Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-11-07
vermcnters in CHICAGO,
WHO THEY ARE, WHERE THEY CAME FROM,
WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND WHAT THEY
AMOUNT TO IN CHICAGO.

ton on any other city or town in Vermont
by this statement, for am aware that there
are several cities and towns in the proud lit
tie State which may justly lay claim 10 being
seats of learning" with all that the state
ment implies But your University of Yer
mont in Burlington has sent out into the
world so many young men who have become
useful and often eminent citizens wherever
they have located, and You have had other
institutions there which have trained others,
so fully equipped in the way of accomplish
mcnts and all the graces Of culture which
adorn the character of woman. that think
Burlington is entitled 10 the honor of being
called the ATHENS" of Vermont. shall
call it such and take the consequences.
Well, what | was about TO remark is, that
We have here in. Chicagoa number of citizens,
prominent in the profcssonsand in business,
who came from Burlington or the country in
the vicinity of which that city is the mrtrop-
oils. have had something TO say about
several prominent Ncrmontcrs here, who
came from other parts of Vermont, in the
Press Of the respective sections from which
they came, and | now purpose to mention in
the columns of the FREE PrEss few of the
more notable VcrmOntcrs who came from
the section named. The charming location
of Burlington would seem 10 so crchant and
cnchain one who was horn and reared, or who
has lived, there that he would choose it us the
place of permanent residence and leave it
only when he is carried out of it 10 his final
resting place but some of our now foremost
citizens and of your once most cntcrprising
young men have come To- Chicago to aid in
building up this great city on a swamp-a
''mudhoe" on the banks of Lake Michigan.
This may excite the wonder of some
go did the building up of beautiful Venice on
site not more inviting than was that on
which Chicago was built. But Venice
twas built by brave and far-secng men
and the land and sea eventually paid
tribute To it. The building of that city
where it was built was commercial ncces-
sty, as was the building of Chicago where it
has been built 1t would have been difficult
if not impossible TO have found locality
presenting fewer materials of hope and use
to the skill of man, and a combination of
more Of the least promising elements for the
successful upbuilding of city than were
conferred right here where Chicago now
stands Whatever cause induced either II
willing or unwilling people here to dispute
with the adverse elements and conditions the
possession of such locality, the prospect
and the most resolute and determined ma
lures. 1t was great triumph over great
difficulties that the pioneers here should have
contrivcd 10 rear on such foundations this
marvellous Chicago. Indeed, they had no
foundation on which to build-they made
even the foundation filled in from eight
to twelve feet. The fact that such city rs
Chicago has been reared under such cir
cumstanccs speaks volumes for the
courage, industry and perseverance of those
who have built it and now maintain the
superstructure they were men of Spartan
qualities; they had an insight into the COM
mercial advantages this particular locality
offered over other and more inviting sites,
and they sacrificed the pleasures and ease of
a more favorable locality, in all other than
commercial considerations, where they were
born and surrounded with creature comforts
if they had means to procure them-and
came here in search of fortune or fame, and
many of hem have won one or both. Yer
monters, with the dash. enterprise and cner-
gy Characteristic of them, have been especi-
ally successful, and among the number
several come from Burlington and vicinity.
Among these | mention
HON. c. II. LAWRENCE,
who was born Dec. 18th, 1890 in Nergennes
now nearly 50 years OF age; one of the
rare old New England gentlemen who seems
to be preserved, and their existence contir-
ued as living and evcr-prcsent example to
the young, of what may be accomplished in
Il life time of industry and honest, cOnscien-
tious and faithful work lie was educated
in Vermont was at Middlebury college, and
subsequently graduated ut Union college,
New York, in 1871. His father was mer-
chant, member of the State Senate, held
other important positions and was much in
public life. After the subject Of this men
ton graduated, he engaged in teaching in
Alabama two years thence to st. Louis
and read law in the Office Of Senator Gcycr,
and was admitted TO the bar soon after.
From St Louis he went 10 Quincy, ILL.,,
and commenced practice in the Spring Of
1915, attaining to high position at the bar
as an attorney and gaining the respect of the
profession and the general public. In 1856,
on account of impaired health, he gave up |
practice and went TO Europe and remained |
Two years, when he came back with I'M
proved health, bought and settled on a farm |
in Warren county, and actively engaged in |
farming. At the end of the third year the |
position of Circuit Judge of that district be
,amc vacant, and he was elected to the
position without opposition, which was
decisive expression of the confidence and re
gard of his ncighbors lie remained on that
bench until 1864 when he was elected II the
supreme Court of the State, and subsequent
v Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
lis term expired in 1873 when lac came to
Ihicago To practice law, and has been here
since engaged principally in important
abroad and corporation eases. He is re-
rarled as one of the abcst counsel in this
connection in the Northwest.
Judge Lawrence is no ordinary man and
10 ordinary citizen of the State of Illinois.
lie is thoroughly identified with the history
If this State has been a. part of it in more
lenses than one and at the bar and on the
,cnch has ably illustrated its annals. His
decisions and opinions while on the bench
If the Supreme Court of the State evidence
lis profound knowledge of law, the ripcness
If his scholarship and the grace and force of
lis diction. They will live as long rs the
of the StatccNiSts. lie brought
. the bench very wide range of legal
was and is clear and able in
decisions and i'll his investigation OF the most
important and intricate cases has an emf
lcntly judicial mind is honorable and just
II deciding and presenting cases has merit
d and won the brightest esteem and lasting
cgard and confidence Of the profession and
he,peoplc of this State; is II model of bcncvo-
ence, generosity and magnanimity, and a
worthy citizen, respected and honorcd by
Il. His opinions and decisions have rccciv-
d, in numerous instances, the highest com
lendation from the highest sources while
is reputation for spotless integrity is I'M
ssailable. In short, he is ripe scholar, Il
rofound iurist, II gentleman of the olden
ypc useful citizen and an honest man.
Ga. orb th.. -
nd this is written in the historyof his time 50
lainly that all may read. | have had this
luch to say of him in the columns of the
Rec Pass, first, because he is u Ncrmontcr
nd kindly remembers his native STATE; and,
;cundly, because am an honest journalist
nd must tell the truth!
JOHS y. HILLS
also one of the most notable Nermontcrs
Chicago, and 80 because he is one of the
lost active men we have in the city; not