The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-15


his untimely removal from the field Of usefulness
when his hopes and expectations were in the uness
OF their accomplishment.
Abiding to the subject which had called the meet
ing together, Mr.. Lord spoke nearly folio xs:-We
should sadly fail In our duties IL we did not hold in
grateful commemoration the characters and history
pleasure Of personally enjoying the friendship Of
MIR. SANFORD. His was character ut for limitation,
and 1t would be well to examine sone Of the details
OF his private life to sec who and what he was. He
born In Ovid, in this State, In 1907 and at the
age Of ten years lost his father. He was educated
in country academy, and If he was an example OF
the men those academies produce, we may welt take
courage Az the age Of fifteen he came TO Albany,
and became teacher, and lectured in the Rsnsse-
laer Institute. At the age of nineteen ne determined
to embrace the profession Of farming, but his mind
was fitted for much higher field, and frieud in
troduced him to another institution where he de-
voted himself 10 the edu cation Of Others. ut the
age Of twenty he commenced studying law under
his brother, and at twenty four came to New York.
In 1882 he received the appointment Of Judge, and
since then his march has been one Of honor and
triumph. In 1864 he was in the frat rank Of the
bar, and in everything commanded success. At the
%hsn mis- S1sSs vss he
close observation OF the character OF such mann
1t Will add greatly to our respect Of his memory to
consider that he came into public HE as al advsn
tuIer. He came without business 5npport-relyiug
on bis own intrinsic Strength TO achieve his fortone.
From an early period of his lie he afflicted With
delicate bealto and an extreme feeoleness OF const
tubiOn NJ laSt cuO6u III disease. 51uuiOIu
was gentlamaA. who, In every sense OF the word,
successful Hewas successful first by his untiring
industry. Hc was always busy--always occupied In
pursuits advantageous TO his own improves meat as
. man. Even his reaxati ms we're such as tended
to strengthen the powers OF his m,nd Porssv
was prominent feature Of his character. He was
never abashed by diff utties checked by I'll
cess. He relied on his own industry, and believed
all things possible with poWec and exertion. He
pressed onward where others faltaed and retreated,
Mr.. Sanford was alvays reoaikebe for ie'i:y to
his profession and this Lust be added as one Of TIE
| Instruments which tended to his su cess. He pos
sessed other qualities, too, of SOCIAL and serliog
| WORTH. he was an agreeable companion, with whom
one could ever be pleased, end from whose ernditon
standing in the first rat Of the ssson, and his
fertility of resources was one Of those qualities which
/ placed him there. | have known aole meu who
would look to him for assistance in difficulties as
capable of drawing light FROM pure fires the
altar OF jurisprudence. His feraiity Of invention
was enough to demon strate him a,man Of great
| ability. His views were always clearly pre-
sentee-always forclbe, astute, and Ingenious, not
! only in separating thi0gs between which the line
| was obscure, but IN illustrating given subjects
the basis OF sound logic lie took things in naSu-
raj light, and pressed them with o sagacty wal n
marks the ability Of on ACCOMPLISHED 10 wysr de
was mau Of extraordinary erudt IN for his years,
and for the extent of time which ne devoted ID his
profession. There was no man of greater leaning.
IL is not always merk OF great ability ~ be- over
fruitful in Cases; but the erud,a1n OF M. SANFORD
| and his knowledge OF cssas, as wall % tue great
rgta to which his researches extend.d, we're re
maikSble. In the manage nent of bis sses he was
equally successful Esonewng the Idle aad taking
bold Of cir solid parts, hs converted all to the III
siructiOD of the mo6. M,. Pres daat, this eruiiDn
OF MIR. Sanford was nos Of thai 3scriDtio1 which
could take ausnt Away from his s.reEgth OF mind,
but il added to his honor. Ii is DOT 10 muca for me
as for those who more closely fitlesaed MS
efforts to speak of him. His ernd,sion cnaid not
have existed without indeiangabe labor aud
endurance, and that energy waieh belonged
70 him Was another remarkable tratt in
Mr.. saudford's lab0rs. Early in tue nao ring AMI
late az night be voIke6-the m,doight oil and ths
MONDAY alike Witnessed his anccs. He left
nothing unturped whie Inject TO be attained.
