Biographies --L

Biographies -- L

Leacock, Hugh

LAW, THOMAS JAMES the able and popular young state's attorney of Deuel County, SD was born in the city of Chicago, Illinois, on the 17th of January, 1870, and is a son of Thomas J. and Josephine (Stanley) Law, the former of whom was born in the dominion of Canada and the latter in Wisconsin. The paternal grandfather of the subject came from the north of Ireland to America and settled in the province of Ontario, Canada, where he married, his wife being a native of that section. The maternal grandfather was a native of New York and a descendant of staunch old New England stock, while his wife was of German extraction and was likewise born in the old Empire state. When the subject was a child of two years his parents removed to Lafayette county, Wisconsin, where his father engaged in the practice of law, and the latter and his wife now reside in Shullsburg, Wisconsin. After completing the curriculum of the high school in Shullsburg, Lafayette county, Wisconsin, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1887. Mr. Law entered the law department of the University of Wisconsin, at Madison, where he completed the prescribed course and was graduated on the 1st of July, 1891, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws, while he was also admitted to the bar of the state. On the 28th of the following October he located at Clear Lake, the judicial center of Deuel county, South Dakota, where he has since been engaged in the practice of his profession and where he has gained prestige as an able trial lawyer and counselor, while he has proved a most efficient and discriminating public prosecutor. He is a staunch advocate of the principles and policies of the Republican party and has been a zealous worker in its local ranks. In 1894 he was elected state's attorney of Deuel county and was chosen as his own successor in 1896, while in 1900 he was again elected to this office, as was he also in 1902, his second term expiring January 1, 1905. In 1891 Mr. Law was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in Amicitia Lodge, No. 25, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Shullsburg, Wisconsin, and he was one of the charter members of Phoenix Lodge, No. 129, of Clear Lake, with which he is still affiliated. He is also a charter member of Clear Lake Camp, No. 1981, Modern Woodmen of America, and of Watertown Lodge, No. 838, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, at Watertown, this state. On the 10th of October, 1894, Mr. Law was united in marriage to Miss Ethel M. Roberts, who was born at Emsdale, province of Ontario, Canada, on the 8th of September, 1877, being a daughter of William and Elizabeth Roberts, both of whom are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Law have two children, Elsie M. and Stanley R.

Biography in "History of South Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) on pages 1526

Law, Hon. Thomas James city attorney of Clear Lake, SD and one of the prominent attorneys of Deuel County, was born in Chicago, Illinois, on the 17th of January, 1870, a son of Thomas J. and Josephine M. (Stanley) Law, the former a native of Canada and the latter of New York state. Becoming a resident of the Badger state in his boyhood days, Thomas J. Law, Sr., was graduated from the normal school at Platteville, Wisconsin, and subsequently took up the study of law, under Judge Higbee, one of the prominent barristers of that state. After his admission to the bar he opened an office at Shullsburg, Wisconsin, where his active professional life was passed. He was one of the successful attorneys of the state and served for several years as county judge in Lafayette county, his course on the bench being in harmony with his record as a man and as a lawyer---characterized by the highest sense of personal and professional honor and distinguished by a masterful grasp of every problem presented for solution. He died April 1, 1910, at the age of seventy-three years, but the mother survives and yet makes her home in Shullsburg. Thomas James Law, whose name introduces this record, was reared in Shullsburg and educated in its public schools, passing through consecutive grades until graduated from the high school with the class of 1887. He then took up the study of law in his father's office and in the fall of 1889 entered the law department of the University of Wisconsin at Madison, from which he was graduated on the 1st of July, 1891. In October of the same year he went to Clear Lake, South Dakota, where he opened an office and has continued in successful practice since that time, rising to a high rank in his profession as he has developed his powers and promoted his talents through wide reading, research and experience. He was elected states attorney in 1896, serving until 1900, and was again called to that office in 1902, serving until 1906. In 1912 he was elected to represent the district composed of Deuel and Hamlin counties in the state legislature, in which official capacity he made a most satisfactory record, giving due and careful attention to all the significant problems which came up for settlement. He is the present city attorney of Clear Lake and he has enjoyed a large practice throughout the period of his residence there-a practice that has connected him with much important litigation tried in the courts of the district. In 1894 Mr. Law was united in marriage to Miss Ethel Roberts, a daughter of William and Mary Roberts, of Clear Lake, and a native of Canada. Four children were born to this marriage, Elsie, Stanley, Dolores and Thomas. The wife and mother passed away in 1908 and in 1912 Mr. Law was again married, his second union being with Miss Anna Kluckman, a daughter of Frederick and Augusta Kluckman, of Clear Lake. By this marriage he has two children, Frederick and Carroll. Mr. Law holds membership in Phoenix Lodge, No. 29, A. F. & A. M., of Clear Lake; in Watertown Chapter, R. A. M.; and in the Watertown lodge of Elks. He is likewise a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and of the Modern Woodmen and he has membership in the Clear Lake Commercial Club. He is today one of the best known men of the eastern part of the state and has made an excellent record in office and also in practice, while in private life he has gained the confidence and warm regard of a circle of friends that is almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintance.

Biography in "History of Dakota Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) on pages 110-111

Look, William

William Look, firm of Look & Hillemeyer, Shullsburg; he was born Feb.22, 1830, in Brunswick, Germany; in the fall of 1851, he came to Galena; worked at the boot and shoe trade about two years; this trade he learned in Germany; in 1853, he came to Shullsburg and commenced the boot and shoe business with Mr. Hebenstreit; this they continued till 1865; this present firm had been established in 1862; he also owns 440 acres of land and property in the village. Married Christina Hammerling in 1853: she was born in Brunswick in 1831; she died in 1860; his second marriage was to Minie Warnecke in 1861; she was born, in 1842, in Hanover; they have one son - William H. [Expert from : Portrait and Biographical Album of Jo Daviess Co. IL. Chapman Brothers 1889]
Submitted by: Mary Katherine K Hebenstreit-Halbrook)

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