Bennington

MEACHAM, James Bartlett

Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont: A Record of the 
Achievements of Her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Founding 
of a Nation. Carleton, ed. Chicago: Lewis, 1903, pp 433-435

James B. MEACHAM was born 27 November 1828 in Williamson, Massachusetts 
["Williamstown" in Berkshire County, Massachusetts?]. His ancestry could be 
traced back through several generations to James MEACHAM, who was born 19 
March 1733, and on 22 June 1756 married Lucy RUGG. He [James MEAHCAM] died 
28 July 1812, and his wife [Lucy] passed away 22 June 1803. Among their 
children was James Hawkins MEACHAM, the grandfather of our subject. He 
[James H.] was born 25 December 1769, and on 30 September 1795 married Nabby 
WARNER, a sister of Seth WARNER. He [James Hawkins MEACHAM] died 26 March 
1837, and her death [Nabby's] occurred 16 April 1862. They [James Hawkins 
and Nabby (WARNER) MEACHAM] had six children: Eliza; Lucy (who died in 
infancy), James, Abigail, Emeline, and Lucy. Of this family James MEACHAM, 
the father of our subject, was born 03 February 1805; on 20 November 1827 
married Almira BARTLETT; and died 20 May 1883. His sister Emeline reached 
the eighty-second year of her age; she was born in Williamstown [Orange 
County, Vermont] in 1812, in the house in which she died, and was a member of 
the fourth generation of MEAHCAMs to occupy that place. She was greatly 
attached to her home, and it is said that she was never away from it for more 
than six weeks at a time. From the age of twelve years she held membership 
in the Congregational church, and her life was that of a sincere and devoted 
Christian.

James Bartlett MEACHAM spent the days of his childhood and youth in the place 
of his nativity, and his early education was supplemented by a course in 
Williams College, from which he was graduated with the class of 1852. In 
1854 he became a resident of Bennington [Bennington County, Vermont], and 
until his death remained one of the valued and respected citizens of the 
community. He studied law in the office of James L. STARK, then one of the 
leading attorneys of this part of the state, and was subsequently associated 
in practice with J. Halsey CUSHMAN. Mr. MEACHAM was a counselor, not an 
advocate. His unwavering loyalty to his clients was well known, and he had a 
good clientage, connecting him with many of the most important law matters of 
his district. His knowledge of jurisprudence was comprehensive and accurate, 
and he was therefore well qualified to give advice on knotty legal problems. 
For many years Mr. MEACHEM was collector of taxes in Bennington, and his 
fidelity to the public interests was well known. He frequently served as 
administrator of estates and his honesty was proverbial. He also held the 
office of village attorney and was town agent for several years, while other 
offices of trust and responsibility he filled with loyalty and skill.

On 29 October 1862 Mr. [James Bartlett] MEACHAM married Miss Corinna THAYER, 
a daughter of Nelson and Lucretia THAYER, of Bennington [Bennington County, 
Vermont], in which city she was born on 06 April 1841, and her she still 
makes her home. Three children were born of this union, but Edward, who was 
born on 16 March 1865, died on 13 October 1885. The second son, William, 
born in Bennington 30 December 1867, is married and is now engaged in 
business in Baker City [Baker County], Oregon. James Bartlett, Jr. was born 
in Bennington 29 March 1875, and is now located in Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania. A nephew, Dr. Franklin MEACHAM, was a major and surgeon of the 
United States Volunteers in the Philippines, being chosen from a large number 
to take charge of the hospital there during the recent war. He now makes his 
home in Salt Lake City [Salt Lake County], Utah, where he has a large 
practice. He [Dr. Franklin MEACHAM] married and has twin daughters, Frances 
and Helen.

Mr. [James Bartlett] MEACHAM continued an active and honored member of the 
bar of Bennington until about a year prior to his death, when he was taken 
ill and never rallied, passing away 17 July 1893. A meeting of the 
Bennington bar was called to take action upon the death of Mr. MEACHAM, and 
passed the following resolutions: "Resolved, that in the death of James 
Bartlett MEACHAM, Esquire, we are called upon to mourn the death of one long 
associated with the bar. That he has by his uniform rectitude, firmness of 
character, faithfulness to principle, unswerving integrity and courtesy, in 
the continuous practice of his profession, since December 1857, left a memory 
which will be forever pleasant for his large circle of professional and 
public friends to recall. As a lawyer, faithful to the interests entrusted 
to him; as a counselor, conservative and conscientious; as a citizen, kind of 
heart and generous in his impulses, against whom no work of calumny has ever 
been justly spoken, in his death we recognize a public and professional loss. 
Resolved, that to his family, we, the professional associates of the 
deceased, offer this sincere token of sorrow and respect, conveying to them 
our regret and sympathy in their deep bereavement."

Submitted by Cathy Kubly