank made splendid increases in deposits.
Daily News (NY., NY.), P. 353, Col. 2, and P. 358, Col. 3-4
Sat., Apr. 19, 1930
Whirlwind Showgirl Bride Blows Out of Banker's Life
Marie Merrifield Jealous of His 1st Wife, Says Meeker
Hollywood, Cal., April 18 -
Four months as the wife of a sedate Beverly Hills banker came to an explosive climax for Mrs. Marie Merrifield Meeker, former New York showgirl, when she packed her bags and fled from the exclusive suburb to a downtown Los Angeles hotel.
The one-time Miss Merrifield became Mrs. Leo M. Meeker only last November, after a whirlwind courtship of three weeks. The elderly (42 yr. old) multi-millionaire carried her off for a romantic honeymoon among the ruins of Mayan cities in Yucatan and showered her with costly gifts.
It was during this period that the ex-showgirl was prominently mentioned as one of the beauties for whom Richard Gale Brophy, deposed second-in-command of the Byrd expedition, gave up his opportunity to win fame as a polar explorer. Shortly after Brophy dropped from sight, Miss Merrifield transferred her affections to the Beverly Hills financier.
She returned from Mexico to become chatelaine of a $250,000 mansion.
Meeker told the story of the break-up today. He pictured the former showgirl as jealous of his first wife, the mother of his two children.
"When we would go to dances," Meeker said, "she would give me orders to dance only once with this or that girl, while she herself would often dance with the same man all evening. If there was a chair or other piece of furniture in our house that I particularly admired she would sneer and say it was because my first wife must have liked it, too.
"We hadn't been back from our honeymoon a week before trouble started. She left me once before but returned. This time we're through for good.
"I expect her to file suit for divorce but she will not get a cent of my money if I can help it. The California community property law will protect me."
Meeker says his wife is capable of earning at least $150 a week in her profession. Just now she is occupying herself taking music lessons with a view to trying to break into talking pictures.
Arcadia Tribune (Arcadia, CA.), P. 1, Col. 4-8
Thu., Jan. 31, 1974
Leo Meeker Services Friday
Leo M. Meeker, one of the men who made history in Arcadia and in California, passed away Jan. 28 at his home in Pasadena at the age of 85.
Locally, Mr. Meeker was best known as the founder of the Arcadia chapter of the American Red Cross. Nationally, he was known as a banker and developer.
He won a Red Cross charter for Arcadia in 1943, giving it a status independent of the Pasadena chapter. In 1953 he served as chairman of the National Red Cross Convention. He was chairman of the Arcadia board for many years, and was named chairman emeritus in 1961.
Mr. Meeker was born in Nebraska in 1888 and began his career there as a teacher. In 1913 after three years I'm engineering and contracting he decided to follow in the footsteps of his banker father. Banking took him to Oregon in 1914 and to Southern California in 1918.
He was instrumental I'm shortening public banking hours to 3 p.m. when he was president of the largest commercial bank in Long Beach. This provided the necessary time for bank employees to keep accounts in order.
As vice president of Bank of America, he retired from the business to devote his full attention to land developing. In 1919, as president of an El Monte bank, he purchased a ranch which was considered a poor risk. Today Garvey Avenue and Valley Boulevard meet on a portion of that ranch at Five Points in El Monte.
He was at various times a Chamber of Commerce director in Long Beach, El Monte, Temple City, Beverly Hills and Arcadia. He served as chairman of the World War II Office of Price Administration in Arcadia, was a director of the Arcadia Rotary Club and of the Rancho Association.
Mr. Meeker was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon, Sons of the Revolution, the State Contractors Association and American Bankers Associations.
Survivors include his wife, Helen;
one son, George R. Meeker;
one daughter, Mrs. Willard Bochte;
11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Rosary will be said this evening in the chapel of Glasser-Miller-Lamb Arcadia Mortuary. Mass will be said at St. Rita's Catholic Church, Sierra Madre, Friday at 9:30 a.m.
Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, CA.), P. 119, Col. 2
Sun., Feb. 10, 1974
Leo Meeker Rites Held; Early Builder
The Southern California building industry has lost one of its pioneers, Leo M. Meeker, whose first construction venture was homes in El Monte in 1919. Mr. Meeker died Jan. 28 in Pasadena at the age of 86. Services were held Feb. 1.
He had been active in home construction for 30 years in the San Gabriel Valley, Long Beach and Beverly Hills. In the late 1930s, he became the first subdivider in West Covina. He was a native of Nebraska and had come to California in 1918. He founded the Arcadia Red Cross Chapter.
He leaves his wife, Helen,
and a son, George, builder of Thunderbird Homes at Dana Point and Goleta.
George Washington Meeker, b. Nov. 22, 1860 in Farmington, Fulton County, IL. and d. Jan. 21, 1927 in Alhambra, Los Angeles County, CA. &
Anna Mahoney Meeker, b. Jul. 22, 1863 in NY. and d. Jun. 23, 1949 in Los Angeles County, CA.
In Aug. 1914, Leo Martin Meeker and Melba Calve Joslyn were married.
Leo & Melba Meeker's children were:
1. George Robert Meeker, b. Nov. 2, 1918 in Garden Grove, Orange county, CA. and d. Nov. 22, 2007 in San Miguel, San Luis Obispo county, CA. George marr. Mary Bernadette Conlon.
2. Marilynn Marjorie Meeker, b. Jul. 23, 1923 in Los Angeles county, CA. and d. Jan. 19, 2002 in Arcadia, Los Angeles county, CA. Marilynn marr. Willard Anton Bochte.
According to his Jun. 5, 1917 WWI Draft Registration card, 28 yr. old Leo Martin Meeker, b. Jul. 13, 1888 in Greenwood, NE., was living in Fort Morgan, Colorado and was working as a cashier at the First National Bank. He was claiming exemption from the draft because he had a wife solely dependent upon him for support. He had not had any previous military experience.
Leo was described as medium in height and build, with brown hair and brown eyes, and no physical disability that would prevent him from serving in the military.
The Long Beach Press (Long Beach, CA.), P. 2, Col. 7
Fri., Jul. 13, 1923
Leo Meeker, Banker, Thirty-Five Today; Observance Planned
Leo M. Meeker, president of the Long Beach National bank, was thirty-five years old today, and it has been said that not only is he the youngest bank president of an institution as large as the Long Beach National on the Pacific Coast, but of the country.
Mr. Meeker was brought up in the banking business as his father was a banker also. Mrs. Meeker has planned a birthday party. Mr. Meeker's father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Meeker of Alhambra, and his aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Elder of Alhambra will be present at the celebration this evening.
On Nov. 22, 1929, 39 yr. old Leo Meeker, a Banker, residing in Los Angeles and b. in Lincoln, NE., & 28 yr. old Marie Merrifield, b. in Kansas City, MO. and residing in NY., were married in Yuma, AZ., according to AZ. County Marriage Records for 1865-1972.
The Long Beach Sun (Long Beach, CA.), P. 2, Col. 4-5
Sat., Nov. 23, 1929
Leo M. Meeker and Stage Star Bride on Honeymoon
Leo M. Meeker, who bought the Exchange National Bank at First and Pine in 1921, subsequently changing the name to the Long Beach National, and in 1924 sold the bank to the Bank of Italy, according to word that was received here last night, married at Yuma, Ariz., Marie Merrifield, a Ziegfeld star of the New York stage, and the newly-married couple is now honeymooning in Mexico. They will return to the Southland about New Year's and will make their home at Brentwood Heights.
After disposing of the bank at First and Pine to the bank of Italy, Mr. Meeker remained in Long Beach about a year. Then he bought a large piece of ground at Brentwood Heights, several acres, and built a palatial home there. After he moved from Long Beach, Mr. And Mrs. Meeker became divorced in the Reno courts.
