John W. Meldrum was born on September 17, 1843 in Caledonia, New York. He moved to Cheyenne in 1868 and to Laramie in 1870. Active in the Republican Party, he was a territorial legislator, delegate to the National Republican Convention, and surveyor general of Wyoming. Meldrum was appointed Secretary of Wyoming Territory on May 20, 1889 and served until November 8, 1890. Because Governor F.E. Warren was out of the state, Meldrum served as Acting Governor when Wyoming's statehood was announced on July 10, 1890. In 1891, he was then appointed United States Commissioner for Yellowstone National Park and held that position until his retirement at the age of 91 in 1935. He died on February 27, 1936 in Denver, Colorado.

Additional Resources

• John W. Meldrum papers, 1854-1938, Collection Number 04338, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
• "John W. Meldrum: The Grand Old Man of Yellowstone National Park" by Joseph Joffe, Annals of Wyoming January 1941, Vol 13 No 1, p5-47 and continued in April 1941, Vol 13 No 2, p105-140