- Widely Known Physician Is Taken by Death
Dr. William Charles Meacham of 152 North Scoville, distinguished surgeon and a resident of Oak Park for nearly 60 years, died Monday night at his home after a two weeks' illness.
Ailing with a heart condition for some time, Mr. Meacham's death resulted from a fall down the icy rear stairs at the home two weeks ago.
Dr. Meacham was a widely known physician and surgeon and had maintained offices in Chicago for many years. An industrial surgeon, he also was physician for the Chicago Black Hawks and the Chicago Cardinals' football team.
Brought to Oak Park by his parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. Charles S. Meacham, when he was but an infant, he made his home in the village throughout his life, and was widely known as a surgeon and sportsman.
Born in Peoria, Ill., on July 11, 1886, he attended the Oak Park schools and St. John's Military academy at Delafield, Wis. He later was graduated from the University of Illinois College of Medicine with the class of 1910. Before beginning his long years of practice, he interned at Cook county hospital and St. Luke's, and then began his career in medicine and surgery in Somonauk, Ill.
At the outbreak of World War I, Dr. Meacham enlisted in the medical forces in 1917, and since he had had military training, soon was made captain of an ambulance company. He went overseas in January, 1918, and after being in charge of ambulance companies 19 and 16, was made a major and director of the Second Division ambulance corps, with 580 men under him.
Attached to the Second division, which shared honors with the First division in seeing the most fighting, suffering and the most casualties, his company served throughout the heavy fighting in the famous battles at the Toulon-Troyon sector; the Aisne defensive, at Chateau Thierry at the Aisne-Marne at the battle of Saint Mihiel and at the Meuse-Argonne. His division was the first to reach the Rhine, and he was one of 150 men left in his ambulance division to return home.
Again out of service he moved his family to Oak Park and for many years they resided at 900 Fair Oaks.
Dr. Meacham maintained offices in Chicago, where he became an industrial surgeon and conducted a private practice as well. He also formerly was an excellent golfer and a crack shot in hunting.
He leaves his widow, Mrs. Katherine Schreiber (sic) of Riverside and Thomas Meacham of Oak Park; a nephew Paul Bate of Oak Park; and a brother and sister, Dr. Hulbert F. Meacham and Mrs. Kathleen Joyaux of Bartlett, Ill.
Services will take place at 1 today (Thursday) at the Postlewait chapel, with interment in Forest Home.
?Oak Leaves (Oak Park, IL), 13 Feb 1947, pg. 53
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1886 - 1947 (60 years)