At one time Mr. Meeker owned the First National Bank of El Monte and the First national Bank of Riverside.
After moving to Brentwood Heights, Mr. Meeker became the president of the First National Bank of Beverly Hills. He is known as a very able financier, attaining a remarkable success in the financial world of Southern California when in his thirties.
Mr. Meeker's bride attracted attention in New York while singing in a church choir. With a remarkable voice and her beauty of person Marie Merrifield was offered flattering propositions from a number of leading producers. Flo Ziegfeld finally secured her services and she leaped immediately into popularity on the stage. She has played the lead in such plays as "No, No, Nanette," "Katinka," "Hit the Deck," "Five o'Clock Girl" and the "Three Musketeers."
Mrs. Meeker is a granddaughter of Andrew Jackson.
During his residence in Long Beach, Mr. Meeker devoted his entire attention to his bank on the southeast corner of First and Pine. Under his presidency, the bank made splendid increases in deposits.
Daily News (NY., NY.), P. 353, Col. 2, and P. 358, Col. 3-4
Sat., Apr. 19, 1930
Whirlwind Showgirl Bride Blows Out of Banker's Life
Marie Merrifield Jealous of His 1st Wife, Says Meeker
Hollywood, Cal., April 18 -
Four months as the wife of a sedate Beverly Hills banker came to an explosive climax for Mrs. Marie Merrifield Meeker, former New York showgirl, when she packed her bags and fled from the exclusive suburb to a downtown Los Angeles hotel.
The one-time Miss Merrifield became Mrs. Leo M. Meeker only last November, after a whirlwind courtship of three weeks. The elderly (42 yr. old) multi-millionaire carried her off for a romantic honeymoon among the ruins of Mayan cities in Yucatan and showered her with costly gifts.
It was during this period that the ex-showgirl was prominently mentioned as one of the beauties for whom Richard Gale Brophy, deposed second-in-command of the Byrd expedition, gave up his opportunity to win fame as a polar explorer. Shortly after Brophy dropped from sight, Miss Merrifield transferred her affections to the Beverly Hills financier.
She returned from Mexico to become chatelaine of a $250,000 mansion.
Meeker told the story of the break-up today. He pictured the former showgirl as jealous of his first wife, the mother of his two children.
"When we would go to dances," Meeker said, "she would give me orders to dance only once with this or that girl, while she herself would often dance with the same man all evening. If there was a chair or other piece of furniture in our house that I particularly admired she would sneer and say it was because my first wife must have liked it, too.
"We hadn't been back from our honeymoon a week before trouble started. She left me once before but returned. This time we're through for good.
"I expect her to file suit for divorce but she will not get a cent of my money if I can help it. The California community property law will protect me."
Meeker says his wife is capable of earning at least $150 a week in her profession. Just now she is occupying herself taking music lessons with a view to trying to break into talking pictures.
Arcadia Tribune (Arcadia, CA.), P. 1, Col. 4-8
Thu., Jan. 31, 1974
Leo Meeker Services Friday
Leo M. Meeker, one of the men who made history in Arcadia and in California, passed away Jan. 28 at his home in Pasadena at the age of 85.
Locally, Mr. Meeker was best known as the founder of the Arcadia chapter of the American Red Cross. Nationally, he was known as a banker and developer.
He won a Red Cross charter for Arcadia in 1943, giving it a status independent of the Pasadena chapter. In 1953 he served as chairman of the National Red Cross Convention. He was chairman of the Arcadia board for many years, and was named chairman emeritus in 1961.
Mr. Meeker was born in Nebraska in 1888 and began his career there as a teacher. In 1913 after three years I'm engineering and contracting he decided to follow in the footsteps of his banker father. Banking took him to Oregon in 1914 and to Southern California in 1918.
