The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1857-11-25
The late Hon. Horatio Seymour.

The late Hon. Horatio Seymour.
The funeral of our late venerable fellow
citizen takes place this afternoon. The
exercises will be held at the Episcopal
Church, at two o'clock.
The following biographical sketch is
from the pen Of Hon. SAMUEL SWIFT, who
has been for half century intimately ac-
quainted with the subject of it. Mr.. 5.
has our thanks for this carefully prepared
summary, and 1--WE may safely add
through us the thanks of our readers, of
whom the greater part were acquainted
with the deceased, and to whom we are
sure nothing We could present would be
more acceptable;
Hon. HoRArIo SEYMOUR, LII. D., died at his
residence in this village, at six O'Clock, Satur.
day evening, November 2lst, in the eightieth
year of his age. This event, although not I'M
expected, has SPREAD general sadness over the
community, and justice to the memory of
man heldin such general and high estimation
while living, seems to require some notice te-
sides the simple announcement of his DEATH
HoRATIo SEYMOUR was born in Ltchfell,
Conn, May 31st, 177S. He was the son of
Mai, Moses Seymour, and Mrs Mary (Nlarsh)
Seymour. His father was respectable citizen
of that place, was in the war of the Revolution,
represented THEFT in the State Legislature,
much Of the time from 1895 to 1872, and was
Town Clerk, for nearly forty years. The sub
ject of this notice pursued studes preparatory
to his entering college, at New Milford, under
the tuition Of his brother-in-law, Rev. Truman
Marsh, then located In that place, He was
graduated at Yale College in 1897, with credit,
in class distinguished for talents The fol-
loving year he spent as an assistant teacher in
the Academy at Cheshire, Conn; the second he
spent in the study of law, at Judge Reeves
law school in Ltchfeld. In October 1893, he
came to Middlebury, and continued his profess
sonal studies in the office of Hon. Daniel Chip
man. In the spring of 1900, he was licensed
to practice law, and in competition with several
distinguished and older lawyers, such as Dan
iel Chapman, Samuel Miller and others, entered
Immediately into an extensive practice, and rose
rapidly in general estimation as n man and us
lawyer. He did not seek to extend his prac-
tice to other counties, but in the county of Ad-
olson, no other lawyer we believe, ever had
so extensive O. business, or was engaged at the
same time in so many causes in the different
courts. While building his large and very ex-
pensve brick house in 1916 and 1917, he ex-
pressed to friend his regret TO lay out so great
an expenditure on house; but stated, as some
alienation, that his income during those two
years was sufficient to meet the expense. Not
outstanding his talents and thorough knowl-
edge of law, he was probably no little indebted
for his success to his great popularity as a man.
His career as lawyer was uninterrupted until
the spring Of 1921.
In the meantime, in December, 1900, the
same year in which he was admitted to the bar,
MIR. Seymour was appointed postmaster, and
continued in the office for nine years, but for
much Of the time, on account Of the pressure
Of his professional business, he committed the
personal superintendent of the office, with its
income, TO other hands. When the Vermont
State Bank was established, at the session of
the Legislature in 1906, he was chosen one of
its first Directors, and continued in that office
until the branch at Middlebury was closed. In
1909, he was elected by the people member
Of the Executive Council, and was annually re-
elected for the five following years. In October,
1920, he was elected by the Legislature, to the
Senate Of the United States, the duties of the
office to commence on the 4th Of March, 1921.
At the close Of his first term he was reelected
for second. This, of course, was nm Interrupt
tion to his professional pursuits. At the close
Of his second term in 1883, he returned to the
practice Of law This he continued until few
years since, when his infrmities forced him TO
lo47, he was elected Judge of Probate for the
District Of Addison, and continued in that Of
flee until the fall Of 1866, when he declined
re election. 34S
The corporation Of Yale College, at the COM
mencement in l847, the fftieth anniversary of
bis graduation, conferred on him the honorary
degree Of LII. b.
Mr., Seymour was constitutionally diffident
and distrustful of himself So far from seeking
for Office, We think he never accepted one but
with reluctance, and through the solicitation of
his friends Many years ago. lie stated TO a 4
friend the following incident: At the time of
his graduation, the faculty of the college as
signed him an GRAFTON as part of the public
exercises. His difhdence forbade his undertaking
such an exhibition before such an audience, and
he went TO DR.. Dwight, the President, of whom
he always spoke with high respect, and request
ed to be excused. The President urged him
with various encouragements and arguments to
perform his part. But all in vain Mr. Sey-
mOur told him, it would be impossible; that he
could not go through with it, and that, if he
could not be excused he must take a dismission
from college. At length the Doctor consented
| to excuse him This trait undoubtedly inHu-
enced him in the discharge of his senatorial du-
ties. He did not feel called on, by sense of
duty, among SO many distinguished Senators,
so ready TO speak, to make display, which his
dstrust ofhimself forbade. He was greatly re-
spected for his sound, but modest opinions and
his influence, though silent and nnobtrusiye,
was generally recognized in the Senate. His
intimate friends and associates were among the
most distinguished men connected with the
Government, such as Adams, King, Clay, Web
ster, and Marcy. But he did not often
make any formal addresses in the Senate 1t
was otherwise when he acted in the capacity of
an advocate. The rights and interests of his
clients had been entrusted TO him, and he had
engaged for their defence, and no personal feel
ings would justify his neglect In his address
es to the court or jury, he made no attempts at
display, but, in his quiet and modest way,
poured forth powerful and comprehensive ar
gument, which his opposing counsel found it
difficult to meet, and introduced points IN the
case, which had not occurred to them. He had
great ingenuity and tact in the management of
his causes
As a'politician, Mr.. Seymour was friend
and supporter of the administrations of MIR.
Jefferson and Mr., Madison When party lines
were disturbed at the close Of the war and af-
ter the close Of Mr.. Monroe's administration,
several candidates were presented, reckoned as