Meeks, William Newton, 1821-1899.

William Newton Meeks (1821-1899) saied from New York around Cape Horn to Valparaiso, Chile, in 1839 to help his brother, Robert Smelt Meeks, in his commercial business in Bolivia. After many political disruptions, Robert moved to Valparaiso, followed by William, who soon left by ship for the California Gold Rush. He entered the real estate business in San Francisco and married Abigail Livia Martha Davis, who had come to California as a schoolteacher. In 1871, Abigail took their four children to be educated first in Philadelphia and then in Lausanne, Nice and finally Paris. After her death in 1876, William and the children returned to California.

From the description of Papers of William Newton Meeks, 1792-1973. (Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens). WorldCat record id: 122551741