He was instrumental I'm shortening public banking hours to 3 p.m. when he was president of the largest commercial bank in Long Beach. This provided the necessary time for bank employees to keep accounts in order.
As vice president of Bank of America, he retired from the business to devote his full attention to land developing. In 1919, as president of an El Monte bank, he purchased a ranch which was considered a poor risk. Today Garvey Avenue and Valley Boulevard meet on a portion of that ranch at Five Points in El Monte.
He was at various times a Chamber of Commerce director in Long Beach, El Monte, Temple City, Beverly Hills and Arcadia. He served as chairman of the World War II Office of Price Administration in Arcadia, was a director of the Arcadia Rotary Club and of the Rancho Association.
Mr. Meeker was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon, Sons of the Revolution, the State Contractors Association and American Bankers Associations.
Survivors include his wife, Helen;
one son, George R. Meeker;
one daughter, Mrs. Willard Bochte;
11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Rosary will be said this evening in the chapel of Glasser-Miller-Lamb Arcadia Mortuary. Mass will be said at St. Rita's Catholic Church, Sierra Madre, Friday at 9:30 a.m.
Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, CA.), P. 119, Col. 2
Sun., Feb. 10, 1974
Leo Meeker Rites Held; Early Builder
The Southern California building industry has lost one of its pioneers, Leo M. Meeker, whose first construction venture was homes in El Monte in 1919. Mr. Meeker died Jan. 28 in Pasadena at the age of 86. Services were held Feb. 1.
He had been active in home construction for 30 years in the San Gabriel Valley, Long Beach and Beverly Hills. In the late 1930s, he became the first subdivider in West Covina. He was a native of Nebraska and had come to California in 1918. He founded the Arcadia Red Cross Chapter.
He leaves his wife, Helen,
and a son, George, builder of Thunderbird Homes at Dana Point and Goleta.
Leo's parents were:
George Washington Meeker, b. Nov. 22, 1860 in Farmington, Fulton County, IL. and d. Jan. 21, 1927 in Alhambra, Los Angeles County, CA. &
Anna Mahoney Meeker, b. Jul. 22, 1863 in NY. and d. Jun. 23, 1949 in Los Angeles County, CA.
In Aug. 1914, Leo Martin Meeker and Melba Calve Joslyn were married.
Leo & Melba Meeker's children were:
1. George Robert Meeker, b. Nov. 2, 1918 in Garden Grove, Orange county, CA. and d. Nov. 22, 2007 in San Miguel, San Luis Obispo county, CA. George marr. Mary Bernadette Conlon.
2. Marilynn Marjorie Meeker, b. Jul. 23, 1923 in Los Angeles county, CA. and d. Jan. 19, 2002 in Arcadia, Los Angeles county, CA. Marilynn marr. Willard Anton Bochte.
According to his Jun. 5, 1917 WWI Draft Registration card, 28 yr. old Leo Martin Meeker, b. Jul. 13, 1888 in Greenwood, NE., was living in Fort Morgan, Colorado and was working as a cashier at the First National Bank. He was claiming exemption from the draft because he had a wife solely dependent upon him for support. He had not had any previous military experience.
Leo was described as medium in height and build, with brown hair and brown eyes, and no physical disability that would prevent him from serving in the military.
The Long Beach Press (Long Beach, CA.), P. 2, Col. 7
Fri., Jul. 13, 1923
Leo Meeker, Banker, Thirty-Five Today; Observance Planned
Leo M. Meeker, president of the Long Beach National bank, was thirty-five years old today, and it has been said that not only is he the youngest bank president of an institution as large as the Long Beach National on the Pacific Coast, but of the country.
Mr. Meeker was brought up in the banking business as his father was a banker also. Mrs. Meeker has planned a birthday party. Mr. Meeker's father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Meeker of Alhambra, and his aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Elder of Alhambra will be present at the celebration this evening.
