Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-12-08
HOW ONE MAN GOT RICH.
The Career OF the Late George Law
Of New York.
Rochester IN. W Democrat.


George Law. the millionaire, died
Friday Nov. %, at his residence, in
Fifth avenue, New York. Geo. Law
WAS born in the town of jackson,
Washington county, this state October
20, 1900. His father, who was of Irish
birth, purchased farm of loo acres in
Jackson soon after the close of the
revolution. Upon this farm young Law
worked until he was Is years OF age
During the winter he had an oppor-
tunity to attend the village school,
where he learned to write and cipher
as far as the rule Of three. With the
exception of reading few standard
works on history, which he was able to
procure in the neighbood, this briei
schooling was All he had.
When he was Is years of age young
Law went to Troy on an GRAND for his
father. This visit was his first glimpse
of the great world, and it determined
his future. He decided to leave the
farm as soon as he had earned little
money. At the age of Is he had ac-
cumalated $40, and decided to seek his
fortune. His father consented, and he
walked to Troy. He engaged cheap
lodgings and looked for work num-
Der of days without success. When he
was passing along River street one day
he saw q hod carrier fall and break his
leg. Young Law Immediately offered
to take the place. The foreman, find
ing he had no experience, told him he
would probably break his neck. Law
said he would take the risk, and he
carried the hod until the building was
finished. He continued to work as a
hod carrier until boss mason offered
to teach him the trade of bricklaying.
After learning this trade he worked
steadily, saving as much as possible OF
his earnings, and becoming an expert
mason. In the opening of 1925 he en-
gagged as a mason in building an Erie
canal lock, receiving So day. He
worked in this way for seven years.
He then thought he had money
enough to give up working as a day
laborer. He secured the post of su-
perintendent in constructing lock on
that Lehigh canal near Easton. Pa. AS
soon as the work was finished he de.
termined to become a contractor, and
he did, securing the contract to build a
lock and aqueduct. From this time
forward he continued to secure lu-
crative contracts.
When he was q years of age he
married Miss Anderson, of Philadel-
phia, who was q great aid to him in
the labor of winning fortune. In
1884 he had accumulated s2S,000. He
then took vacation, and went to Chi
cago, which was then a center of in
est, but returned to Washington
county, and paid for 500 acres of land
which his father had bought. After
several lucrative contracts in Pennsvl-
vania, he secured several heavy CON
tracts in the Croton aqueduct for the
New York water supply. He built the
high bridge over the Harlem river
Before entering upon the work he ex-
amined some Of the finest structures of
the kind in the old world, so that he
finally accomplished work that will
be a lasting monument to his skill
This work was completed in 1919. He
was then worth millions, and embark
ed in various enterprises which brought
more wealth continually. He became
the owner of railroads, steamships and
ferries.
He never swerved from his labor of
getting money, except in 1856, when
he was mentioned as a know-nothing
candidate for president. This pleased
him for time, but he eschewed
politics ever after. For the last twelve
years he has lived in retirement. Thur
low Weed, speaking of Law, Wander
bilt and Dean Richmond, said no one
Of them could have passed COM
petitiye examination for mail carrier,
or even u night Waterman at the Gus
tom house. Mr.. Weed had received
letters from all and they spelled hard
ly single word of three syllables cor
rectly. George Law leaves an en-
ormous estate to his wife, two sons and
three daughters. He has shown what
can be accomplished by will and
tact in the race for wealth.