George W. Wickersham A FEW weeks ago the newspapers pub- Wickersham has not identified himself solely lished a report that Mr. Taft had with any particular interest, but has had very selected Mr. George W. Wickersham of New diversified professional associations. He was counsel for the New York State York for the position of Attorney-General in his Cabinet. The report, often reiterated since, Savings Bank Association for upwards of ten has not been denied. In view of Mr. Wicker- years. He was a member of and counsel sham's prominence as a member of the New for the committee which carried through the York bar the facts of his career are of interest. reorganization of the Chicago Traction lines. George Woodward Wickersham was born He was counsel for the Construction Com in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on September 19, pany which built the subway in the city of 1858. He comes of English Quaker ancestry. New York, and until the spring of 1908 was His grandfather, Thomas Wickersham, was general counsel for the Interborough Rapid one of the founders of the Philadelphia Board Transit Company, the company operating the of Brokers, now the Stock Exchange, and its subway and elevated lines in the Boroughs of first president. His father, Samuel Morris Manhattan and the Bronx. He is also counsel Wickersham, served during the Civil War as for Messrs. S. Pearson & Son, the contractors Lieut.-Colonel of the 169th and Colonel of the who have built the four tunnels under the 22d Pennsylvania Volunteers. His mother, East River for the Pennsylvania Railroad. Elizabeth Cox, daughter of J. J. Woodward, a He was one of counsel for the readjustment retired publisher of the city of Philadelphia, managers in connection with the merger under the auspices of the Mexican Govern died in his infancy. He was her only child. In 1873, at the age of fifteen, the boy ment, of the Mexican Central and National entered the School of Civil Engineering of Railroad of Mexico into the Mexican Rail Lehigh University, where he remained for ways Company, for which he is now counsel. Mr. Wickersham is active in some of the two years. During the next three years he studied under private tutors and engaged in prominent charitable agencies in New York, being a trustee and vice-president of the business. In 1878 he entered the Law De partment of the University of Pennsylvania, New York Association for Improving the whence he was graduated in 1880, receiving Condition of the Poor, and a trustee of the the degree of LL.B. Some months before his New York Institution for the Blind. He is graduation he passed his examinations and a member of many clubs and is one of the was admitted to the Philadelphia bar. He governors of the City Midday Club and of practised in Philadelphia in connection with the Rockaway Hunting Club. While never Hon. Charles B. McMichael, now one of the very active in politics, yet he has always Judges of the Court of Common Pleas No. 3 shown much interest in local political affairs, of that city, until 1882, when he removed to and he was for two years president of the 27th Assembly District Republican Club. the city of New York. In 1901, the University of Pennsylvania While in Philadelphia he was a reporter on the staff of the publication known as The conferred upon him the honorary degree of Weekly Notes of Cases, for Court of Common Master of Arts. At the invitation of the Pleas No. 4, and the Supreme Court of the Graduate School of Business Administration state. In New York on January 1, 1883, he of Harvard University, Mr. Wickersham has became managing clerk in the old established delivered before it during the present season law firm of Strong & Cadwalader, and four three lectures on corporate organization. years later was admitted to partnership in In 1883 Mr. Wickersham married Mildred this firm, with which he is still connected. Wendell, of Washington, D. C., a daughter As a member of this firm Mr. Wickersham of Cornelius Wendell, Esq., who was Public has had a large and varied practice and has Printer under President Johnson. They have been engaged in much important litigation in three children, the eldest of whom, Cornelius the state and federal courts. While acting W., is a member of the graduating class of as counsel for a number of large industrial, the Harvard Law School, and one of the financial, and transportation companies, Mr. editors of the Harvard Law "Review.
