The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-02-12
OBITUARY..
Death Of the Eminent Buffalo At
torney, HenryW w. Box--Eils Early
Struggles and Great success.

writer received letter from Henry w.
Box, then an invalid at Saranac Lake,
N. Y, from which the following extract
is taken:
"* Looking back over my career,
1 recognize you as the first friend that
struck in Honesdale after coming to this
country, and you have always been good
to me when you have seen me. You gave
me my letter of introduction to Mr.. Mel
son; otherwise should not have got in
at Kingston. That winter the school was
very much overcrowded, and the ladies'
parlor was turned into dining room. |
was assigned to wait on it, and with that
service, and taking care of Mrs. Nelson's
fires, Igot my board and tuition and
that was the start of my education. wv
The trifling service to which Mr.. Box
refers was rendered more than half
century ago. 1t was in 1854 that, then
a youth Of eighteen, he came down from
Bethany, and frankly confessing boy
ish indiscretion which had resulted in his
expulsion from the University of North
ern Pennsylvania, Methodist institution
which had been established in that viii
lage, and took day scholars as we'll as
more advanced students, solicited the in
fluence OF the writer in securing him ad-
mission to Wyoming Seminary, with the
privilege of defraying his expenses by
rendering their equivalent in menial SER
vices. AS the writer had already been
at the Kingston school for some time,
and was honored with the friendship
of the then principal, the late DR.. Mel
son, the letter written him at Mr.. Box's
request had the desired effect, and the
boy was enrolled as a student when the
next term opened.
His education at that time was quite
as meagre as his means. Born in Corn
wall, England, April 25, 1885, the death
of his father left him while eight years
of age to the care of his mother, on
whose shoulders rested the burden of
supporting large family. His early
years were passed in a constant struggle
with poverty and without educational
advantages 80 that when, in 1851, he
came to this country he had scarcely
mastered the English alphabet. Fortu-
nately an uncle, William Pethick, living
at Bethany, took an interest in the lad.
and furnished him his first home in his
adopted land. Henry, then boy of
fifteen, ignorant as to book learning,
and unused to our customs and manner
of living, could do but little to recon-
pense his relative for the fatherly care
bestowed upon him but in his long
after life and days of phenomenal pros
perity, he always held his benefactor in
the most grateful remembrance. When,
through the kind offices of Mr.. Pethick
and the elder Mrs. Harrison Gray Otis,
then living in Bethany, the boy was ad-
mitted to the primary classes in the
University, his backwardness afforded
his fellow pupils much amusement, but
his determined application and rapid ad.
vance in his studies, as we'll as "a certain
sturdy seif-assertiveness, always one Of
his characteristics, soon won for him 6
place in their respect and regard. Ever
the final rupture which ended his days
at that institution was not greatly to hi.
discredit. A breach of propriety on the
part of member of the faculty coming
under his observation he had, boy-like
impaired his discovery to another, ant
} he was himself sacrificed to save the rep
! utation of the real offender.
At Wyoming Seminary, notwithstand
ing the humble relation he was com
PEELED to bear to the institution, thu
cheerful disposition which he brought tt
his duties, and the earnestness will
which he pursued his studies very soor
secured him the good will of the instruc
tors and the respect and friendship O
his fellow students. When his attain
ments had reached the point which war
ranted such step, he entered his nam,
as law student in the Office of. Judg
Collins, in Wilkes Barre, and commenc
ed reading Blackstone under the super
vision of that eminent attorney. On hi
graduation he engaged in teaching, a
times as private tutor and at others il
} the public schools, thus supplying him
} self with the funds necessary for his sup
: port and the continuance of his lega
studies until he entered the law office o
VIM. H. & S. E. Dimmick, in Homes
dale. On the Sth of September, 1860, j.
8 company with Frederick Fuller, now G
Scranton, Marshal Wheeler and w.
Headley, he was admitted to the Wayn
} County Bar. In the spring of the fol
lowing year he removed to Buffalo, n
, Y, for the purpose of locating there fo
, the practice of his profession.
Probably the most strenuous portio
of his life was his early experience il
! Buffalo. 1t was essential for him to ia
4 miliarize himself with the code of Ne,
, York, and during such preparation
} was necessary that he should hold som
! position which would yield him tn
} means of living. He had eight dollar
in his purse when he arrived in eth
8 Queen City of the Lakes" and