News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1881-12-22
A VETERAN GONE.
Death of Live Oak" George Law

Death of "Live Oak" George Law
Mr.. George Law who died lately at his
residence in New York City, after q
long illness arising from complication
of diseases. He was born in Jackson,
Washington County, on October 25,
1906. His parents were both natives
OF County Down, Ireland, who came to
this country soon after the Revolution
ary War, the father becoming a farmer.
George Law had very little education.
When about fourteen years old he visit
ed Troy on an errand and resolved to
seek his fortune in that city. He finally
obtained his fathers consent, and
walked thirty-six miles to Troy, with
pack on his back, containing
his clothes, and $40-his sole capi-
tal-in his pocket. His first job
was in carrying a hod. In refer
ring TO this beginning of lis career,
Mr.. Law often said: 'I began at the
foot of the ladder, and was terribly
afraid that I should fall from the top
before I got through" Hearing of an
opening at Hoosick, he went there and
learned the trade of mason. His first
job on his own account was the build
ing of lock on the Erie Canal. Then
he went to work on the Pennsylvania
Canal. When but nineteen years old
he learned that the Dismal Swamp
Canal contractors needed stone He
purchased lot in Delaware, chartered
schooner and took load to Norfolk,
where he sold it at good profit. His
next work was on the Morris Canal, in
New Jersey, and then on the Lehign
Canal. He then became a contractor,
and soon had cash capital of So, 800,
with which he came to New York. He
obtained a contract on the Portage
Railroad over the Allegheny Mountains
and another on the Columbia Railroad.
His next work was bridge-building.
He built the bridge over the Lehigh
River at Easton, Pa, and was for
several years engaged on the upper
division of the Lehigh Canal between
Mauch Chunk and White Haven.
In May, 1887, Mr.. Law went to New
York to live, and obtained a contract to
build two sections of the Croton Aque-
duct. In 1869 he obtained the contract
to bufd the High Bridge.
About this time he purchased ma
jority interest in the Dry Dock Bank,
which was then almost insolvent, and
in few years made it one of the most
substantial in the State.
When the California excitement broke
out he went into the steamhip business,
and 184S purchased the steamship Faclon
in and sent her to Chagres, transferring
the passengers across the isthmus on
mules. He had previously sent steamer
around Cape Horn to take the passengers
from Panama to San Francisco. Mr..
Law built several other steamers. In
1851 Mr.. Law purchased large interest
in the Panama Railroad, and going to
Aspinwall he located the termini OF TIE
road and set men at work building it.
died in Paris, fled from N. Y. city after
having killed William Poole-embark-
ing upon a schooner bound for the
Canary Islands. Mr.. Law instantly
chartered at his own expense swift
sailing vessel and sent it in pursuit with
City Hall detectives on board. Baker
was overtaken, captured and returned in
the pursuing vessel for trial. Mr.. Law,
in 1888, married Miss Anderson, of
Philadelphia, by whom he has had
seven children, four of whom are now
living. One of his daughters married
Colonel Chas. May, of Mexican war
fame. Mr.. Law was always conspicu-
Gus in public, being six feet three inches
in height, and weighing $50 pounds.
His head was always regarded as a
study by sculptors, who said that his
great vitality was pictured in the mas
sive abundance of hair, which early be-
came iron-gray and later of snowy
white.
In 1854 Mr.. Law built the house in
Fifth avenue where he lived until his
death. He was often solicited to 90
into political life, but he always refused.
During the Native American excitement
in 1866 and 1856 he was asked to be the
candidate of that party for the Presi-
dency. He was Familiarity known by the
adherents of that party as "Live Oak
George" Mr.. Law, however, refused
the honor rendered him and assisted
in the nomination of Fillmore and
Donelson.
During the last ten years Mr. Law has
passed very quiet and regular life,
surrounded by his books, his family and
his intimate friends.