Biographies: Alexander MEGGETT, Eau Claire, Eau Claire Co., WI ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, or the legal representative of the contributor, 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. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Nance Sampson 13 December 2000 ==================================================================== Alexander Meggett was born in Glasgow, Scotland, March 26, 1824, and came to America with his parents when a little over three years old. They settled at Uxbridge, Mass., living there until 1836 or 1837, when they removed to Chicopee Falls, town of Springfield, Mass., where they resided until 1841, in which year they located at Slaterville, R. I. Mr. Meggett worked in cotton manufactories until he was nineteen, when he commenced to educate himself. At Wilbraham Academy, Wilbraham, Mass., and at Washington, Conn., he prepared himself for the Middleton University. He spent three years in that institution in the sciences, two years in belle letters and one year in mathematics. In the winter of 1847-48 he removed to Pawtucket, Mass., and taught in the public schools for five years. He studied law in 1851-52 while engaged in teaching with Hon. C. B. Farnesworth, of Pawtucket, and completed his legal studies the year following with Hon. Thomas A. Jenckes, of the city of Providence, and was admitted to the bar in March, 1853, and commenced practice at Pawtucket, R. I., and practiced at Providence one year prior to coming west in May, 1857. In June, 1857, he visited Eau Claire and permanently located here in July following, when he commenced the practice of his profession. During the winter of 1857-58 he was editor of the Eau Claire Times. He was the second lawyer to settle in Eau Claire county. He held the offices of town superintendent of schools and city attorney, and was also at one time candidate for judge of the district. Mr. Meggett was doubtless engaged in more important criminal cases than any other lawyer in this section of the state, having been either sole or leading counsel in the following cases: State vs Nethers, Fritz, Noble, Murray, Moseby, Mrs. Wheeler and Carter, Davy, Jump and Muzzy, besides many cases of homicide in various degrees and other important cases, both criminal and civil. His untiring zeal for his client's cause, his professional learning and ability, and his peculiar forcibleness and success in jury trials, both criminal and civil, justly merited him that prominence which was so generously accorded him by members of his own profession as well as by others. --Taken from "The History of Eau Claire County, 1914, Past & Present", page 276.