Hamilton College - Hamiltonian Yearbook (Clinton, NY)

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he was prize declaimer Sophomore year, but was not a prize winner. He took however the hrst lliathematical prize and was Valedictorian. After graduation, Mr. Root taught in the Rome Academy for a year and then going to New York entered the law school of New York University, then in charge of john Norton Pomeroy, fclass of 1846, Mr. Root, to meet expenses, taught in B. XV. Dwight's school for boys, and Miss Greens school for girls, he later became tutor to boys preparing for college. Under the rules controlling at that time, many of Mr. Rootls classmates were admitted to the bar after the first year's study. He however completed the two years' course and entered practice in 1867. During his earlier years in New York he became a member of the VVest Presbyterian Church, then under the pastorate of the Rev. Dr. Thos. S. Hastings, tclass of 1S48.Al He was also active in the Y. M. C. A. Mr. Root soon became known as a most thorough, painstaking lawyer, having keen perception, full mastery of underlying princi- ples, unusual skill as a trial lawyer, and remarkable ability in the arrangement of facts and presentation of argument. His success in a case involving the limits of responsibility arising from the certify- ing of a check, brought him into notice in financial circles and he became one of the prominent young lawyers of the city. He entered somewhat into politics and formed a strong friendship with Chester A. Arthur. He was present on the sadly solemn night when after news of the death of President Garfield, Mr. Arthur took without formality the oath of office as President of the United States. Mr. Root at first declined all tenders of office, but he finally accepted the place of U. S. District Attorney, to which the President had al- ready nominated him. He was energetic and successful in his work as District Attorney. Among other matters, he put an end to the private mail service in the city of New York, which was a serious detriment to the regular mail, and he forced to trial, conviction and sentence, the President of the Marine Bank, despite all efforts which great wealth and high family influence could make. With the ex- II

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1EIihu 1Root LIHU ROOT, the third son ofthe late Doctor Oren Root and Nancy W. Buttriclc Root, was born on College Hill, in tl1e building now known as Knox Hall, fthen occupied as a residence,j February 15, 1845. In the various alterations of the building, the room in which he first saw the light has remained unchanged. On the fatherls side he is descended from james Root, of Great Barrington, Mass. His grandfather, whose name he bears, settled in the town of Vernon in 1797, on a farm which was in the northern edge of the so-called Oneida Reservation. His greatuncle, VVilliam Root, who took up the tract adjoining on the south, was a leader in politics and represented the county in the Assembly of 1820. His father, becoming a teacher at the age of 19, clung to that work, became in 1849 Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy in Hamilton, and lecturer on Natural Science, and resigned in 1881 at the age of 78. On the mother's side, Mr. Root was the great grandson of john Buttrick, of Concord, who as Major commanded the patriot force and gave the first firing orderf' of the American Revolution. His grandfather, Horatio G. Buttrick, was a Major in the force raised to meet the threatened French invasion in 1796. The elder Professor Root's family moved to Clinton in 1850, and young Elihu soon after began his school work in District No. 6. He continued his school work in preparation for college at the Clinton Grammar School. He entered Hamilton in 1860, with one of the few classes in the college history numbering over fifty. He was a hard student and despite deficient preparation, was soon recognized as among the foremost. He wrote prize essays but won no prizesg IO

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piration of President Arthur's term, he tendered his resignation to President Cleveland, but at the President's request withheld it until the following July when a successor might be selected and appointed. Returning to private practice, Mr. Root found at once matters of importance involving great labor and large responsibility pressed up- on him. For the last fifteen years he has been recognized as fully abreast the ablest lawyers of the New York bar. He has never sought office. He was once made the Republican candidate for judge of the Court of Common Pleas. He ran well ahead of the ticket and the party leaders affirmed that he would have been elected, had he not gone west on law business about two weeks before the election. He was for a year chairman of the Republican ,County Committee and has been called often in council by party managers. He was one of the delegates at large chosen to the Constitutional Convention of 1894, and was suggested for its presidency. He re- fused however to consider the suggestion and urged Mr. Choate for the position. Mr. Choate was made president and Mr. Root was chairman of the committee on judiciary and leader of the Repub- lican majority. In july last, on the resignation of General Alger, he was offered the war portfolio in President McKinley's Cabinet and with great re- luctance accepted. His appointment was hailed everywhere with satisfaction, his work has been highly commended and his first Re- port, issued in November last, has received from all parties the greatest praise. Mr. Root has received high honors in a social way. He was for two years President of the New England Society of New York, and was from january, 1898, until after his appointment as Secretary of War, the President of the Union League Club. In January, 1878, Mr. Root married Clara F. XfV2llCS, of New York, the only daughter of the Hon. Salem H.. XVales, for years one of the proprietors and publishers of The SCZ'E7Zfiji6 A11zm'z'm7z.. They have three childreu, Miss Edith, recently a debutante, Elihu jr., a member of 1903, and Edward Wales, preparing to enter 1905. I2