Josephine Meeker

Who was Josephine Meeker?

Josephine Meeker, was a teacher and physician at the White River Indian Agency in Colorado Territory, where her father Nathan Meeker was the United States agent. On September 29, 1879, he and 10 of his male employees were killed in a Ute attack, in what became called the "Meeker Massacre". Josephine, her mother Arvilla Meeker, Mrs. Shadruck Price and her two children, were taken captive and held hostage by the Ute tribe for 23 days.

Following the rescue of the hostages, Meeker recounted her experiences at a public hearing. General Charles Adams, of the Colorado Militia that arranged the release, conducted an official investigation of the incident. Josephine Meeker's testimony provides keen insight into the experiences a white woman underwent as an Indian captive. She was the last celebrated white captive of Native Americans. Working for some time in Washington, DC and then for Senator Henry Moore Teller in Colorado, Meeker died young at age 25 of a pulmonary infection.