The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-03-09
NOTES dN 4 BUSY LIFE
Begun on the Tow Path and
Brought to Its Zenith in the
Senate and the Forum.

in Deer Park, Orange county, N. T., on
November 5, 1899 Beginning at the bot
tom of the ladder of fortune, he has
,, shown what integrity and effort may 90
toward raising men to fame and pros
perity. There was not much play in his
life as a boy. There was drudgery in
stead. When eight years old he was
forced to work for a living. He was en-
ployed to drive horses on the Delaware
and Hudson Canal He attended the dis
trict school during the winter and studied
hard by the light of the pine knots he
had gathered during the early morning
before the school meeting. When eighteen
years old he took charge of the district
school at Mongaup. Sullivan county, NJ
His compensation was $40 a month. He
was economical and saved enough to at
tend the classical school of William
Rankin at Deckertown. N. J..
Young Winfield was born of a very re-
ligious family and felt a leaning towards
|
should become minister of the Re-
formed Church, and the church which he
then attended was to assume the cost of
his education and study for the ministry.
After year at Deckertown he was
able to enter Rutgers College, New Bruins
wick, where he made brilliant record
both for studious habits and natural gifts.
He graduated in 1852, fourth in the class
and first in many branches.
In pursuit of knowledge, Winfeld
found that he was not destined for the
church. Law was what he wanted. He
came to Jersey City and entered the office
of Abram o. zabriskie, then one of the
shining lights of the bar, to study the
legal profession He was admitted as
an attorney in 1856, and in 1860 he became
counselor at law.
Mr.. winfield did not forget to whom his
success was due With the first money
that he earned he began paying his
debt to the Consstory of the church in
Deer Park. He never rested until every
dollar which had been spent on his
bringing up was repaid with interest. For
many years he devoted his abilities to
civil practice, diversified with legal work.
In 1865 he took his first prominent place
in politics. He was nominated for state
Senator from Hudson county. He was
at this time one of the foremost young
men in the State. With his oratory he
was very prominent figure. at all the
great campaign meetings. That year was
a hard one for Democrats and a memor-
able one. All the other great Democrats
in the State were defeated, but Mr. Win
field carried the day and was elected by
large majority. About this time or
perhaps little later, the office of Chan-
cellor became vacant, and Governor
Ward, Republican, nominated Abram
zabriskie to fill the vacancy. The SEN
ate was Democratic, and Mr.. Winfield
held the balance of power. There was
bitter opposition to Mr.. Zabriskie. He
had fought the monopoly grants to the
Camden and Amboy Railroad Company.
The Senate was Democratic, and the
railway conpanys lobbyists made an
earnest contest. Mr.. Winfield made
bitter fight for the confirmation of the
|,appointment 1t was his vote that made
up the necessary majority. For his ar
titude in this fight, Mr.. Winfield had
long to endure persecution at the hanns
of the leaders of his own party.
On the conclusion of his term as Sena-
tor in 1868, he abandoned politics as an
ungratefuI and improbable game. Ac-
cident opened the way for him in tie
great career which he was to pursue as
a criminal lawyer. He was retained in
the famous Lewis will case, and in it his
first laurels as p criminal lawyer were
won. Lewis was an elderly miser, who died
leaving an estate Of over 81, ,000;e00 to the
Federal Government. Before the money
had passed over, a woman appeared, as
Sert1n& Iudl Sic WdS thAo w'-ON u eAiS
deceased. She made considerable impress
sion as to the strength of her claim; but
Winfield soon picked the case to pieces
and showed the underlying fraud, the
forgery of the marriage records and the
character Of the adventures. This case
established his standing as lawyer.
Another of his earlier cases was the
famous Bennett murder trial.
Richard Smith, policeman, was found
dead in his bed in this city and his wife
and Covert D. Bennett was charged with
shaving him. On the first trial both were
convicted. Mr. Winfield appealed. The
case came up once more and he secured
the acouital Of both
In 1888 Mr.. Winfield was appointed
Prosecutor of the Pleas for Hudson
county by Governor Ludlow. He was re-
| appointed by Governors Albeit and
Werts in 1883 and 1855 His office has
been a model one, pattern BY which
| others may benefit. It has been e sat
isfactlqn to All good citizens. irrespective