New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-06
OBITUARY.
GEORGE III. WATROUS.

New. Haven, July Especial. -George II. watrous,
ex president of the New-York, NewHaven and
Hartford Railroad, died suddenly at o'clock
this morning OF apopexy. 1t Mr.. watrous's in
tention to 20 10 the White Mountains for the summer
to-day and yesterday he feeling better than he
has for some months Mr.. Watrous was born on April
26 1922 in BrIdgewater, Penn. While he was yet an
infant his family removed TO Copkn, N. Y. His
studies preparatory for college were completed at
Hanover Academy In Cortland County, N. Y. In $500
he began his collegiate by joining the sophomore
class of Madison University. The next year he
entered the Yale class OF 1853 in its junior year. He
was graduated with honor in the ensuing year. He
then began two years course OF study at the Yale
Law School Throughout this time OF professional
study he dependent in part upon his own resources
and employed Instructor of Greek in General
Russes famous school. For about "a year after re-
ceving the degree Of L. b. no was in the law Office
OF the Hon. Henry b. Harrison, and with him and
Charles L. English he active In forming the Re-
publican party throughout this State. OF that party
he remained to the end influential member IN
February, 1857 Mr. Watrous left the office OF Governor
Harrison and formed a partnership with the late
Governor Henry Dutton, combination which endured
until 1860 when Governor Dutton was elevated to the
State Supreme Court. The legal alliance
with him introduced Mr. Watrous TO
the responsibilities of large practice
The new firm was counsel for the NewYork and New
Haven Railway Company, and Mr.. Watrous made
specially of corporation law and of tho relations Of
railway corporations in particular After 1864 tho
Office Of counsel TO the corporation Of the Hartford
road added TO the previous trust of similar nature
under the New-York and New-Havcn corporation. Mr..
watrous's influence aided in the consolidation of the
two roads, which occurred in 1872 and he naturally
succeeded to the very responsible Office of counsel to
the newly formed corporation. In 1879 that cor
poration, in which he had been director since 1865,
duly acknowledged his merit. and crowned his
vices by electing him to the presidency Of tho con-
soidaed road. President Watrous discharged his OBJ
legations In a which proved him to be
thoroughly efficient executive officer, and which
cured for him the respect Of all classes In the COM
muny.
Besides an interest In many roads that belong TO
the consolidated system, dependent upon It,
Mr. Watrous also sustained official relations with local
and National banking institutions, with the city gas
and water companies, with the horse railway COM
panes, etc. he did not seek political prefermeDt
but found time to his fellowcitizens as men,
Der of the municipal government In various capacities
He member of the lower branch of the Court of
Common Council from 1850 to 1862. and of the upper
branch in 1863 In the following year he represented
the town in the lower house of the State Legislature
He also performed the duties of road commissioner
for the city from 1866 until June 80, 1870. He was
for several years member OF the board OF educatl0n
city attorney from 1862 till 1865, and corporation
counsel I'm 1872
Perhaps the most important case Mr.. Watrous ever
tried was that In which he defended the Rev. H. H.
Hayden, of Madison. charged with the murder OF Mary
Stannard In the face of overwhelming evidence and
tho combined ability of Judge Lynde Harrison and
Thomas NJ Waller, then State Attorney, Mr.. Various
succeeded In getting the jury to disagree ana to-day
Mr. Hayden Is free man. Until two years ago.
when hi health forced him to discontinue Work, MI
Watrous was one of the most active men In the state
He was also senior counsel In the defence In the trial
of the Malley boys for murder. -, ,,,
Mr. Watrous married in 1887 his first wife, MISS
Harriet j. button, the daughter of his partner she
left him with three children. In 1874 he marrea
Ito CraVp Il.
Iitcb1ed. Conn. who survives him. The surviving
children of the first marriage are George d. Watrols
OF the law firm of Townsend & Watrous; Mrs. Edward
REYNOLDS also Of this city, and Charles A. Watrous
of The New York Evening Sum- The children OF
the second marriage are Maud fourteen years OF age
Elliott twelve; Henry D., ten, and Francis NJ, three
years of age.