Memorial Addresses. 
555 
chief justice. His opinions are embraced in forty-seven volumes 
of Wisconsin Reports. Surpassed perhaps in learning by some, 
one need not shrink from comparing them with any in acumen, 
mastery of legal principles, and felicity of expression. 
The labors of Judge Orton for the Historical Society in pub¬ 
lic and private stations, as well as with pen and voice, attest 
what he would have done for the Academy had he not been too 
soon pre-occupied with other duties which demanded all his 
time and strength till he sank beneath the judicial burden which 
he bore to the last. 
James D. Butler. 
Madison , Wis. 
JOHN GOLDESBOROUGH MEACHEM. 
John Goldesborough Meachem, M. D., was born in Somerset¬ 
shire, England, May 27, 1823. His father, Mr. Thomas 
Meachem, a teacher and conductor of a boys’ school, brought 
his family to this country in 1831. In the Diocese of New 
York he was ordained to the ministry of the Episcopal church 
by Bishop Onderdonk. John, the third son, studied medicine 
in the office of Harvey Jewitt, M. D., with lectures at Hobart 
College and at the Medical College in Castleton, Vermont, where 
he was graduated M. D. in the fall of 1843. In 1862 he re¬ 
viewed his medical studies at Bellevue Medical College, New 
York City, from which he received their ad eundem degree. He 
practiced unremittingly till 1895—.fifty-two years, when a 
neuritic inflammation of the heart was suddenly developed which 
ended his life February 1, 1896. Dr. Meachem was naturally 
endowed with superb health, a fine physical presence, an active, en¬ 
thusiastic temperament, and an untiring purpose to do thoroughly 
whatever he was engaged in. His habit was to read and study the 
literature of his profession, standard and current, to which he 
added many interesting papers from his large experience, de¬ 
termined to learn all that was known of the art and science of 
medicine as applied to diseased humanity. 
36 
