BIOGRAPHY: DAVID W. MEADOW, Madison County, GA ***************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.rootsweb/ Submitted by Mary Love Berryman - marylove@tyler.net and Jeanne Arguelles - ejarguelles@msn.com 17 April 2002 ***************************************************************** "Memoirs of Georgia: Containing Historical Accounts of the State's Civil, Military, Industrial and Professional Interests, and Personal Sketches of Many of Its People" Vol. 1 & 2, Atlanta, Georgia: The Southern Historical Association, 1895 DAVID W. MEADOW, one of the leading lights of the bar of northeastern Georgia, was born in Madison county in 1852, and is a son of Berry J. and Elizabeth (Williford) Meadow. Mr. B. J. Meadow was born in Oglethorpe county and was a big land and slave-owner, and for years sheriff of Madison county. He was a strict observer of the teachings of the Baptist church and remained in Madison county until his death. He was married to Elizabeth Williford, of the Williford-King family, of Virginia, who took up their home in Georgia at an early day and lived in Madison county. The grandfather of Mr. D. W. Meadow was Isaac Meadow, the grandson of an Englishman who was the founder of the Meadow family in America, settling first in Virginia and afterward moving to Georgia. The great-grandfather, great-grandmother and two twin children were killed by the Indians soon after coming to Georgia. Mr. D. W. Meadow was born and grew to manhood on the farm. His father died when he was about two and one-half years old, leaving his mother and eight children. The war between the states left the family little but the old plantation. His widowed mother being then unable to give him the educational advantages desired young Meadow determined to educate himself. After working on the farm for several years, taking advantage of the village school in the meantime, he taught school, successfully making the means to attend the university of Georgia, from which he graduated in 1881. He then entered the law school of that institution, graduating there from in 1882. Of the college societies he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Upon entering the university he became a member of the Phi Kappa Literary society and in three weeks thereafter was elected as a public debater on the spring debate. He was elected one of three champion debaters, receiving the highest vote, from the Phi Kappa society in 1881, and that society was at the debate at commencement successful over the Demosthenian society for the first time in five years. He has ever felt a deep interest in education, has served on the county board of education and is now and has been for some time a trustee of Danielsville academy. In 1886 he married Susie A., daughter of W. C. and Ella C. (Mitchell) Colbert. Mr. Colbert was born in Madison county and moved to Athens, where he became a prominent merchant. To Mr. and Mrs. Meadow have been born three children, two of whom are living, Hilda and Will King. The mother was born in Madison county in 1862 and is a sincere and active member of the Methodist church and a graduate of the famous Lucy Cobb institute, Athens, Ga. Mr. Meadow is a Mason and is at present worshipful master of the lodge in Danielsville. In 1894 he was elected to the legislature, being the first lawyer sent to that body from Madison county in forty years, there having been a deep-set prejudice against the profession. He at once took a prominent place among the law-makers of Georgia and was appointed to the important committees of general judiciary, finance, railroads, journals, penitentiary and various special committees, including those of the State Normal and Industrial college and the university. Mr. Meadow is a self-made man and one who can look over his honorable and prosperous career with pride, knowing his achievements are the result of his own efforts. His close application to his profession, his studious habits and fine mental attainments have established him a reputation among the courts of the state as one of the great lawyers of Georgia.