The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-10
GEORGE La w.
The Great ATtiiicer Of High Bridge the
Architect OF His Own Foytunes-The
Humble Hod-Carrier Becoming the
Fourth Richest Man In America
His Mammoth Railroad Ventures,
Fo ry Franchises and Steam-
skip Enterprises-Wealth,
Charities, Political Career
and Personal Life.

more brilliantly perSOudteu tuau Ill utOlSc Law
He Ia the Hercules OF our young America He is
representative man OF our growing republic. Begin
ming life poor. he wrenched proudly asunder tn
shackles of pressing poverty With that suOlIm
spirit OF Ajax deIying the lightning he dared any
thing and cared Tor nothing BY resolutey opposing
obstacles he oyercame Them With bod hand nj
struck down every barrier in his pathway The stor!
OF hs life is one or early struggles ana ma
supremacy, o! patience and perseverance ennooed D.
unfnchlng honesty OF purpose and dealing ant
bringing with them riches and power seldom
achieved by any one man, aud that giving brightes
lustre to his rare and spieldid success, the glory
an untarnished name. sketch Of his life does no
present record OF startling Incidents giving pleas
ing and romantic vivacity to narrative, but the
persistent, progressive ploddng OF an earnest de
terminea man, who, making the most Of present
opportunities, by the stubbornness OF unyied ne
purpose, pushed his way onward, bravely battling
difficulties aud making them submissive to his in
flexible and imperious WILL American youth
viii 1nd IN his career q notable example
Tor charlottesville emulation OF honest toll
that true nobility OF labor, investing the
humbest work with grand dignity, and which stamp.
ing its foot upon the prejudices OF pride, willingly
by menIsl employment and hands hardened and
Drowned by rude industry works Its way with stead.
fast aim to the Hottest heights OF the temple OF toll
to fame, wealth. place. power, the full fruitiCn OF
the glorious rewards OF industry.
CHILDHOOD AND EARLY TRAINlNG
The youngest OF three sons of whom he is the only
survivor-there were also two sisters. one or whom
Is still living on the old homes tead-George Law was
born In Jackson, Washington county, this state
October IS, 1895. HIS father WHO was born In
Down county Ireland, settled there lust after the
Revolutionary war. HIS mother was also born In
Tia IN a n n
was an active go-ahead farmer and by his industry,
good management and frugaty increased his farm
to 500 acres. he was one Of those plain, practical
sort OF men, however, who believe that the
utility OF boTs IS proportionato TO the amount Of
work they can do. AS lie kept dairy Georges
earliest employment was looking alter the cows and
helping to charn-a preliminary process in butter
making In which the rising generation IN that men,
orable section Of diaries are still doubtless largely
employed. The monotony OF his early childhood
was broken in upon only by one memorable incl.
dent. lie heard tie laundering roar OF cannon on
the occasion Of Commodore Mcponougn5 splendid
naval vlct0rg on Lake Champaign. He went to see
the prisoners as they were ms, marched through
British prisoners led along By their handful
OF American captors made an impression upon his
mind which The long lapse OF years mas never served
10 e1ace-a confidence in the superior prowess OF
Americans over foreigners that never has been
shaken. and, he says, never can be-
81 am a naive American by all the prerogatives Of
brthright" he has been heard TO say when referring
10 tins memory OF his youth: "but this made me o
native American in the fullest and broadest sense
possible. In those humbled Britlshers | saw the
glory Of ATaerica, and have stood up for America
ana sworn by her ever since aud have always lived
in the lustre OF her glory, hope ever shall"
AS George grew older the sphere OF his duties
was ENLARGED. He had to help milk the cows and
help clear up new land and plough and plant and
SOW and hoe and go to MILL and once he went for his
father to Troy. This modern Troy, in his youthful
eyes, had cAarm and magnitude as great as those
OF ancient Troy to AnchiseS or 4Eneas, or Pfan,
even the beautiful and imaginative Helen. II
opened new world to him. BY the nlckerlng light
OF the fireplace OF his birthplace and home ne had
read OF the great world, and here 1t was and he was
In 1t. Sorrowfully he turned his back
modern Partnenon or Coliseum, upon fts great
Streets longer and broader than the Appian Way Of
was in his fifteenth year. He had been TO school
only winters. lie could read, write his name legi-
bly, and understood arithmetic to the rule OF three
the great poas astno,7tn then OF youthful arithme-
tcians, beyond which, to the generality OF teachers
even. all was deeply and darby shadowy and con-
fusion worse coDiounded. But II ne did not learn
much at school he read good deal out Of
u, HIS father had but lew books, but
a a an eSe s ne e read with ya and
him greatly, and he learned to repeat nearly all the
productions OF the great Scottish bard .Putarch's
England aud "Life of Washington gave him
solid mental aIiment, while Smolletts novels and
books OF travel furnished him lighter reading. The
life Of William Ray and how, a young farmer boy
going from home into the wide world 10 seek his
fortune, be achieved great fame and riches, and
his own trip to Troy exerted powerfully combined
influence upon his youthful mind lie was
now eighteen years old HIS life on his
s q rs sne dd ambition ' p Ses ssis s
could 40 better. He determined to go away from
homo, to plunge ont boldly into the wide world and
sItion that would follow mis- making known his pur-
pose, his first impulse was 10 run away from home.
sense duty 70 ais parents inclined nm o MAKE
as ne has always done throughout his life whenever
he has made up MS mind on any point: ~
"a am going from honc.n be SAID to ais father.
''What do you mean2n asked the father III sur
prise
Il am going to earn my own living
you do tAat now.p
81 want TO do better"
"HowW
.Don't know yet; that's what Im gong 70 nno
out"
80 you are tired Of farm work"
ats not the work for men
.What else can yoa WORK atf'
'''ll find something TO do"
81 admire Jour puck; you shall have triai,
continued his father. There amt work enough 10
all OF US now youll take care OF yourself IN CIV
you all you earn.U
three years start OF most young men; but pil pa
one OF these days for the time"
OF the wisdom OF his Intentions, but she finally
though reluctantly joined her consent TO that OF ne
STARTS OUT TO SEEK his FORTUNE.
We have now reached the starting point in y0un
Georges career. Having saved up forty dollars
eternal adleu to farm work and set out for Troy
quest of his fortunes. He carried little with hin
except Q muscular, weli-knit frame, determine
will. the good wishes Of his father and his mother
blessing. 1t was a raw, gnsty, rainy day Ia autumn
Alone and Oh foot and the road almost illpassaD
from the autu mai rains he set forth from tae non
OF his boyhood, with strong ana manly nsart,
commence his battle OF life IN the great world.
uHadn't you better wait Tor the storm TO end al
the roads to get better ~ suggested his father.
al had fixed on to-day to start ana am gong
he answered, and 10 the answer revealing tnaI MI
ness OF purpose that has always been such signal
marked feature IN his character.
And he went. Through thirty-six miles OF raj
storm and mud he walked to Troy, the centre OF u
great world az then pictured TO his young fanc
Stopping at the cheapest hotel he could ma
began to look about for work. He did not seek genie
employment He looked along the canal and amor
the machine shops. Nobody wanted MS service
Many would have been discouraged. This was n
him, He kept looking and asking. iney We We
putting up a rev building on River street. no
carrier fell from the ladder and broke his leg.
"Wnl you give me that mans place " Geori
asked the foreman, as soon as the Injured man ii
been removed.