Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1863-04-02
w. III. LAW.

william narrlSOn Law, VINO uleu III
Cambridge, March Oath, aged 40 years.
was born in Cambridge, August 9TH 1914.
His family were among the early settlers
of this community. Harrison, the Sec
ond son, displayed at an early age great
fondness for reading, quick apprehension,
a retentive memory, aptness, denoting
good faculties of mind. His early ad-
vantages were limited, but he managed to
acquire good academical education.
At the age of seventeen he commenced
the study of the law, with the Hon.
Henry Stowell, and continued in his
office, teaching at intervals, through Sc
ries of six years. He was admitted to
the Lamoille County bar in 1887, soon
after the County was organized; and
opened an office in Cambridge, where he
continued his practice, as his health would
permit, for twenty five years
Mr.. Law was an earnest lawyer. He
delighted in the sharp distinctions of le-
gal science All the energies of his mind
were given to the investigation of facts
and the principles of law But he was
a fallible man, and like other profession
al men must be judged by his profession.
What the Hon. William Allen Butler has
said about the earnest lawyer in his essay
on the death of Ex-President Van Buren,,
is quite applicable to him. ga true law
yer is always lawyer. he gives him
self wholly ITO the severe discipline of
that science which more than all other
human forces, directs the progress of
events, its subtle light surrounds him
like an atmosphere, and accompanies him
like perpetual presence. Ifhe takes the
wings Of the morning, and dwells in the
uttermost regions of the imagination, it
is there; if he says surely the darkness
of evil passions shall cover me, even there
the night is light about him."
This intensified presence dwelt with
Mr.. Law, and where he abode, there was
its home. In his own field of effort, the
the brilliant genius of the ready and sa-
gacious lawyer, sparkled out. Earnest
and patient toll disciplined his mind in
the logical process of his profession. But
he did not court litigation. In the trivi-
al causes of dispute that arise among
neighbors, he advised his clients to ad-
just their difficulties without an appeal to
an expensive and irritating lawsuit.
Gifted with good reasoning powers, he
seized upon the material facts of his case,
and held them firmly until they were
light in his mind, and then presented
them in mastery argument His neigh
bors remember some of his able arguments
before legal tribunals with great salts
faction. Owing to bodily infrmity and
his extreme sensibility, he seemed to
shrink from the contact of men in the
world at large But among his circle of
friends, and the public assembly of his
citizens, he was free and interesting. And
his well-digested thoughts were always re-
ceived with cordial respect. The inter-
play of his vivid imagination and treas
ures of information commanded at once
earnest attention. In June 1862, Mr..
Law went to Washington, having received
an appointment to an Office in the Treas
ury Department of the Government. He
discharged the duties of his Office to the
satisfaction Of the Department until the
disease which had preyed upon his sys-
tenn for many years, compelled him to re-
turn to his home in January 1868. And
here, surrounded by his family and
friends, he fingered for two months, when
death released him from his sufferinps.
His private life was without reproach.
He was dutiful son, and faithful and
devoted husband. The constancy Of his
attachments and his fidelity to his friends
were we'll known and warmly appreciated
He was prominently man Of strong
will and prejudices. but none ever bore q
more tender and forgiviug heart