Kimball enterprise. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1883, 1883-07-13
now ONE MAN GOT RICH.
The Career of the Late George Law, of New
York.
From the Rochester IN. W Democrat

1he Career OF the Late George Law, of New |
York.
From the Rochester [N W Democrat
George Law, the millionaire died Friday
night, at his residence in Fifth avenue, New
York. George law was borne in the town
of jackson, Washington county, this state,
October %, 1906. His father, who was of
Irish birth, purchased q farm Of 100 acres
IL jackson soon after the revolution. Upon
the farm young Law worked until he was
eighteen years of age. During the winter
he had an opportunity to attend the villaee
school where he learned to write and to
cipher as faras the rule of three. With the
exception of reading few standard works
on history, which he was able to procure in
the neighborhood, this brief schooling was
! all he had.
When he was fifteen years of age young
| Law went to Troy on an errand for his
| father This visit was his first glimpse of
the grest world and it determined his
J future. He decided to leave the farm as
| soon as he had earned q little money. At
the age of eighteen he had accumulated
his father consented, and he walked to
Troy. He engaged cheap lodgings and
looked for work for number Of days
! without success. When he was passing
elong River street one day he saw hod
carrier fall and break his leg. Young Law
Immediately offered to take his place.
The foreman finding he had no experience,
told him he would probably break his neck.
Law said he would take the risk. and he
carried until the building was finished He
continued to work as hod carrier
until boss mason offered to
teach him the trade of brlcklaying.
After learning his trade he worked stead
d lily, saving as much as possible Of the earn
ings, and becoming ar expert mason. In
the opening of 1925 he engaged as a mason
in building an Erie canal lock, receiving
1925 day. He worked in this way for
money enough to give up working as q day
laborer. He secured the post of sup
erintendent in constructing lock on the
hehigh Canal near Easton, Pa. AS soon as
the work was finished he determined to be-
come Il contractor, and he did, securing the
contract to build lock and aqueduct
From this time forward he continued to Sc
! cure lucrative contracts.
When he was twenty y-seven years of age
he married Miss Anderson, of Pnilade-
phia, who was q great aid to him in the la-
Dor of winning fortune. In 1884 he had
accumulated SOS, 900. He then took va
cation, and went to Chicago, which was
then center of interest, but returned tc
Washington county, and paid for 500 acres
of land his father had bought. After sew
enl lucrative contracts in Pennsylvania
he secured several heavy contracts on the
Croton aaueduct for the New York watel
supply. He built the high bridge over the
Harlem river Before entering upon the
work he examined some Of the finest struc
lures of TIE kind in the old world. so tina
he finally accomplished work which vii
be a lasting monument to his skill. Ihi
work was completed in 1919 He was thel
worth millions, and embarked in variou
enterprises, which brought more wealtl
continually. He became the owner o
!, railroads, steamships and ferries.
He never swerved from bis labor of get
ting money. except in 1856, when he wa
mentioned as Know Nothing candidate
fo, president. This pleased him for
+, time, but he eschewed politics ever after
For the last twelve years he has lived Il
retirement Thurlow Weed speaking o
Law, Vanderbilt, and Dean Richmond, sal
: no one of them could have passed compe
: tive examination for mnil carrier, or ever
anightwatchman at the Custom house. Nj
4 Weed had received letters from atl. ant
: they spolle q hardly a single word of thre
9 syllabes correctly. George Law leaves a.
= enormous estate to his wife, two sons, an
three daughters. He has showed what Gu
: be accomplished by will and tact in tn
e race for wealth.