The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-01-17
WASHINGTON B.
WILLIAMS
Last But One Of the Old Gen
Grafton Of Lawyers Dies
in New York.
PUPIL OF PETER BENTLEY
He Decided Six Hundred Di-
vorce Suits Traveller
and Literary Am.
ateur.
PUPIL OF PETER BENTLEY

With profound regret news was received
/ in this city this morning that Counselor
Washington B. Williams died at four
o'clock A. NJ today in a New York hos
pital.
For some years he had been suffering
from stomach and kidney troubles. a
week ago he took suddenly i'll in the con-
sulting room OF his New York physician
and was at once taken to the Hahnemann
Hospital on Park avenue He was too Ill
to be removed to his home in Newark.
His wife was with him at the time of his
seizure and has been at his side since.
The end came quietly. state of coma
preceding it.
Washington E. Williams was born in
this city August is. 1892, and descended
on his fathers side from the historic
Williams family Of Rhode Island. He
was Of Welsh descent When mere bog
he was sent to the Lycsum School IN tnls
city, then conducted by William I. Dick
inson. father of DR.. Gordon X. Dickinson
of this city. In 1913 he began the study
Of law in the Offices. of the late Peter
Bentley and was admitted az an attorney
IN November, 1853, and a counsellor in
1857. He remained in Afr. Bentley's office
for some time. during the progress Of the
great case OF Cough ys. Bell. In which
Mr.. Bentley was engaged. de devoted
much time to the important question of
real estate law and riparian rights in
voIved in that case, and these and similar
lines Of work led him to direct his prac-
tice TO those branches of real estate.
equity and corporation law which he pur-
sued. In these sspeciaities he was widely
a17T
For several years. particularly before
the number of Vice Chancellors was in
creased. he was extensively occupied in
hearing equity cases in the capacity of
advisory master Among other matters
he had occasion to pass upon more than
geo divorce suits Connected as counsel
in very many important suits he figured
prominently in the winding up Of the
Mechanics and Laborers" Savings Bank
of this city, in which were developed i'm
portant and far-reaching principle # law
as TO the duties and liabilities Of airec-
I tors of such institutions.
Mr. Williams was staunch Republican
and since the inception OF that party, IN
1855. and during most of its campaigns
rendered it efficient service. He trav-
4 elled extensively in this country and
Europe with especial reference to literary
and historical research, and he possessed
one Of the largest classical and historical
libraries in the State
In 1858 he married daughter of the
late John w Van Den Bergh of Virginia.
Their only child daughter, was married
10 Lawyer GuyrJ. Edwords who was for
merly in partnership with Mr.. WilliamsS
Mrs. Edwords died in july. 1894
Mrs. Edwords died in July. 1894
leaving a daughter. brother of Mr.
! Williams is the well known organist and
composer of this city, Mr.. w. Williams
All attendants at the Park Reformed
\ Church are familiar with his music
The remains will be taken to Newark,
where the funeral will beiheld.
Lawyers in town who were eontenpora-
neous with Mr. Williams when he first
practieed law in this city were much af-
fected by the news of his death and
their tributes to his memory were of the
highest order
4 Mr.. Isaac S.sTaylor said:-
II regret his loss and the Court of
chancerv loses one Of its most efficient
lieutenants. He was d man of the strict
est integrity and assiduous worker and
one of the ablest lawyers in the State. He
was prudent, wise and a saIe counSeHor.
Mr.. James p. vredenburgh, an old
friend Of Mr. Williams said that noble
figure had passed away.
'sHe was sound lawyer, whose jucg-
ment was always to be relied upon. Few
men enjoyed more the confidence of the
court than he. ! am sincerely sorry TO
hear Of his DEATH
Mr.: Jacob Weart told Of Mr. Williams's 5
connection with the rise and progress Of
the Provident 1nstitution for Savings.
1T was IN December in the seventies. z
said Mr. wsart that Mr.. Williams be-
! came actively interested In the Savings
Bank. He was generally put on all the
important committees and was MEM
Der of the committee which reorganized
tie bank. On that committee were Mr..
Williams. myself Charles Haines Of the
Arm Of Haipes & Haliocs Peter Bentley
ana Thomas G. Brown the dry goods
man That committee cut down the
tnsrty-two trustees 10 seventeen and prae-
ffcaliy charged the entire working sys-
tenn Of the institution. His great work
vas the part he played IN the Mechanics
Bank
Under Chancellor Rvnyon. continued
Mr. Weart. The served as an advisory
master You know thar formerly there
were only two Vice Gnancellors when