The Inspiration for Mickey!

 One of America’s most iconic images is that of Mickey Mouse, the beloved cartoon character that became the Disney mascot. For generations, Mickey and his adventures have symbolized fun, childhood, laughter, happiness, and joy. The inspiration for Mickey began with Clifton Meek born in Fremont in 1888. Clifton was the son of George and Harriet (Mourer) Meek. At the age of 17, Clifton was working for the Wheeling and Lake Erie Railroad as a telegrapher. Hoping for a better career, Meek attended Cleveland School of Art. He soon found work as a cartoonist for the Scripps-McRae Syndicate in San Francisco.

                                                               

Johnny Mouse by Clifton Meek

Johnny Gruelle, Meek’s friend and creator of “Raggedy Ann"  books, convinced Meek to join him in Norwalk, Connecticut. Meek and his family headed east, settling in nearby Silvermine. It was here that Meek created the 4-panel strip titled “The Adventures of Johnny Mouse” as a pantomime comic. Johnny Mouse eventually  wore pants, shoes, sported large ears, and took part in all sorts of antics. Meek’s “Johnny Mouse” was syndicated from 1913 to 1915. He also created “George Grindstone” and “Nobody” for the “New York Evening Journal” and the “New York World.” By the 1920s, Meek had become a freelance artist producing “funny animal” comics that appeared in “Puck,” “Judge,” and “Life” magazines.

                                                               

Raggedy Ann by Johnny Gruelle

Meek grew tired of cartoons and knew it was time for a change. He wrote, “I felt like I was in a factory. I began to see George Grindstone in my dreams.” Clifton bought a forge and began a successful career creating ironwork that he sold throughout the region, becoming part of the Silvermine Artists Guild.

 

Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse

                                                  

In 1944, Meek got the surprise of his life when he read a Walt Disney interview. Walt told that between the ages of five and ten, he had lived on a Missouri farm where he learned what farm animals looked like…  “It was those early childhood days that the first faint glimmering of mouse fascination dawned on Disney.” Then Walt Disney is quoted as saying “there was a man named Clifton Meek who used to draw cute little mice and I grew up with those drawings…. They were different from ours, but they had cute ears.”

 

Clifton was delighted to learn that he had ignited the spark of inspiration for Mickey. After writing Disney a note of thanks, Meek received an autograph picture signed in appreciation. In a 1950s interview, Ub Iwerks, a partner of Disney in the early days, also confirmed that Meek’s mouse cartoons were their inspiration. The animated short film “Steamboat Willie,” drawn exclusively by Iwerks, debuted in 1928. Mickey Mouse became an instant hit. And, as they say, “the rest is history!”

Ironically, Clifton Meek’s granddaughter came to Ohio to attend Heidelberg University and made Tiffin her home where she lives today.