Chatham County GaArchives Biographies.....Meldrim, Peter Wiltberger 1848 - living in 1913
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Author: William Harden
p.701-703

   GEN. PETER WILTBERGER MELDRIM. One of the distinguished members of the bar of
Georgia, Gen. Peter Wiltberger Meldrim, was born in Savannah, December 4, 1848,
the son of Ralph and Jane (Fawcett) Meldrim. His earlier education was acquired
in Chatham Academy and under private tutors, and he was graduated with honors
from the academic department of the University of Georgia in 1868, being the
anniversary orator of the Phi Kappa Society. He graduated from the law
department of the University of Georgia in 1869, and during the following winter
began the practice of his profession in Savannah. He went steadily and rapidly
to the front, winning a large and lucrative clientele, and two days before the
state election of 1881 was nominated for state senator and was elected, serving
in that office for two terms. A writer, in summing up Mr. Meldrim's legislative
service, said: " It was active, brilliant and of a high order. He was ever ready
to give his vote and his voice to those measures or to those statutes which
seemed to him to be essential to individual and public welfare. In all his acts
he reflected the liberality and intelligence of his constituents, and for this
was beloved and admired by all who witnessed his course. As chairman of the
committee on military affairs, he was indefatigable in his labors in lie-half of
perfect organization, equipment and discipline of the volunteer troops of the
state. His speeches on this subject before the committee and in the senate, were
models of eloquence and logic. Then, when the bill to make tuition forever free
at the State University was put upon its passage and the measure was violently
opposed, he came to its rescue fearlessly and grandly, aiding materially in
bringing about the happy result of its triumphant passage. His constituents and
the people of Georgia have reason to be proud of his talents and character.”

   For several years General Meldrim was associated with Col. William Garrard in
the practice of law, but for some years past the former has maintained his
office and practice individually. He is an eminently successful lawyer, and in
many of the decisions of Georgia, where General Meldrim's cases are involved,
there are distinct compliments from the supreme bench. During a long period he
was connected actively with the military establishment of the state. Although a
youth, he reported for duty to Capt. William S. Chisholm at the time of
Sherman's advance on the city in December, 1864, and was made corporal in the
home guards organized by Captain Chisholm, serving in the trenches on the right
of the line near the river and doing guard duty in the city. In later years he
enlisted originally as a private in the historic Georgia Hussars, and was
promoted to second lieutenant in January, 1889. Subsequently he became adjutant
of the First Squadron of Georgia Cavalry, of which later he was promoted to
major. From this rank he was advanced to lieutenant-colonel of the regiment, and
was made colonel in February, 1900. He became brevet brigadier-general of the
Georgia state troops in July, 1906, and brigadier-general commanding the Georgia
state troops on September 24, 1907.

   In 1891 General Meldrim was elected alderman, and in January, 1897, he was
elected mayor of Savannah, and gave the city an efficient and creditable
administration, during which much municipal improvement was carried out,
particularly in street paving. In addition the jail was added to the police
barracks and some new buildings were erected for the fire department. He has
been president of the Hibernian Society since 1875; is ex-president of the
alumni society of the University of Georgia and of the State Bar Association,
and has for many years been a member of the board of trustees for the
university. General Meldrim first suggested the erection of the monument to
Sergeant Jasper, in Madison Square, Savannah, and then co-operated in the
efforts which brought about the building of this memorial. In the American Bar
Association he is chairman of the committee on jurisprudence and law reform, and
he is one of the commissioners on uniformity of laws for the state of Georgia.

   General Meldrim has achieved wide fame for his eloquence as a speaker; a
reputation that had its beginning in his college days. Besides possessing the
most pleasing oratorical graces, his addresses indicate deep scholarship and a
wide range of reading and assimilation. Some of them are models of thought, form
and diction. He has delivered notable speeches before the American Bar
Association, as well as the Georgia and other state bar associations; also a
large number of literary, historical and miscellaneous addresses. Upon the
occasions of the presence of distinguished personages in the city, or in the
formalities of extending invitation to such to be Savannah's guests, General
Meldrim usually is chosen as the speaker to voice the city's welcome.

  General Meldrim belongs to the Masonic and other orders. He is a member of the
Oglethorpe Club, Capital City Club of Atlanta, Hussars Club, Yacht Club and the
University clubs of Atlanta and Savannah, of the latter of which he is
president. He was married June 30, 1881, to Miss Frances P. Casey, daughter of
Dr. Henry E. and Caroline (Harris) Casey, of Columbia county, Georgia, and a
grand-niece of Maj. John McPherson Berrien, who was one of Savannah's
distinguished citizens of former years. General and Mrs. Meldrim have four
children, namely: Caroline Louise, Frances Casey, who married Col. G. Noble
Jones, Sophia d'A, and Jane. The Meldrim residence in Savannah is one of the
most beautiful and stately homes in the South. It is possessed of historic
interest from the fact that it was the headquarters of General Sherman upon the
occupation of the city by the Federal army in December, 1864.



Additional Comments:
A HISTORY OF SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA
BY
WILLIAM HARDEN

VOLUME I
ILLUSTRATED
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
CHICAGO AND NEW YORK
1913

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