On Nov. 22, 1929, 39 yr. old Leo Meeker, a Banker, residing in Los Angeles and b. in Lincoln, NE., & 28 yr. old Marie Merrifield, b. in Kansas City, MO. and residing in NY., were married in Yuma, AZ., according to AZ. County Marriage Records for 1865-1972.
The Long Beach Sun (Long Beach, CA.), P. 2, Col. 4-5
Sat., Nov. 23, 1929
Leo M. Meeker and Stage Star Bride on Honeymoon
Leo M. Meeker, who bought the Exchange National Bank at First and Pine in 1921, subsequently changing the name to the Long Beach National, and in 1924 sold the bank to the Bank of Italy, according to word that was received here last night, married at Yuma, Ariz., Marie Merrifield, a Ziegfeld star of the New York stage, and the newly-married couple is now honeymooning in Mexico. They will return to the Southland about New Year's and will make their home at Brentwood Heights.
After disposing of the bank at First and Pine to the bank of Italy, Mr. Meeker remained in Long Beach about a year. Then he bought a large piece of ground at Brentwood Heights, several acres, and built a palatial home there. After he moved from Long Beach, Mr. And Mrs. Meeker became divorced in the Reno courts.
At one time Mr. Meeker owned the First National Bank of El Monte and the First national Bank of Riverside.
After moving to Brentwood Heights, Mr. Meeker became the president of the First National Bank of Beverly Hills. He is known as a very able financier, attaining a remarkable success in the financial world of Southern California when in his thirties.
Mr. Meeker's bride attracted attention in New York while singing in a church choir. With a remarkable voice and her beauty of person Marie Merrifield was offered flattering propositions from a number of leading producers. Flo Ziegfeld finally secured her services and she leaped immediately into popularity on the stage. She has played the lead in such plays as "No, No, Nanette," "Katinka," "Hit the Deck," "Five o'Clock Girl" and the "Three Musketeers."
Mrs. Meeker is a granddaughter of Andrew Jackson.
During his residence in Long Beach, Mr. Meeker devoted his entire attention to his bank on the southeast corner of First and Pine. Under his presidency, the bank made splendid increases in deposits.
Daily News (NY., NY.), P. 353, Col. 2, and P. 358, Col. 3-4
Sat., Apr. 19, 1930
Whirlwind Showgirl Bride Blows Out of Banker's Life
Marie Merrifield Jealous of His 1st Wife, Says Meeker
Hollywood, Cal., April 18 -
Four months as the wife of a sedate Beverly Hills banker came to an explosive climax for Mrs. Marie Merrifield Meeker, former New York showgirl, when she packed her bags and fled from the exclusive suburb to a downtown Los Angeles hotel.
The one-time Miss Merrifield became Mrs. Leo M. Meeker only last November, after a whirlwind courtship of three weeks. The elderly (42 yr. old) multi-millionaire carried her off for a romantic honeymoon among the ruins of Mayan cities in Yucatan and showered her with costly gifts.
It was during this period that the ex-showgirl was prominently mentioned as one of the beauties for whom Richard Gale Brophy, deposed second-in-command of the Byrd expedition, gave up his opportunity to win fame as a polar explorer. Shortly after Brophy dropped from sight, Miss Merrifield transferred her affections to the Beverly Hills financier.
She returned from Mexico to become chatelaine of a $250,000 mansion.
Meeker told the story of the break-up today. He pictured the former showgirl as jealous of his first wife, the mother of his two children.
"When we would go to dances," Meeker said, "she would give me orders to dance only once with this or that girl, while she herself would often dance with the same man all evening. If there was a chair or other piece of furniture in our house that I particularly admired she would sneer and say it was because my first wife must have liked it, too.
"We hadn't been back from our honeymoon a week before trouble started. She left me once before but returned. This time we're through for good.
"I expect her to file suit for divorce but she will not get a cent of my money if I can help it. The California community property law will protect me."
Meeker says his wife is capable of earning at least $150 a week in her profession. Just now she is occupying herself taking music lessons with a view to trying to break into talking pictures.
