The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-03-16
JOHN A. MEREDITH.
Death OF this Pure and Distingufshed
Citizen and Able Jurist.

Citizen and Able Jurist.
An Illness OF About Month Unexpectedly
Ended by Death Yesterday Evening nj
5:i5-Enlargement OF the Liver the Cause
sketch OF the History or the Distinguished
Deceased; Dirth, Education, Including
Brilliant University Course and Law
Training under Conway Robinson-Lcsis-
Iativc. judicial, and Private Hfc-A Pure
and Patriotic virRinian Gone TO His Rest.
Greatly 10 the surprise and sorrow OF
the community, Il was learned last evening
that Judge John A. Meredith was dead.
He had been complaining all this year, and
about month ago stopped work and
went TO bed with complaint which proved
TO be enlargement and hardening OF the
liver. His physicians realized that his
case was very desperate one, but death
came much sooner than they expected.
The Judge throughout his sickness hap
! pily retained possession OF his mental IA
culties, and about O'Clock yesterday after
noon pleasantly said to his son Charles
tina. he felt much better. But shortly there
after he commenced to sink, and at 5:45 he
peacefully passed away.
Judge Meredith had spent his active life
in this city. and great part OF il in her
service. Here he studied law; here he
entered upon his public career, and here
on that reputation rs lawyer, Judge, and
representative which spread over the whole
/ State and made him known far beyond our
borders. His manners were coDsiderate
and pleasing. On the bench he was thor
ough and painstaking, aud his treatment Of
members OF the bar has been always spoken
of as the perfect model OF courtesy. He
went TO the bottom of all his cases; he
liked TO hear them thoroughly argued and
presented in every possible phase. Iii any
man was wronged by his judgments, it was
simply because he was human. lie was
| hbOrious and thorough, conscientious and
upright. respectful of the feelings OF all
about him, and as nearly as human
hand, heart, and head could direct,
held the scales OF justice with perfect
balance. A devoted citizen, kind friend,
n tender husband and father-this commu-
nity suffers q loss in his death which COM
mon accord will declare will be hard to
repair.
The Judge was an attendant OF st. James
church, OF which his wife was member.
His funeral will probably take place TO-
morrow. He leaves wife and four chill
| dren-Mrs. j. j. Cooke, c. V. Meredith,
w. Il. Meredith, and Mrs. Richard l. Man.
ming, of South Carolina.
Shetch Of His Life.
John a. Meredith was born in the county
Of New Kent on the gth Of March, 1914.
| He was q son OF Robert Meredith, a planter
Of that county.
After attending the ordinary schools OF
that day, young Meredith WAS placed un-
der the charge of DR.. Siliman, 4 Pre-
| byterian minister and nephew OF Pro-
fessor Siliman, OF Yale College, who
was then the master OF large school at
ST. Peters church, in New Kent county.
Or. Sillinan was a thorough scholar, and
he took great care in training young Mere
dith, in whose mind and character be dis
| covered high promise OF usefulness and
eminence in life. After several years of
most profitable tutorage in this schoo!
Young. Meredith. under the advice OF DIR.
! sillman to his mother, would have been
sent directly from there to the University
of Virginia had he not himself expressed a
desire TO spend q year at the school Of DR..
I W
then considered the best preparatory school
for the University to be found in the State,
or perhaps in the country. Having com
pleted term there
lie ENTERED THE UNIVERSITY
in the seventeenth year of his age, and al
the close OF his third session he graduated
with distinction. easily obtaining the de-
gree OF Master Of Arts. His was the third
class in which that high degree haG then
been taken since the first opening OF tho
University.
After completing his collegiate course hC
entered upon the study OF law in the oilic'
OF Conway Robinson, in Richmond, anC
lived in the family of his near relative
Judge John b. Clopton. Thus he had the
benefit OF instruction from both these ac
complshed, able, and celebrated iurist-
He selected the city Of Richmond as th'
field for his professional laborS, and came tC
the har with the same resiStlcss energy anC
zeal that characterized him all through th'
wears in which he had been laying hi
foundation for il. In addition TO the court
OF the city he attended those OF the neigh
boring counties of Hanover and New Kent
Very soon he formed
PARTNERSHIP IN TIE PRACTICE
with his old college friend and room-mate
John Il. Young, Esq, which association
was continued to the time OF Mr.. Mere
dith's promotion TO the iudgeship OF tn
+ Richmond circuit. IN honor no less dc
{ served than his appointment as attorne
for the Commonwealth for the county {
/ Hanover when he had been but fey
months at the bar. and which continued
be borne by him successfully III
ii. the mode Of filing the ofic
0 was changed by the Constitution {
= 1S5O-'5l. He rose steadily in his profe!
4 sion from his first entrance upon 1t, viii
I ming and retaining the confidence OF IA
: brother-lawyers and OF the community, eN
: tending his reputation rs iurst, and a
wavs standing in the front rank OF his CO
temporaries. Though repeatedly urged
X become a member OF the Legislature
: Judge Meredith invariably declined, pr
!, ferring to seek distinction in the line OF n
c profession. In 1851 he consented to b'
n come candidate for the famous
u STATE CONVENTION
: OF that day, and he was elected, anon
. many other able men from every section
: the Commonwealth, to aid in amending IL
y Constitution OF Virginia. His immedla
:, colleagues were John Minor Bolts, Jam'
g Lyons, Robert g. Scott, Robert G. Stanar'
70 and Hector Davis.
. Judge Meredith took an active an
= prominent part in the proceedings of II
:, Convention, and on those grave and e.
# # citing questions, the mixed basis OF repr
y sentation and the r, eligibility OF the Excel
tive, his speeches were conspicuous Il
force OF argument, compass OF though
:. clealness OF style, and the compaetneSs