Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-05-01
WILLIAM Fl. SEWARD.

| bic has as warm friends, and bitter enemies
as any other prominent man in the Union
was borne in the village Of Florida, in tbt
town of Warwick, Orange county, New
York, on the 26th Of May, 1901. His an
cestors were of high responsibility, and oil
his fathers side were of Welsh, and on hi:
mothers of Irish extraction. The inhabi
tants of the town of Florida were principally
emigrants from Connecticut and other New
England States. He enjoyed the usual ad-
vantages of school and academical education
in his native village, andi the adjoining
town OF Goshen-until 1916. when he en-.
tered Union College in Schenectady, scarce.
ly fifteen yeats of age. Even at this period
he was able to pass an examination for the
Junior class; by preference however, he en-.
tered Us Sophomore. His remarkable assidait5
and capacity are still remembered bv hi:
classmates, as he readily distinguished him.
self By his severe studies, his brilliant talents,
and manly and generous character. As
he ro Sc at four in the morning. and set up
late, it was in college, no doubt, he acquired
those habits of continuous mental toll which
have since distinguished his whole career.
When in his senior term, he Withdrew for
year from college. and spent six months in
teaching at the south. The residue of his
vacation he devoted to the study of the law;
and when the next senior class had reached
| tie point at which he had left his own, he re-
turned to college, and at the close of the
term graduated with the highest honors.-
He then resumed the study of the law, with
John Anthon of New York. and completed
his preparation for the bar at Goshen with
admitted by the Supreme Court at Utica, in
1922. On the first of January, 1923, when a
little more than q years of age, he removed
to Auburn, Cayuga county, where he soon
attracted the attention of Judge Miller Of
that town, in short time bec1ne associated
in his Office as partner, and thus rapidly
succeeded 10 large and lucrative practice.
In 1924, he married the youngest daughter
of his asseciate-Frances Adeline Miller,
lady who inherits large share of her
fathers intelligence and originality of char
acter. Remarkable for her accomplishments
kindness of heart, and natural endowments.
Mrs. Seward in one of natures noble wo-
men. The fruits Of this union have been
five chiidren-four of whom, three sons and
daughter, are living. One son is in the
United States army; another, a lawyer by
profession, is one of the editors Of the
"Albany Evening Journal" the other two
children are quite young.
"Mr. Stewards personal appearance" says
contemporary. scan scarcely be said to be
prepossessing. At least we never knew a
person who had, through the medium of the
journals, become acquainted with his
masterpieces OF eloquence, afterward see
him without an expression of disappointment.
And yet there are many noble points in his
personal appearance. He is scarcely aver
age sized, in modest in his ways, and often
wears upon his face a sleepy look which
wears off at once when engaged in animated
conversation" In 1890, Nc. Seward, al
though not yet thirty years of age, was elect
ed to the Senate of New York, in which
body he took his seat in the following jan
uary. During the four years that he was
member Of the Senate, he, among other ef
forts, advocated the aboishment o. imprison-
ment for debt; an improvement in prison
discipline; the election of various officers by
the people, then appointed by the Governor
and senate; and the great interests of educa-
ton and internal Improvement. He also op-
posed the removal of the deposits from the
United Ssates Bank; the interference OF the
Executive with the bank; increase Of corpo-
ratons; and the enlargement OF the salaries
of public officers.
In 1884, he was nominated for Governor
of New York by the Wing party, defeated.
In 1887 he was again nominated, and elected
by over 10000 majority. In 1880 he was
reelected. At the close of his tern he
returned to the practice OF his profession, of
which he has always been brilliant Orna-
ment.
In 1913, Mr. Seward was elected, almost
unanimously, by the legislature of New
York, to the Senate of the United States, in
place ofJohn A. Dix, wLos. term expired on
the third of March, l04S. In the Presden-
tial canvass of the first mentioned year, Mr..
Seward gave General Taylor hearty
and enthusiastic support, and from their
meeting in Washington till the death of the
latter, they were firm and cordial friends
In 1854, Mr.. Seward was reelected to the
United States Senate for six years from the
4th of Mlrch, 1855.
At the present time, Mr.. Seward is gen.
orally regarded as the most prominent leader
of the new Republican party. Some of that
party urged his nomination for the Presiden-
but it is generally thought by the more dis
cerning, that denomination will fall in some
other direction.-Sdtarday Evenin9 Post.