University of Michigan - Michiganensian Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

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Professor rioijd R. Mechem. BY HENRY C. ADAMS. T LAWYER and not an economist should have been selected to write - this sketch. Professor Mechem ' s contributions to legal literature, while by no means a measure of his activities, are the most visible expression of his life, and comment from a layman seems out of place. I can, however, bring- together a list of Professor Mechem ' s writings, and, after all is said and done, what more worthy testimonial of the success of a scholar ' s life can there be than a simple statement of his contribu- tions to his chosen science? A personal narrative is quickly told. Professor Floyd R. Mechem was born in the State of New York on the 9th of May, 1558. Removing, with his family to Michigan, his boyhood was spent as is the boyhood of most American youths whose expectations rest upon the conscious- ness that success in life depends upon their own effort. Work upon the farm, the keeping of books, a clerkship, and other like occupations, were tasks which he assumed while gaining from the common schools all they had to offer. In 1874 he enrolled himself as a student in the High School of Ann Arbor and remained there until 1875, supporting himself meantime by whatever form of remunerative labor came to hand. Upon leaving the High School Professor Mechem did not find it possible to pursue his studies in the Literary Department of the Uni- versity or to enter upon his legal studies by enrollment in the Law Department. Being under the necessity of making his own way, he spent some time in teaching school, devoting his evenings to the reading of law. He was admitted to the bar at Marshall in 1879 and began practice at Battle Creek, having formed a partnership with Mr. Wadleigh, the gentleman by whom his legal studies were directed. During the eight years that followed he gave himself unreservedly to the practice of his chosen profession. He served four terms as City Attorney, and in 1882 declined a nomination for Prosecuting Attorney of Calhoun County. Although his success as a practitioner was assured, the character of the

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FLOYD R MECHEM.

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legal practice which came to him in Battle Creek does not seem to have permitted the exercise of that keen power of analysis which has since secured for him an enduring reputation, and it may have been this sense of mental confinement which induced him, in 1887, to remove to Detroit where he established the firm of Mechem Beaumont. The Detroit venture was eminently successful, but this fact is relatively less significant, as bearing upon Professor Mechem ' s subsequent career, than the fact now to be narrated. It was recognized by the bar that no book existed adequate to the needs of the practitioner upon the general question of Agency. Professor Mechem undertook to supply this need, and in 1889 published his work entitled A Treatise on the Law of Agency. It is not common for reviewers of law publications to speak with discrimination, or with more than perfunctory praise, of the books which they review. Professor Mechem ' s Agency , however, met with a different reception. The following is quoted from the Harvard Law Review: The author has very carefully classified the different branches of the law under discussion, and divided and subdivided its topics in a most admirable manner; in fact, one is almost led to believe that the law can be reduced to an exact science after reading Mr. Mechem ' s simple though exhaustive classification of the law of agency. The reception of this work by the American bar encouraged Pro- fessor Mechem to undertake other treatises. In 1890 a second book made its appearance, namely, A Treatise on the Law of Public Offices and Officers. This was an entirely new work and at the time of its appear- ance was the only treatise, English or American, upon this important subject. In 1891 appeared Professor Mechem ' s revision of Hutchins on Carriers. This was more than a revision, for the original treatise was enlarged by one-half. Then followed four publications, compilations of cases, upon The Law of Agency 1893, The Law of Damages 1893 (second edition, 1898), The Law of Succession 1895, and The Law of Partnerships 1896. The ' ' Elements of the Law of Partnership appeared in 1899 and his little book entitled Outline of the Law of Agency , being in the main, Professor Mechem ' s lectures upon that subject before the students of the University, was published in 1901. For several years Professor Mechem has been engaged in the preparation of a comprehensive work upon Sales , a work which, when it appears, will come into competition with Benjamin on Sales, and respecting which his brethren in the profession have high expectations. The above list of titles, which includes none of his numerous contributions to magazines,