Biography

07/12/1842 - 02/16/1919

Peter Gray Meek (D34) Centre, Clearfield, Clinton Counties 1891-1894 

Early Life:

Peter Gray Meek, born, July 12, 1842, Patton Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania; son of Reuben Heron and Mary Ann Gray Meek; teacher, Lumber City, Pennsylvania, 1856-1857; clerk and farmhand 1857-1861; junior editor, Democratic Watchman, 1861; publisher, editor, Democratic Watchman, 1862-1915; United States Patent holder, locking printer’s galley, 1867; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1868-1869; not a candidate for reelection, 1870; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1871-1872; not a candidate for reelection, 1873; unsuccessful campaign, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1873; unsuccessful nomination, Chief Clerk, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1873; unsuccessful campaign, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1875, 1876; unsuccessful campaign, United States Congress, 1878; editorial secretary, Democratic State Committee, 1882-1909; elected, Chief Clerk, Pennsylvania House of Representatives 1883-1884; elected, Chief Clerk, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1886; unsuccessful campaign, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1886; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1891-1894; presidential appointee, Surveyor, Port of Philadelphia, 1894-1902; unsuccessful campaign, Pennsylvania Auditor General, 1900; editorial secretary, Democratic State Committee, 1911-1912; married, Susanna Mary Meek children, Rachel Luella Meek, Mary Gray Meek, Elizabeth Breckenridge Meek, George Reuben Meek, Eloise Meek, Winifred Barron Meek Morris; died, February 16, 1919 (aged 76),  Bellefonte, Centre County, Pennsylvania; interment, Union Cemetery, Bellefonte, Centre County, Pennsylvania. 

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1868-1869; not a candidate for reelection, 1870. 

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1871-1872; not a candidate for reelection, 1873. 

Unsuccessful campaign, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1873. 

Unsuccessful nomination, Chief Clerk, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1873. 

Unsuccessful campaign, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1875, 1876.

Unsuccessful campaign, United States Congress, 1878. 

Editorial secretary, Democratic State Committee, 1882-1909. 

Elected, Chief Clerk, Pennsylvania House of Representatives 1883-1884.

Elected, Chief Clerk, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1886. 

Unsuccessful campaign, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1886. 

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1891-1894; committee assignments, Banks, Compare Bills, Congressional Apportionment, Federal Relations, Insurance, Legislative Apportionment.

Presidential appointee, Surveyor, Port of Philadelphia, 1894-1902.

Unsuccessful campaign, Pennsylvania Auditor General, 1900. 

Editorial secretary, Democratic State Committee, 1911-1912.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography:

Official Website - PA House Archives Official Website (state.pa.us)

Cited: 

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members M". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

Smull’s Legislative Handbook, (1893) Cochran, T.B., (Editor) Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 810, 815-817, Biographical Sketches of Senators, page 778.

P. Gray Meek (1842-1919) - Find a Grave Memorial