Born in Ohio in 1830, Ezra Meeker married and headed west with his wife and newborn son to seek a prosperous life. They settled in the Puyallup Valley in 1862 and developed a successful business raising hops, eventually selling hops on the world market. Later in life, Meeker developed an avid interest in commemorating the Oregon Trail route of the early pioneers. He traveled the route in his replica covered wagon, an automobile, and by train and also flew over portions of it at age 93. Meeker attempted to follow the trail for the last time in an automobile covered wagon replica. He became ill and finished his journey by train to Seattle where he died in 1928, at age 98.

Handwritten on photo: Brownell Studio Ezra Meeker [So says MOHAI, but "Brownell" is probably a typo for "Bushnell". Not legible in this scan.] Incised on photo: Ezra Meeker Oregon Trail Marker Caption information source: HistoryLink.org Essays 7742 and 7746

• Subjects (LCTGM): Pioneers--Washington (State)--Puyallup; Portrait photographs
• People: Meeker, Ezra, 1830-1928