New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-20
OBITUARY..
GEORGE FREDERIC BETS.

George Frederic Belts died at his home. NO lo2
Madson-ave on Tuesday He was born at New
burg ~ Y. on June H. 1927. He was the son OF
Samuel RossIter Belts. who represented New
York district in Congress. and thereafter Tor forty
wears from 1877 to 1861 Judge OF the United
States Court for the Southern District OF New
York HIS mother was Caroline Dewey. Of North
ampton, OF that wel-known family OF lawyers anu
Judges OF Massachusetts,. George +. Belts was
graduated from Williams College in 1874. at the
early age OF seventeen years, with high honors
He attended the Harvard Law School and then
coming TO New-York studied with the leading
firm OF Butler & Evarts. and was admitted to
practice In the courts the day he was twenty-ohe
years old which remarkable achievement
for that period of long law study. He after"arh
became a member of the we-known firm OF Beebe
Belts & Donohue. OF which the present ex-Judge
Donohue the Junior member; and subse-
quentIy, when twenty-six years old. he became the
junior partner OF Francis p. Cutting. who was al
that time the leader OF the New York Bar "A
brilliant career at the bar opened before him. but
his health gave out. and after season OF travel
he accepted the appointment OF clerk Of the United
States District Court under his father. Judge
Belts and held that Office for nearly twenty-five
years. until 1873. He early Interested In mill
tary matters and was. prior to the breaking out
OF the Civil War. lieutenant-colonel OF the old
Washington Grays now the Sth Regiment OF
Militia.
When Fort Sumter was fired on he was one OF
the first to enlist and at the age Of thirty-three
went TO the front Northumberland OF the 9Th
Regiment of New-York Volunteers. which was
raised largely through his energy He participated
In the campaigns Of that regiment and In the
Burnside expedition and capture Of Roanoke
Island in February. 1852 where the regiment dis
tingulshed Itself by charging on and capturing a
Confederate battery
on the resignation OF his father. Judge Belts. he
continued hold the office OF clerk OF the court
under Judge Samuel Blatchford. afterward Justice
OF the Supreme Court. until 1873 when he resigned
and resumed the practice OF law, as counsel ana
ago he retired from active practice ana devoted
himself TO the management OF his business analrs.
He was for years member OF the Board OF Trus-
tees of the Five Points House OF Industry, acting
fed with the whole successful course Of that H.
stitution. He was also for many years a member
ton for the Deaf and Dumb, and was connected
with many other philanthropic and charitable en-
terpriseS He was member OF Grace Ch h tor
League Club one Of the oldest members OF the
Century Associs ton. and a member OF the Uni
versity Club and OF the Loyal Legion. and In his
social life OF New-York
He married Ellen Porter Of Boston. stepdaugh-
Him. with four children-Samuel r. Belts. Of New
York; Mrs John Addison Porter OF Washington;
Mrs Woicott Howe Johnson OF Boston, and Mrs.
r Tileston Wells Of New-York Much regret
Mr.. Bettss death became known. He attended 4
trustees meeting at the insi.tHt9n fortnig ,t
present at the unwilling OF tao erected In the
chapel the memory OF Hugh D. Camp. the
former treasurer. w F. Barnard. the superin,
tendent OF the house said that Mr. Belts would
be greatly missed. The chapel has been hung with
black