Who is Joseph Nathan ‘Sleeps with Bears’ Meeker?
Joseph Nathan Meeker is a fictional character in my Michelle Tanner series of stories. There are several real people the character was modeled after. The first is John Adams, not the 2nd President of the United States of America, but still a New Englander, born in 1812, who became better known as Grizzly Adams. The name Sleeps with Bears comes from Adams’s habit of sometimes cohabiting with a few bears.
Then, there was a western pioneer, Joseph Lafayette “Joe” Meek, who settled in Oregon and became a lawman. Born in Washington County, Virginia, he died in Hillsboro, Oregon. Meek was the Oregon Territorial Federal Marshal. I also threw in a bit of Heck Thomas, a deputy US Marshal who served under Judge Isaac Parker—the infamous ‘Hanging Judge.’ Along with a few other lawmen, mountain men, and pioneers thrown into the mix for good measure.
Much of Meeker is cut from the tapestry of stories I heard about people who are not so famous. People you would have never heard of. His ability to tell a tall yarn is culled from my father and his mischievous brothers. Yes, sir, it is certain Meeker inherited that ability of confabulation inflation from my dad, along with a good-natured manner, slowness to anger, and keen ability to measure people’s intentions. My father had this way of looking at you, listening to you, and he’d know immediately if I’d told the truth.
Meeker’s love of the outdoors is mine. I could have been happy living in those days. Nothing is better than climbing high in the Rockies and looking out over God’s handiwork. Alone with just your thoughts, the sounds of the wind in the trees, a babbling brook, and animals all around you, wondering just what the heck you’re doing in their world. It’s pretty much a religious experience.
Joseph Nathan Meeker craves both solitude and companionship. Sounds contradictory, doesn’t it? It isn’t, you know. To him, having those around whom you love for companionship while shutting out the rest of the world would be glorious. Nathan’s first love was a bear. Yeah, a bear. Not in any carnal sense, but he stumbled into her life one cold day, and he was never the same afterward. The bear moved in and out of his life for twenty years.
Oh, so you know, you can call Mr. Joseph Nathan Meeker by any of the following: Deputy US Marshal Meeker, Marshal, Meeker, Nate, Nathan, Sleeps with Bears, or Old Feller. But never, ever call him Joe or Joseph. I’m not sure why, but he just doesn’t like that.
Read about Meeker and all the other characters going west in Michelle Tanner's Going West. I post another part on Mondays until all eight parts are up. Or you can cut the line and buy Michelle Tanner Going West at Bookapy/ZBookStore today. Full disclosure, I make money when you buy the story rather than read for free. But that's your choice, and I'm fine whichever way you go!
It's here on SOL, Michelle Tanner Going West.