Arcadia Tribune (Arcadia, CA.), P. 1, Col. 4-8
Thu., Jan. 31, 1974
Leo Meeker Services Friday
Leo M. Meeker, one of the men who made history in Arcadia and in California, passed away Jan. 28 at his home in Pasadena at the age of 85.
Locally, Mr. Meeker was best known as the founder of the Arcadia chapter of the American Red Cross. Nationally, he was known as a banker and developer.
He won a Red Cross charter for Arcadia in 1943, giving it a status independent of the Pasadena chapter. In 1953 he served as chairman of the National Red Cross Convention. He was chairman of the Arcadia board for many years, and was named chairman emeritus in 1961.
Mr. Meeker was born in Nebraska in 1888 and began his career there as a teacher. In 1913 after three years I'm engineering and contracting he decided to follow in the footsteps of his banker father. Banking took him to Oregon in 1914 and to Southern California in 1918.
He was instrumental I'm shortening public banking hours to 3 p.m. when he was president of the largest commercial bank in Long Beach. This provided the necessary time for bank employees to keep accounts in order.
As vice president of Bank of America, he retired from the business to devote his full attention to land developing. In 1919, as president of an El Monte bank, he purchased a ranch which was considered a poor risk. Today Garvey Avenue and Valley Boulevard meet on a portion of that ranch at Five Points in El Monte.
He was at various times a Chamber of Commerce director in Long Beach, El Monte, Temple City, Beverly Hills and Arcadia. He served as chairman of the World War II Office of Price Administration in Arcadia, was a director of the Arcadia Rotary Club and of the Rancho Association.
Mr. Meeker was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon, Sons of the Revolution, the State Contractors Association and American Bankers Associations.
Survivors include his wife, Helen;
one son, George R. Meeker;
one daughter, Mrs. Willard Bochte;
11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Rosary will be said this evening in the chapel of Glasser-Miller-Lamb Arcadia Mortuary. Mass will be said at St. Rita's Catholic Church, Sierra Madre, Friday at 9:30 a.m.
Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, CA.), P. 119, Col. 2
Sun., Feb. 10, 1974
Leo Meeker Rites Held; Early Builder
The Southern California building industry has lost one of its pioneers, Leo M. Meeker, whose first construction venture was homes in El Monte in 1919. Mr. Meeker died Jan. 28 in Pasadena at the age of 86. Services were held Feb. 1.
He had been active in home construction for 30 years in the San Gabriel Valley, Long Beach and Beverly Hills. In the late 1930s, he became the first subdivider in West Covina. He was a native of Nebraska and had come to California in 1918. He founded the Arcadia Red Cross Chapter.
He leaves his wife, Helen,
and a son, George, builder of Thunderbird Homes at Dana Point and Goleta.
George Washington Meeker, b. Nov. 22, 1860 in Farmington, Fulton County, IL. and d. Jan. 21, 1927 in Alhambra, Los Angeles County, CA. &
Anna Mahoney Meeker, b. Jul. 22, 1863 in NY. and d. Jun. 23, 1949 in Los Angeles County, CA.
In Aug. 1914, Leo Martin Meeker and Melba Calve Joslyn were married.
Leo & Melba Meeker's children were:
1. George Robert Meeker, b. Nov. 2, 1918 in Garden Grove, Orange county, CA. and d. Nov. 22, 2007 in San Miguel, San Luis Obispo county, CA. George marr. Mary Bernadette Conlon.
2. Marilynn Marjorie Meeker, b. Jul. 23, 1923 in Los Angeles county, CA. and d. Jan. 19, 2002 in Arcadia, Los Angeles county, CA. Marilynn marr. Willard Anton Bochte.
According to his Jun. 5, 1917 WWI Draft Registration card, 28 yr. old Leo Martin Meeker, b. Jul. 13, 1888 in Greenwood, NE., was living in Fort Morgan, Colorado and was working as a cashier at the First National Bank. He was claiming exemption from the draft because he had a wife solely dependent upon him for support. He had not had any previous military experience.
