The Dickinson press., 1883-07-07
How ONE MAN GOT RICH.
The Career of the Late George Law, of New
York.
| From the Rochester IN. w Democrat

The Career of the Late George Law, of New
York.
From the Rochester IN. 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 a farm of 100 acres
III 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 village
school. where he learned to write and to
cipher as far as the rule of three. With the
exception of reading a 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 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
the age of eighteen he had accumulated
$40, and decided to seek his fortune.
his father consented, and he walked to
Troy. He engaged cheap lodgings and
looked for work for a number of DAYS
without success. When he was passing
| along 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 rs n hod carrier
until a boss mason offered to
teach him the trade of bricklaying.
After learning his trade he worked stead
lily, saving as much as possible of the earn
ings, and becoming an expert mason. In
the opening of 1925 he engaged as a mason
i'll building an Erie canal lock, receiving
49, 5 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 sup
erintendent in constructing a lock Oh the
the work was finished he determined to be-
come Il contractor, and he did, securing the
contract to build a lock and aqueduct.
From this time forward he continued to Sc
cure lucrative contracts.
When he was twenty years of age
he married Miss Anderson, of Pniladel-
phia, who was u great aid to him in the H.
bor of winning a fortune. In 1884 he had
accumulated $2S,OO0. He then took va
cation, and went to Chicago, which was
then a center of interest, but returned to
Washington county, and paid for 500 acres
of land his father had bought. After sew
eral lucrative contracts in Pennsylvania
he secured several heavy contracts on the
Croton aqueduct for the New York water
supply. He built the high bridge over the
Harlem river. Before entering upon tue
work he examined some Of the finest struc-
lures Of the kind in the old world, so that
he finally accomplished q work which will
be a lasting monument to his skill. This
work was completed in la4a. Ae was then
worth millions. and embarked in various
enterprises, which brought more wealth
continually. He became the owney OF
railroads, steamships and ferries.
He never sweryed froml his labor of oct.
ting money. except in 1856, when hs VS.
mentioned rs q Know Mcts.ng candidate
fol president. THIS pleased him for a
tine, but he eschewed politics even after
For the last twelve yenrs he has lived il
retirement. Thurlow Weed speaking Of
Law, Vanderbilt, and Dean Richmond, said
no II Of them could have passed a compe.
tive examination for a mail carrier, or even
aniRhtwatchman at the Custom house. Mr.
Weed had received letters frhm al. and
they spelled hardly a single word of three
eYllaIlss correctly. George Law leaves an
enormous estate to his wife, two sons, and
three daughters. He has showed what can
be accomplished by will and tact in the
race for wealth..