Lester Chase, 1815-1903

Lester Chase

1815-1903

Chenango American, Greene, NY, February 12, 1903

Lester Chase, Esq., for more than a half century, a leading citizen of this town and a lawyer widely and favorably known in this and surrounding counties, died at his home in this village [Greene, Chenango Co., NY], February 4, 1903, aged 87 years.  He had been in failing health for the last six months, and at the last, death came suddenly, though not unexpected.  His funeral was attended Saturday afternoon.  A large number of our townspeople attended to show their regard and respect.  Rev. Henry E. Hubbard officiated.  Chas. and Eugene Clinton, Esqs. and M.F. Porter, Esq., of Greene, and Hon. C.W. Brown, Hon. S.S. Stafford and H.S. Stratton, Esq., of Oxford, all members of the Chenango County bar, acted as pall bearers.  Interment followed in Sylvan law cemetery [Greene, NY].  He was a communicant of Zion Episcopal Church.

Lester Chase was born at Triangle, Broome county, May 2, 1815.  He was the son of Reuben and Laura Waterman Chase.  His grandfather, Josiah Chase, was a native of Bristol, Massachusetts, but after his marriage settled in Worcester, Otsego county.  Both his father and grandfather were farmers and were solid, substantial and influential citizens in their respective communities.

Like the majority of the successful men of his generation, Lester Chase, after acquiring the first rudiments of an education, became a school teacher and taught district school and boarded around.  He thus gained an experience worth more than book knowledge in after life and obtained means for a course of higher education, which he pursued at Oxford Academy, then the most famous educational institution west of the Hudson.  Upon the completion of his school days, he went to Greene and entered upon the study of law in the office of Robert O. Reynolds, who ranked high as a brilliant lawyer and polished and forcible advocate and, who a few years after Mr. Chase entered his office, was appointed District Attorney.  It is worthy of note, in these days of continuous change, that the law office of  Mr. Reynolds stood upon the same ground in the village of Greene as the office owned and occupied by Mr. Chase for many years and now owned and occupied as a law office by his son, L. Elwyn Chase, Esq.  He also studied with Hon. Robert Monell, a distinguished lawyer of Greene, who successively was to be Member of Assembly, District Attorney, Congressman and justice of the Supreme Court.  In 1840, after a thorough apprenticeship, he was admitted to practice at Albany and a month later admitted in chancery at New York city. He chose Greene for his home, and hung out his shingle, and continued in active practice there for forty-five years.  In 1878, he took his son, L. Elwyn Chase, into partnership, which was continued till Jan. 1, 1885.  Since that time the son has practiced alone, but by his father's request and desire, has conducted the business under the firm name, L & L E. Chase, the father having a pride in his chosen profession and a prejudice against being called retired.

Mr. Chase was well fitted by nature to be a lawyer.  He had a natural and superior legal mind, which he aided and cultivated by extensive reading, hard study and close thinking.  He was a man of remarkable energy, could express himself with great clearness, and was indefatigable in the prosecution of any matter he undertook.  In argument he was logical, forcible and convincing.  Of irreproachable private character, honest and open in his business methods; he quickly won the confidence of the public and gathered about him a large clientage, which he never disappointed, and retained through his long and honorable legal career.

He was twice married.  On March 30, 1842, he was united to Mary A. Ringer, daughter to John Ringer, of Geneva.  Of this union there was born one daughter, Catherine W., who is now the wife of John C. Reynolds, and resides at Stevens Point, Wisconsin. After the death of his first wife, he was remarried to Catherine E. [Hollenbeck], daughter of David Hollenbeck, of Greene, on Dec. 26, 1848.  There was born to them one son, L. Elwyn Chase, Esq., who with his mother, survive.

Lester Chase was a lawyer of the old regime.  He entered upon the study and practice of his profession when the old traditions were yet strong and believed in.  A legal career then stood for a long life of study and of earnest and careful thinking. The legal profession was then a real profession.  To be a true lawyer and achieve an enviable success in the calling meant for a man to "live like a hermit and work like a slave;" but once admitted to the select circle, it classed him among the cultivated and influential men of his community. He had for his contemporaries and met in forensic contest such men as Balcom, Mygatt and Rexford of the earlier generation, and Glover, the Prindles, Stanton, Newton, Bundy and Merritt of the later generation.  He survived them all, and lived to see his life span a period in our history, which has seen the professional lawyer lost in the business man.  Chase, Rexford, Mygatt, Monell and their earlier and later contemporaries were engaged in "the practice of the law;" today their successors are simply "in the law business."  But he never laid aside the polished manners, the urbane courtesy and the self respecting dignity that distinguished the lawyer among her fellow citizens in the days of his youth.  He was true to his ideal to the last.  His fame as a lawyer will soon pass away, for the fame of a lawyer is evanescent.  It needs must be so, for he ranks with evanescent material.  He makes "the supreme effort of his life" in the trial of a cause today; tomorrow that cause is of no utility or present interest to the community at large.  His effort sinks into forgetfulness with the occasion that brought it forth.  Nevertheless the lawyer knows, when the shadows of life grow long, that if he has been true to the traditions of his profession, he has served his day and generation to better purpose than he could have done in any other path of life.

Lester Chase leaves to his family the precious legacy of a devoted husband and loving and indulgent father.  There was always between him and his only son, who was also his law partner, a strong bond of attachment.  During their intimate relations of over a quarter of a century, nothing ever interrupted their continuous confidence, sympathy and mutual affection.  He leaves to his village and fellow townsmen the memory of a true, honorable and patriotic citizen; and to his legal brethren the example of an honest, painstaking and reliable lawyer.  It is such men as Lester Chase that preserves the unity of our great nation and presages hope for its future.

Remembrance

Chenango American, Greene, NY, April 30, 1903

For many years my ever beloved and venerated parents were near neighbors of the late Lester Chase, Esq., and when a boy I was intimate with him, for he made much of his neighbor's children.  When he passed away a few weeks ago, an obituary appeared in these columns, which treated more especially on his triumphs as a lawyer, and as a man of high honor among his constituency, but not fully covering his social, neighborly qualities.  Lester Chase was one of the most genial, polished and kindly hearted neighbors I ever know.  He always had a kindly, pleasant greeting for the children in his neighborhood, and it was always a great pleasure to receive his attentions.  When I was a lad he never passed me without a cordial salute, and often he would stop and inquire about my people, and perhaps relate some pleasing story, or anecdote, that impressed my youthful mind, and encouraged me to look upon the sunny side of life.  The sweet impressions he made upon my mind linger there after all those years, and the encouragements and advice he gave were beneficial in after life.  Mr. Chase was always solicitous for his neighbors' welfare, and any assistance they desired, if within his power, was always freely granted.  His kindly greetings and genteel presence were ever apparent throughout his long and honorable life.  But a few weeks before his death, I met him on Genesee street, and although enfeebled by the weight of years, the same bright spirit and cordial hand shake were extended me as in the days of youth.  It has been correctly remarked that Lester Chase was an old time, polished gentleman. Greene boasted of quite a number of citizens of this class during those years, but none more so than the old friend of whom I write.  Peace to his ashes, and an immortal crown, is the wish of---The Man About Town.