Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-04-07

was Tuspeuteu py inc bencn nuu Dy MIS-
! a5gpcinteB.
His sudden and unexpected death
has remoyed from this Stats one whose
| character was above reproauh aud tho
record of whose life will pass down tho
yearu as that of worthy and upright
man, striving always to set hia duty
md ondeavoring to perform it. There
| fore, be it
Resolved, That the members Of the
bar OF New Castle county express their
| appreciation OF the many virtues which
| surrounded the life of the deceased,
thsir sorrow at his death and their sym
| pathy and coincidence for the members
OF bis family in their great bereave-
ment.
Resolved. That copy OF these resolu-
| tlons be sent to the family of the de-
ceased and that they he presented to
the various courte before which the do
ceaaed Practical for appropriate action.
Resolved, That this meeting now ad-
| journ and proceed In a body to his
funeral as testimonial of their regard
| ana respect.
Lewis @. Vandegrift,
Benjamin Nields,
Alexander b. Cooper,
| ]. II. Whiteman,
J, H. Iioifecker,
Committee.
The resolutions were presented by
MIR. Vandegrift and were seconded by
Mr.. Nields in speech, in which he
dwelt upon the Chancellor's charac.
ieristic Of gentleness Whereby be won
friends.
Mr.. Cooper, following Mr.. Nields,
spoiie feelingly of his acquaintance
with Mr.. Wolcott. They we're poys
together in Dover. and stuffed law
| under Eli Salisbury at the same time.
Mr.. Vaudegrift then added his
tribute. He had known MIR. Wolcott
intimately as a leader and member of
the bar with high ideals. His great
characteristic was evenness OF mind aud
| character.
Committees were appointed to present
the resolutions to the different State
and Federal Courts.
A special meeting Of the Young Men q
Democratic Club was held on Friday
for the purpUse OF taking action on the
death OF Former Chancellor Wolcott,
a committee on resolutions, consisting
OF Charles j.. Campball, Francis j.
McNulty, @. II. Ten Wseges, ID. W.
Lynch and Martin r. FAIRY, presented
the following, which we're unani imously
adopted:
Though we must submit to the de-
crees of the A IL Powerful Ruler OF Man
kind, the eivsr of life and death, we
cannot but feel shocked when one
whose future life promised nothing but
good to his State and high honor to
himself is taken from us. The people
of this community, and especially the
Democrats OF this city, have felt that
they had many aimB and hopes in COM
mon with the late Hon. james l.. VOL
cOtt and it ia with sincere sorrow and
regret that the news of his untimely
death vas received.
Resolved, That the Young Mons
Democratic Club of Wilmington give
expression to its appreciation OF his
ability and worth as an honorable citi-
zen of our State and as man whoss
example was light to ths young men
of our marty, who desire to bs conuiu-
cred true patrints and lovers of our
State and country. by his death our
party has been deprived of a trusted
leader whom We will long mourn, and
the State gifted son.
Resolved, That these resolutions be
spread upon tha minutes. given to the
press, and copy be sent to the family
Of the deceased.
Resolved. AS further mark of re-
spect, we now adjourn"
SKETCH OF THE DECEASED.
James L. Wolcott was a natiye of
Mispillion hundred, ami was burn
about one mile and half east of
Harrington. February Attn. 1912. His
parents were Josiah and Elizabeth
Wolcott, and he received his education
in the country schools in which he
afterwards tsught In 1863 Mr.. Wolcott
entered upon the study of law with the
Hon. Eli salisbury, and was admitted
to the bar April 23d, 1866. After his
admission he took an active interest in
politics and soon arose tn prominence
in both it and his profession. Tue
State Senate, at the session of 1871,
elected him clerk. In February, 1871,
he was chosen counsel for the Levy
Court Of Kent county, and continued
in this position until January, 1879,
when Gov. John W. Hall appointed
him Secretary Of State ior the term
ending January, 1852.
Upon the death of Chancellor Willard
Dhhispufss lhE' "uiCulb was nppuiutcu
by Gov. Reynnlds, on May Sd. 1898. to
succeed him, but i'll November, 1895.
resigned in orGer to devote himself to
private practice, particularly to the
duties of counsel for the Delaware
railroad, succeeding George Y. Massey
in this position.
Mr.. Wolcott was conspicuous figure
in the Democratic politics of Delaware.
lie was the head and front of what was
called the Wolcott faction of the party,
which was radically hostile to the
Salisbury faction, the lines between
the two being very distinctly marked
in Kent county. 10 1888 he entered
the lists as an avowe1 candidate for
United Statps Senator, in opposition to
the late Eli Saulsbury, whose term was
about TO expire. After an exciting and
memorable primary canvass, Mr.. VOL
colt carried majority af the delegates
to the Kent county Democratic con
vention, and by the application OF the
unit rule, thiB convention nominated a
ppmplaka Wnloott Lao nialnkira Eiulxat.