Leo was described as medium in height and build, with brown hair and brown eyes, and no physical disability that would prevent him from serving in the military.
The Long Beach Press (Long Beach, CA.), P. 2, Col. 7
Fri., Jul. 13, 1923
Leo Meeker, Banker, Thirty-Five Today; Observance Planned
Leo M. Meeker, president of the Long Beach National bank, was thirty-five years old today, and it has been said that not only is he the youngest bank president of an institution as large as the Long Beach National on the Pacific Coast, but of the country.
Mr. Meeker was brought up in the banking business as his father was a banker also. Mrs. Meeker has planned a birthday party. Mr. Meeker's father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Meeker of Alhambra, and his aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Elder of Alhambra will be present at the celebration this evening.
On Nov. 22, 1929, 39 yr. old Leo Meeker, a Banker, residing in Los Angeles and b. in Lincoln, NE., & 28 yr. old Marie Merrifield, b. in Kansas City, MO. and residing in NY., were married in Yuma, AZ., according to AZ. County Marriage Records for 1865-1972.
The Long Beach Sun (Long Beach, CA.), P. 2, Col. 4-5
Sat., Nov. 23, 1929
Leo M. Meeker and Stage Star Bride on Honeymoon
Leo M. Meeker, who bought the Exchange National Bank at First and Pine in 1921, subsequently changing the name to the Long Beach National, and in 1924 sold the bank to the Bank of Italy, according to word that was received here last night, married at Yuma, Ariz., Marie Merrifield, a Ziegfeld star of the New York stage, and the newly-married couple is now honeymooning in Mexico. They will return to the Southland about New Year's and will make their home at Brentwood Heights.
After disposing of the bank at First and Pine to the bank of Italy, Mr. Meeker remained in Long Beach about a year. Then he bought a large piece of ground at Brentwood Heights, several acres, and built a palatial home there. After he moved from Long Beach, Mr. And Mrs. Meeker became divorced in the Reno courts.
At one time Mr. Meeker owned the First National Bank of El Monte and the First national Bank of Riverside.
After moving to Brentwood Heights, Mr. Meeker became the president of the First National Bank of Beverly Hills. He is known as a very able financier, attaining a remarkable success in the financial world of Southern California when in his thirties.
Mr. Meeker's bride attracted attention in New York while singing in a church choir. With a remarkable voice and her beauty of person Marie Merrifield was offered flattering propositions from a number of leading producers. Flo Ziegfeld finally secured her services and she leaped immediately into popularity on the stage. She has played the lead in such plays as "No, No, Nanette," "Katinka," "Hit the Deck," "Five o'Clock Girl" and the "Three Musketeers."
Mrs. Meeker is a granddaughter of Andrew Jackson.
During his residence in Long Beach, Mr. Meeker devoted his entire attention to his bank on the southeast corner of First and Pine. Under his presidency, the bank made splendid increases in deposits.
Daily News (NY., NY.), P. 353, Col. 2, and P. 358, Col. 3-4
Sat., Apr. 19, 1930
Whirlwind Showgirl Bride Blows Out of Banker's Life
Marie Merrifield Jealous of His 1st Wife, Says Meeker
Hollywood, Cal., April 18 -
Four months as the wife of a sedate Beverly Hills banker came to an explosive climax for Mrs. Marie Merrifield Meeker, former New York showgirl, when she packed her bags and fled from the exclusive suburb to a downtown Los Angeles hotel.
The one-time Miss Merrifield became Mrs. Leo M. Meeker only last November, after a whirlwind courtship of three weeks. The elderly (42 yr. old) multi-millionaire carried her off for a romantic honeymoon among the ruins of Mayan cities in Yucatan and showered her with costly gifts.