Whett er in Law or fact In scientific pfoesso 1al
knowledge OF his case, nothing esosped him. He
| was thoroughly acquainted with men and tnings,
an coald cham the attention OF meeting b, his
eloquence and facility In the use OF language. He
brought question home OF once 70 the feelings of
| tul cen mon nature, for his early eouca ion had
made him familiar with the powers OF language.
whether it was 10 dent unce, ~ persuade or TO as
sal, language with him was never wanting. AL
/ can bear testimony to the unriyalIed power aud
| beauty With which his discoursss were clothed.
These traits, wish which Mr. Sanford achieved
cess are in the power OF others to acquire, and in
| every sense Of the word be was model for the
young men Of the profession II is won der that,
possessing su,h faculties, Mr.. Sanford found him
| self marching forward IN life rs on a tdumphsl
march. Nothing. perhaps, more reseueled his
he met his fate. We are tod that 10 his last mo
ments his demeauor was calm, and we may well rest
satisfied that he met his death with heroic despair
and submission. He deserves the tribute OF our
grateful recole tons. He deserves that we should
retain aud. cherish him warm in our memories.
Mr.. EDMUND ]. BURR seconded the resolution pro-
posed by Mr.. Lord, aud offered the folio wing
| Resolved That in the death of Abner BENEDICT ESQ.,
the bar Of this city has Lost of its most valued
bers, and the community citizen of eminent worth and
uness; and that this meeting sympathses with his
I loss
| Mr. Burn said One CT the melancholy evsn.s We
this dsy deplore is the death OF our highly ostesmsd
\ friend aud associate the late Abner Benedict. You
4 permit me this day, sir, to pay tribute TO his
memory, and TO recall to this meeting the memory
| OF events and incidents OF his life aad some OF the
| characteristics OF the mAu. Ab1eF Benedict vas a
native If Orange county in this State b)rn 10 the
year 1905. He was Inc son OF Rsy, joel I. Benedict
Presbyterian clergyman. the brother OF Ada Beuc
dict, Esq; OF Pennsylvania Of Hon. George ". BEN
well known by his standing at our sAr, also by
his connection with public instruction. Hs vas
educated at the Philosophical Seminary Of Pfac-
teal Science, established by the lsse stephen
Van Rensselaer, at Troy. After graduating Ia do
voted himself 10 toa,hiug, and for o short time,
| as Professor of Chemistry and Natural Scieace.
! lie soon, however, entered on The study ST law Ia
this city where be was admitted to the bar in the
year 1882, and practiced this profession uatl his
death. He lett daughter at school 10 Paris, and
four sons In New York. Mr. Benedict was a N W Of
strong sense and sound Judgment; be possessed
mind Of great independence. His DON lu-ioos we're
strictly his own, (borrowing no color from t1e au-
thofisy OF mere name0 and. when formed, they
ware asserted with self relying boldnes and main
tanned with uDflinchiDg frmness. He was a souod
lawyer and q 81 ,cessful advocate; as speaker he
was exceedingly impressive, sentitious and forci.
bic. In social Fife his wit and hunor abunded,
and, together with tue habitua use OF ths most
expressive and purest English, gave to his con-
versation somewhat epigrammatic aud sen.
titious character; but under the control OF
his characteristic kindness of disposition, his
Wit was always without sting, aud his hu.
NOR free nom offensive rsiIery. lie possessed great
energy and deter nination OF character, and called
thom INTO Iequsition whenever the objec. seemed 10
him to demand their exercise. He possessed re-
fined and cultivated taste, not only il literature
but also in art. He was unpre.endiug, seeking no
uBoarned reputation and making no os.entatious
L La. nN l.tl l.A.ll liz