Madison County GaArchives Memorial.....David W. Meadow July 25 1918 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Christine Crumley Brown November 8, 2003, 12:10 pm Source: Superior Court, Madison County, GA Written: July 25 1918 Recorded: July 25 1918 MEMORIAL OF THE HON. DAVID W. MEADOW Report of the Committee: To the Hon. The Superior Court of Madison County, Georgia. The Committee appointed to prepare and report a memorial commemorative of the life, character and service of the Hon. David Wilson Meadow, respectively submits the following: The Meadow family has been prominent in the section for many generations. David Wilson Meadow was born in Madison County, Georgia, near Danielsville, on March 22, 1852. His father, Berry J. Meadow was prominent in the affairs of the county, and filled a number of offices. His mother, Elizabeth Williford Meadow was noted for her charitable interest in all persons in need. Her husband died when her children were small, and the responsibility of rearing them devolved on her. She lived on her farm and there raised her children and taught them much that was useful in after life. David Wilson Meadow (w)as the youngest son. During his boyhood and young manhood, he attended the local schools and participated in the sports common to the country at that period. He loved music, and was exceedingly popular with the youth of his day, in consequence of his ability to make music and of his genial social gifts. While this was true, the music of the hound chasing the fox was equally as dear and attractive. Judge Meadow came on at that period of the South when parents and children alike were poor. An ambition for an education was burning in him early. The devastation of a Civil War rendered his mother unable to gratify this ambition. When quite a young man, he determined to complete his education and with that end in view, launched out for himself. He taught a number of schools, from the proceeds of which, the attended school. He prepared for college at Dahlonega and entered the University of Georgia in the fall of 1879 as a Junior, and graduated in August 1881 with the degree of Bachelor or(f) Arts. During that summer he devoted himself to the study of law and entered the University Law School in the fall and graduated therefrom in February 1882, and was admitted to the Bar in the Superior Court at Jefferson, Jackson County, Georgia during the same month; and located immediately at Danielsville, where he began the practice of law. While he was thirty years old when he came to the bar, yet his time had been well spent, and he came already familiar with many things usually learned by lawyer during his practice. He went almost at once into a full practice, and for years represented on side of every case of importance in the count, besides doing a considerable practice in adjoining counties. He represented his county in the General Assembly in 1894 and 1895. In the fall of 1900, he was elected Solicitor General and again elected in 1904 and held the office until the fall of 1908, when he was elected Judge of the Superior Courts of the Northern Circuit. He resigned as Judge in March 1916 and retired to the general practice of law, which he continued until his death, which occurred on December 18, 1917 in Athens, Georgia, where he was temporarily, when taken sick. On October 3, 1886, Judge Meadow was married to Miss Susie Alberta Colbert. They had born to them five children. The first, David W. Jr., died in infancy. The second, Miss Hilda Meadow, who is now in the services of her country in Washington, D.C. The third, William King Meadow, who is now Captain of one of the United States Companies on the front in France. Fourth, Mrs. Kathaline Meadow Brown. Fifth Harold Letcher Meadow, who is a student at Annapolis. Judge Meadow, for the convenience of the Circuit, moved to Elberton son after he was elected Judge, and was residing there at the time of his death. But he never lost his fondness for the County of his birth. He was proud of Madison County and her people and of her history. He was always concerned for the progress of her people in all things pertaining to their wellbeing. Jud(g)e Meadow was noted for his energy and loyalty to his trust. As a practitioner, he was ever on the alert for the interest of his client. As a Solicitor General, he was untiring in his effort to convict the guilty; as a Judge, he endeavored at all times to see that a court in fact was a place within law was judicially administered. Judge Meadow was a member of the Masonic Fraternity, Knights of Pythias, Elks, and of the Odd Fellows. He never united with any church. He claimed the Primitive Baptist as his church; but he was broad enough to affiliate with all of them. While he did not make any public pretention towards religion, yet he lived the life prescribed for a Christian. A tree is known by its fruit: he bore the fruit. He commanded the admiration, respect, and love of his own family, and more especially, of his own children and this at least is the test of a good man. He was an honest man in the highest sense of that word, and a higher tribute can not be paid him by your Committee, who knew him. We recommend that a copy of this Memorial be furnished to the family of deceased and that same be published in the County paper and be spread on the minutes of this court. Respectfully submitted. C. E. Adams, Chairman J. E. Gordon J. T. Murray B. T. Moseley Jno. J. Strickland It is fitting and appropriate, that this Court in the Native county of the lamented decd., should pause to day, Ere it again ______ upon the discharge its duties and pay tribute to the memory of David W. Meadow. It was the pleasure of the personel of this Court to have known Judge Meadow for a number of years. My intimate acquaintance begun on his election of the office of Solicitor General of this circuit. In him the State of Georgia never had a more efficient and faithful prosecuting attorney, the public a more conscientious defender of their rights and society a more zealous protector. No more fitting epitaph could be enscribed upon his monument than that “he was faithful to every trust reposed in him.” As Judge of the Northern Circuit for nearly eight years he was a pains taking and careful official who held the scales of justice and was always ready to temper justice with mercy. While of an impulsive nature, yet he was of a forgiving disposition and no one of my acquaintance was more ready to make acknowledgement of, or to repair a wrong done his fellow man than David W. Meadow. He was broad in his views, charitable in his thoughts and acts and liberal almost to a fault. As evidence of his liberality, in the discharge of his duties as Judge in my native county he imposed a fine upon a poor and unfortunate criminal upon whom rested the maintenance and support of an afflicted family. The sympathetic heart of Judge Meadow caused him to make a substancial contribution towards the payment of the fine composed. It is imenently proper that the memorial just read which contains a brief account of the life and character of David W. Meadow should be preserved in the records of the county that gave him birth and in the county he loved so well, and it is so ordered by this Court. Walter L. Hodges, Judge, S.C.N.C. GEORGIA MADISON COUNTY, I, Wm. D. Meadow, Clerk Superior Court, do hereby certify that the above and foregoing memorial, resolutions and order of the Judge, is a true and correct copy of the original resolutions and order of file in my office. Witness my hand and seal of office. This July 25, 1918. Wm. D. Meadow CLERK SUPERIOR COURT Seal Superior Court Madison County, GA Additional Comments: Transcribed from a copy of the original document held in family research files in the Hargrett Library at the University of Georgia Main Library. This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 8.7 Kb