Thomas James Law Biography


	This biography appears on pages 110-111 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				HON. THOMAS JAMES LAW. 

	Hon. Thomas James Law, city attorney of Clear Lake 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.