Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1868-09-05
or THE SEYlIO UR
FL MILY.

CHUfOo OF HefeWttU9U insanity.
The New York World, in replying to the
absurd stuff about insanity, in which the
Radicals are dealing, gives the following in
teresting particulars about tho Seymour
family:
For family in which there turks her
editary taint of insanity, that of Governor
Seymour presents tho most surprising rec
ord ever heard of. 1t is u Connecticut fam
lily, nearly all Of whose members for two
generations havo filed high official trusts,
either in that State or in States to which
they emigrated. The following biograhical
notices of some of them are copied from
Lanman's "Dictionary of Congress-:
SEYMOUR, DAVID l..
He was member Of the Now York AS
sembly In 1886, Rensselaer, county, and a
Representative in Congress from 1913 to
1885.
SEYMOUR, DAVID l..
Born in Connecticut, and was a Repre-
sentative of the State, in Congress, from
1851 to 1858.
SEYMOUR, HoRAT1o.
Born in Litchfield, Connecticut, May 81,
l77S; graduated at Yale College 1877 I;
studied law at the Litchleld School, and
settled in Middlebury, Vermont. He was
Judge of the Probate, member of the
Council, and Senator in Congress, from
1921 to 1928. lie died at Middlebury, No
vcmber 2l, 1857.
SEYMOUR, oRIGEN s.
He was born in LitchGeld, Connecticut.
in 1904 was bred lawyer has been in the
State Legislature, and served as Speaker
in 1850; and was a Representative in Con-
gress from Connecticut, from 1851 to 1855.
SEYMOUR, THOMAS II.
He was born in Hartford, Connecticut, in
1908; was educated at the Middletown Mil
itary Academy studied law and practised
the profession was a Judge of Probate; a
Representative in Congress, from Connecti-
cut, from lS43 to 1856 in 1916 went TO Mex
leo as Major of the New England regi,
ment, and was with General Scott at the
City of Mexico; he was elected to tho
State Senate in 1850, and reelected three
times; and was appointed, by President
Pierce, Minister to Russia, which position
he continues to occupy.
SEYMOUR, WILLIAM.
He was born in Connecticut, served as
member of the New York Assembly in
ioo- anu iOOtg anu was u lNclltotuldllNG III
Congress from 1895 to 1887.
Major Moses Seymour, Governor Sey-
mour's grandfather, was cavalry officer
in the war for independence. He had five
sons, all Of whom were men OF mark aud
distinction, and one daughter In one Of
the local Connecticut histories-the ellis
tory of Litchfield"-it is related that "of
these FIVE sons, one became distinguished
as Anancier and bank president; two be-
came high sheriifs of this county one was
a Representative, Senator and canal com
missioner in the State of New York and
one was twelve years United States Sem
ator from Vermont-the most remarkable
family Of sons ever raised in Lithiield. The
daughter, ClarisSa Seymour, married the
Rev. Freeman Marsh, for many years the
rector of st. Michael's church in this
town"
The hereditary faint Of insanity (if such
there was) seems never to have been dis
covered or suspected by the numerous con
stitueucies who elected so many members
of this family to positions of official trnst.
Office Judging from their experience
would seem to be a prophylactic of wonder
iul sureneSs and efficacy in preventing the
development Of hereditary insanity, as no
member of the family ever exhibited the
sHghtest symptom OF mental alteration
while in Office, and nearly the whole family
have been public characters since the be-
ginning Of the Revolution airy War-that is
is to say, ever since the country had a sep
arate history. Governor Seymour's father,
who removed TO this State, was canal COM
missioner, a member of the council of ap-
pointment under the first State constitu-
tion, he served in both branches of the
State I,QOiS ntnrn Mounr Of
President of the Farmers Loan and Trust
Company. On his mothers side, Governor
Seymour is also descended from revolu.
uonary officer. His maternal grandfather
was Colonel Forman, Of the
First New Jersey Regiment, and after the
close the war, member Of the celebrated
order of the Cincinnati. Instead Of an an
cestry of inyalids, Governor Seymour comes
Of vigorous, healthy stock, which has
an extraordinary crop of sound
intellects Of moro than average ability.