It was during this period that the ex-showgirl was prominently mentioned as one of the beauties for whom Richard Gale Brophy, deposed second-in-command of the Byrd expedition, gave up his opportunity to win fame as a polar explorer. Shortly after Brophy dropped from sight, Miss Merrifield transferred her affections to the Beverly Hills financier.
She returned from Mexico to become chatelaine of a $250,000 mansion.
Meeker told the story of the break-up today. He pictured the former showgirl as jealous of his first wife, the mother of his two children.
"When we would go to dances," Meeker said, "she would give me orders to dance only once with this or that girl, while she herself would often dance with the same man all evening. If there was a chair or other piece of furniture in our house that I particularly admired she would sneer and say it was because my first wife must have liked it, too.
"We hadn't been back from our honeymoon a week before trouble started. She left me once before but returned. This time we're through for good.
"I expect her to file suit for divorce but she will not get a cent of my money if I can help it. The California community property law will protect me."
Meeker says his wife is capable of earning at least $150 a week in her profession. Just now she is occupying herself taking music lessons with a view to trying to break into talking pictures.
Arcadia Tribune (Arcadia, CA.), P. 1, Col. 4-8
Thu., Jan. 31, 1974
Leo Meeker Services Friday
Leo M. Meeker, one of the men who made history in Arcadia and in California, passed away Jan. 28 at his home in Pasadena at the age of 85.
Locally, Mr. Meeker was best known as the founder of the Arcadia chapter of the American Red Cross. Nationally, he was known as a banker and developer.
He won a Red Cross charter for Arcadia in 1943, giving it a status independent of the Pasadena chapter. In 1953 he served as chairman of the National Red Cross Convention. He was chairman of the Arcadia board for many years, and was named chairman emeritus in 1961.
Mr. Meeker was born in Nebraska in 1888 and began his career there as a teacher. In 1913 after three years I'm engineering and contracting he decided to follow in the footsteps of his banker father. Banking took him to Oregon in 1914 and to Southern California in 1918.
He was instrumental I'm shortening public banking hours to 3 p.m. when he was president of the largest commercial bank in Long Beach. This provided the necessary time for bank employees to keep accounts in order.
As vice president of Bank of America, he retired from the business to devote his full attention to land developing. In 1919, as president of an El Monte bank, he purchased a ranch which was considered a poor risk. Today Garvey Avenue and Valley Boulevard meet on a portion of that ranch at Five Points in El Monte.
He was at various times a Chamber of Commerce director in Long Beach, El Monte, Temple City, Beverly Hills and Arcadia. He served as chairman of the World War II Office of Price Administration in Arcadia, was a director of the Arcadia Rotary Club and of the Rancho Association.
Mr. Meeker was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon, Sons of the Revolution, the State Contractors Association and American Bankers Associations.
Survivors include his wife, Helen;
one son, George R. Meeker;
one daughter, Mrs. Willard Bochte;
11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Rosary will be said this evening in the chapel of Glasser-Miller-Lamb Arcadia Mortuary. Mass will be said at St. Rita's Catholic Church, Sierra Madre, Friday at 9:30 a.m.
Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, CA.), P. 119, Col. 2
Sun., Feb. 10, 1974
Leo Meeker Rites Held; Early Builder
The Southern California building industry has lost one of its pioneers, Leo M. Meeker, whose first construction venture was homes in El Monte in 1919. Mr. Meeker died Jan. 28 in Pasadena at the age of 86. Services were held Feb. 1.
He had been active in home construction for 30 years in the San Gabriel Valley, Long Beach and Beverly Hills. In the late 1930s, he became the first subdivider in West Covina. He was a native of Nebraska and had come to California in 1918. He founded the Arcadia Red Cross Chapter.
He leaves his wife, Helen,
and a son, George, builder of Thunderbird Homes at Dana Point and Goleta.
Gravesite Details
Leo is buried between daughter-in-law, Mary Meeker and 3rd wife, Helen Meeker.
Family Members
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