The Holland Society of New York - Yearbook (New York, NY)

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77 Previous to the funeral, the members of the city and county bar held a meeting in the City Hall, It was largely attended. It was called to order by Hon. Amasa Parker. Justice Rufus W. Peckham was made chairman. A committee was appointed to draft suitable resolutions on the death of Mr. Lan- sing. Chairman Peckham spoke feelingly of Mr, Lansing. He had known him for many years, and he spoke of the friendship existing between them, Hon. Hamilton Harris also spoke of his regard for the deceased. He esteemed him not only as a lawyer, but as a personal friend. He was a suc- cessful practitioner in the courts for more than forty years, and was affable andkindly always. He was a native of Albany, having an ancestry which had been identified with the city for years and years. Mr. Harris spoke of the worth of Mr. Lan- sing as a man, as a lawyer, as a citizen, and as a resident of Albany. Hon. Simon W. Rosendale paid his tribute to Mr. Lansing's memory. It was a delight for a law- yer to meet la man of the type which Mr. Lansing represented. He was a conscientious lawyer. As an official he had the loftiest ideals of duty. He reminded one strongly ofthe courtliness, dignity, and politeness of days gone by. Judge Countryman spokeof the splendid record which Mr. Lansing had made in the Supreme Court as a reporter. Mr. Amasa Parker said: MR, CHAIRMAN,--In adding my testimonial on this occasion, I would preface my remarks by saying that it was my great privilege to know Abraham Lansing from my early youth, and intimately. Later on, when I attained my majority and was admitted to the bar, Mr. Lansing was well established in his profession and had already acquired a high reputation. Por upwards of forty years Mr. Lansing was a quiet, thorough, d1l1- gent, and successful practitioner. He was equally able before a jury at 1zz'sz'p1'z'zzs as in the Appellate courts of this State. He was most painstaking in collecting and arraymg his facts., his briefs showed a thorough knowledge of the law, and his

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79 It was in that year, 18 37, that the bread riots oc- curred. A mob -broke into his employer's place, and he carried the Hrm's books to his father's office in Nassau Street. Mr. De Witt subsequently became a member of the Stock Exchange, and gave up his membership in 1848 to start out for California. He embarked in a brig, accompanied by a business friend named Harrison, and sailed around Cape Horn with a cargo of merchandise, reaching San Francisco in ISO days. Mr. De VVitt was in San Francisco at the time of the gold discoveries in 1849. He founded the firm of De Witt 81 Harrison, com- mission merchants, and for three years carried on a most prosperous business. Mr. De Witt returned to New York in 1852, and opened a branch office of the firm. The firm afterward became De Witt, Kittle SL Co., and on the retirement of Mr. De Witt, in 1870, the firm was changed to Kittle 85 Co. Mr. De Witt is said to have taken every route possible to California in his numerous trips, except- ing the pony express and Ben Holladay's stage- coach route. He became a member of the Holland Society, Nov. 17, 1885. GEORGE PLATT VAN VLIET, of Salt Point, N. Y., united with this Society, June 8, 1899, and died at Morristown Memorial Hospital, Morristown, N. J., Gctober 29, 1899. He was born in the town of Pleasant Valley, Dutchess Co., on May 4, 1866, and received his education at the collegiate institute of Dr. james M. De Ganno, at Rhinebeck, N. Y. In his young manhood he spent much time in travel in different parts of his own country. He married, May 24, 1894, Miss Florence Aldrich, of Whitefield, N. H. Mr. Van Vliet's ancestors came to this country from Utrecht, Holland, in 1662, and first settled at The Esopus QKingston, N. YQ. The present branch of the family removed to and was among