Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-07-16
VIM h. MELDRUM.
70, STILL ACTIVE
IN WORK FOR CITY
Won Promotion in War and for
Many Years Served on
Police Force.

IA RCNSAA~
ago, learned the silk hat finishing rade
and served as journeyman and fore
mar until the Civil War broke out,
enlisted In a nine-month New Jersey
regiment and came home a lieutenant,
reenlisted and served to the close of
the war, appointed a patrolman on the
Newark police force and became round
sergeant and lieutenant, was chief
of police six years, and has been a
visitor of the poor and aims depart
ment of the city for fifteen years.
Such, In brief, is the life record of
William II. Medium, who lives at 2l4
South Tenth street. Though he is on
the verge of four-score a his mind
Is nimble, he Is in health, and he at
tends daily to his duties as a poor
inspector. He Is one of the oldest
members OF Lincoln Post, No. II. Grand
Army of the Republic, of which he Is
a past commander, III for ear he
has attended the meetings of the post
and gone on its popular excursions to
old battle1elds.
Mr.. Meldrum was born in Broad
street, between Centre Market and
Commerce street, on August IL, 1881.
When he was a small lad his parents
moved to Hartford, Conn, lived there
several a after which they re-
turned to Newark. Young Medium
was a~pprenticed to Ellison s. Great
mead, SILK nat manufacturers. Mr.
Greathead was the fatner OF wiliiam
u. G~reathead, the veteran secretary OF
the Boar OF WORKS. When ne was d
young man MT. Meiorum became a
membe OF the old nre de-
partment. Joining Engine
NO. b. wnicn lay In Mui-
berry street, between Commerce street
and the Morris canal.
Frnme buildings Then I'm city.
.uy
~ .Saan
"as 10y aiu "ae -.ast
...sAna ~ 49, 80
'A stns,saa 1900 uara
49, 9emon.th az
Ss",.o ,1o-,sa. 1850
Dioo - 49,. 49,
CO.. 80. ana
+a.' :. go $500
~. ~ ia T,..t prash,+a~,an rh,rch
- a.sroa rha -a,,har. ~
-. ahnrah a.a to- o,t,,sns yorued
nil, tha vo,nntaar tramsn ~ save the
Ia oh,roh h,,i,d,ng and .uccaeded
Than tharasvas tha graat A. An Rroad
.trao. onno.,ta Tr,n,tv Tniacopa,
Ch,,rch AZ frame steen,a az which
NO. tu,,.aa h., hIav,ng, n,aces ~ u,ood
carr,ad AGAINST ~ bv the strong wind.
Tba snou- was aaen In the street. ana
Tho old han nd -angfnas couId NOT throw
q s+ream ~ water I'm 10 the blaze on
The staan,a put hundreds of men
threw snowbaIls at the small blaze
nntn thew artinp,,,shed n. VERY few
Of the old volunteer firemen are living
now Sona ~ the men who ran with
the In NV time as Aremen
became prominent and wealthy citi-
zena"
A. the time Fort Sumter was fred
upon Mr.. Medium was foreman In
the silk hat shop OF the a Thomas
Arens When an urgent cali for yolun-
teers was made to help the soldiers
or The front Mr.. Meldrum enlisted In
comnenv A. Cantain william w. Nor
ris, Twenty-sixth Regiment. New Jer-
sew volunteers. as a private and he
came home q lieutenant. He reenlisted
in tho Thfrtv-ninth Regiment and
served under Canta,n peter r. Rogers
who is now supertntendent of the SOL
d,ers, Home In Kearnv Mr. Medium
was mustered as first sergeant Of
his company at the end of the war.
When he returned to Newark he
worked at his trade Until he was APP
pointed on the police force in 1857,
when the late Thomas B. Peddie was
mayor and Major A. ]. Clark, now
superintendent of the Soldiers Home In
Ohio, was chief Of police. In a few
months he was made a round sergeant.
He served in that position until a
Democratic Legislature created the first
board of police commissioners Newark
had. Colonel James Peckwell, after
wards sheriff Of Essex county, was
made chief of police. When the Repub-
Iicans got control of the legislature the
board of police commissioners was
abolished and the police committee of
Common Council appointed William B.
CLASSIFY chief of the police. Mr.. Mel
drum was then put back on the force.
When the Second precinct station was
opened in the old armory In Orange
street Mr.. Medium was put in charge
of II as a lieutenant. He was made