Prentiss acting as his second. Mr. Williams was educated at the Academy of Exeter, N. H. While there he made the acquaintance of Ralph Waldo Emerson, and was invited by him to spend a part of the vacation at his home in Concord. This acquaintance ripened into a friendship, which lasted unabated until the death of Mr. Emerson. Through Mr. Emerson, Mr. Williams made the acquaintance and acquired the friendship of A. Bronson Alcottand Henry D. Thoreau.

After leaving the academy he went to Buffalo, and studied law in the office of Henry K. Smith, and afterward in that of President Fillmore, where he remained some years. During Mr. Fillmore's administration he was a frequent guest at the White House, and met many of the prominent statesmen of that period.

He continued in the active practice of law at Buf-

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

falo until 1854, when he moved to New York City, and there opened an office. He soon built up a large practice, being retained in many suits of the first importance. He had been in New Y'ork but a very few years, when he formed the closest friendship with Horace Greeley, continuing unimpaired to the last sad days of Mr. Greeley's life. He was retained by Mr. Greeley to defend The Tribune in the many libel suits which were brought against that paper during Mr. Greeley's management, among the most noted of which were the cases of the notorious Count Johannes, and of Dewitt C. Littlejohn, at that time Speaker of the Assembly, in both of which cases Mr. Williams was successful. He was also associated with Charles O'Conor in several important suits. For a time he was partner of Francis B. Cutting; but his mind was of a cast which rendered him impatient of partnerships, and he much preferred to be alone, assisted only by clerks.