Ezra Meeker

By: Ava Mullen

Photo Credits: Wikipedia

Discovering my Roots

When I was in fourth grade, my Papa picked me and my sister up to spend the night at his house. In the car, we were having a casual small talk about how our days were and he asked what I was learning about in school. I told him we were learning about the Oregon Trail, and he immediately started telling me about my great great great great great grandpa, Ezra Meeker, a good man who dedicated his life to others and the Oregon Trail! After learning this information, the next Monday in class I made sure to tell everyone about my very great grandpa Ezra Meeker.

Photo Credits: : "The Archways"

The Oregon Trail

The Oregon Trail was a main emigration path between Missouri and Oregon. Different branches on the trail lead to destinations like California and Utah. The trail was a 2,000 mile journey across mountains, rivers, plains, and more. The Oregon Trail was an important route used by thousands of immigrants to get to Western America between the early 1840s and the 1860s. It passed through a variety of challenging terrain, including Native American territories.On the trail, pathways between or around large mountain ways were key for safety.

Photo credits: "History Collection"

The trail was so popular for many different reasons. In the east, the lack of farmland and economic opportunities were starting to cause numerous problems and issues. People were drawn westward by the prospects of finding new land, gold, and better farming.The pioneers sought out for a new and free life.

Although the trail brought freedom and riches to many, pioneers still had numerous factors to consider before their journey. Diseases like yellow fever and malaria were commonly spread and killed 6-10% of travelers. Other common causes of death were gunshot wounds, drowning, weather, and even just accidents. Many families endured extreme hardships and the losses of their loved ones along the way. Furthermore, the high cost of supplies and transportation meant that not everyone could afford to make the journey.

Early Life

Even before his time on the Oregon Trail, Ezra had an eventful life. On December 29th, 1830, Ezra Meeker was born near Huntsville, Ohio, on his family farm. After the tragic death of his father, his family moved to Indiana, where Ezra worked on his farm and learned values of hard work and perseverance. In 1851, Ezra married his neighbor, Eliza Jane Summers, who he later had 6 kids with and was married to for 58 years.In April of 1852, Ezra, Eliza, and their newborn son took the trail from Indiana to Portland, Oregon. They later founded the town of Puyallup in the area surrounding their cabin.

Young Ezra, Photo credits: History Link

Ezras hop branch: "History link" Ezras mansion: "Vickie Jennings"

Overtime, Ezra started selling and planting hops for beer. His crops flourished, making him and his family extremely wealthy. He opened a hop branch in London, and started selling hops on the world market. He eventually became known as the “Hops King” of the world. Ezra hired over 1,000 employees and found different ways to perfectly maintain crops. He was selling more than 100,000 hops a year. In 1892 a parasite killed all of his cops, causing an end to his business.

Saving the Oregon Trail

Ezra Meeker played a huge role in preserving the legacy of the Oregon Trail through his passion and advocacy. After experiencing the trail firsthand, Ezra became committed to making sure that its historical significance wouldn’t be forgotten. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, parts of the trail faced destruction due to modernization and development. Ezra went on many trips to raise awareness of the situation and preserve the trail's memory. Ezra's flight over the Oregon trail.

He went on several trips across the country, including a famous trip in 1906, where he retraced the Oregon Trail in a covered wagon at age 76. This journey drew attention to its importance and the need for its preservation. Another remarkable journey of Ezras was when he flew over the Oregon Trail at the age of 93. This was a bold and innovative move for the time period that gained a lot of attention from the public. Ezra, his grandson, and his pilot Oakley Kelly made their journey across the trail in 1924, stopping at various different landmarks along the way.

Ezra in his plane: "The Columbian"

Ezra also used many different platforms, like lectures, books, and articles, to advocate for the trail's preservation and to raise funds for the cause. His efforts eventually led to the establishment of the Oregon Trail Memorial Association and also helped to designate the Oregon Trail as a National Historic Trail. Ezra helped ensure that future generations would also be able to appreciate the trail and its rich American history.

Photo credits: History Link

Timeline of Ezras Life

Made by me on canva

Ezras Legacy

My Papa and Nonna at the Meeker Mansion, Photo credits: My mom

In conclusion, Ezra Meeker represents hope, perseverance, passion and truly embodies the true American pioneer spirit. Not only is he important to the history of the United States, but also to me and my family. As I reflect and learn more about his legacy, I am reminded of the importance of honoring and learning about my past. Ezra reminds me to never give up, and that if I want to do something I believe in, I should. Overall, learning about Ezra helped me understand my past and family history more.

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