from: The Souvenir Industrial Edition of Plattsburgh 1897 edited and published by W. Lansing & Son, Plattsburgh page 75-76 Beckwith & Botsford One of the post prominent of the law firms of Plattsburgh, is that of Beckwith & Botsford. It was established in 1892, by George Henry Beckwith and Elmer F. Botsford. This firm has an extensive and varied practice, its members being among the leading lawyers of Clinton County. Their offices on Court House Square, occupy an entire building which is one of the old land marks of the village. In this office, Mr. Beckwith, the senior partner, first studied law, and laid the foundations for the successful practice of his profession since that time. Mr. George Henry Beckwith is a native of Plattsburgh. He was prepared for college at the Plattsburgh Academy, after which he attended Amherst College. Later on, however, he left Amherst for Williams College, where he completed his course. He then studied law with the firm of Beckwith, Johnson & Weed, was admitted to the bar in 1860, and became a member of the firm of Beckwith & Johnson. He was also associated in later years with several other firms. Mr. Beckwith at one time held the office of District Attorney of Clinton County, and performed the duties of that office for about six years, but declined a renomination on account of poor health. He is a member of the Board of Education of Plattsburgh, and is one of the trustees and vice-president of the Vilas Home. His advice as counsel in complicated cases is held in hight regard by his colleagues, and he enjoys the esteem of the community. The junior member of the firm, Mr. Elmer Francis Botsford, is one of the rising young lawyers of Clinton County, having already established a high reputation as a careful adviser and shrewd financier. He was born in 1861, at Burke, Franklin County, and received his elementary education in the district school of his native town, being afterward prepared for college at Franklin Academy, Malone. He subsequently entered Dartmouth College, from which he graduated in the class of 1886, with the degree of A.B. In 1894, his alma mater conferred upon him the honorary degree of A.M. Mr. Botsford was admitted to the bar, November 30, 1889, and commenced the practice of his profession in Plattsburgh, continuing alone successfully until he formed the partnership with Mr. Beckwith, in whose office he served his preliminary clerkship. There is probably no one more active than Mr. Botsford in promoting the business interests of Plattsburgh, and he himself is a prominently identified with a large number. On the first day of October, 1896, Mr. Beckwith severed his active connection with the Plattsburgh firm and opened an office at No. 100 Broadway, New York city. He will still, however, act as counsel for Mr. Botsford, who intends to continue the business under the same firm name.