New-York tribune., 1872-10-11
OBITUARY.
WILLIAM ii. SEWARD.


it would be impossible to render complete the annals
of severSi most important periods
NJ. VIM IReward, who died at his residence IN
Auburn yesterday afternoon, was born in Florida,
Orange County, May 16, 1901. His ancestors upon
the paternal side were Welsh; his mother (born
Jennngs) was Of Irish extracti0n-a fact OF which
Mr. Seward is said to have been proud. His pater-
nal grandfather John Seward was an officer during
the Revolutionary War, jealous partisan with the
rank Of Colonel, and frequently engaged IN active
service. Samuel s. Seward, the father. removing
from Sussex Co., Va, to Florida, NJ w. combined the
practice of the medical profession with commercial
pursuits. His son William Of whom it is recorded
that upon one occasion he reversed the usual order
of things, by running away 10 school, eyinced
an unusual taste for books at early age. At
nine years of age, he was sent to Farmers
Hall Academy at Goshen, where he was dis
tnguished as o declaimer debater and
essayist. 40 10 lao entered union College, Schenec-
tady where his favorte studies are said TO have
been rhetoric, moral philosophy, and the classlcs'
During his senior year young Seward left college for
about year. passing six months of the time as
teacher in Georgia, where he was popular, and was
kindly treated-a circumstance which was alluded
to against him during the warm controversies upon
the ant-Savery question. He returned to his col
lege in 1920 where he graduated Alb. 1870 with hon
Rev. DR. Hckol and Prof Tayler Lewis. The friend
ship contracted during his course with President
Mott was continued through his life. After gradua-
tion Mr. Seward studied law first with John Anthon,
ESQ., in this city, and afterward with John Duer and
Ogden Hoffman, esqs in Goshen. being called to the
Bar in 1922. He commenced his career as q
lawyer at Auburn, in c0partnership with the hon.
Elijah Miller, whose daughter, Miss Frances Adelne,
he married in 1924. From the beginning Mr.. Seward
took high rank as an advocate, and speedily ac-
quiTed an unusual practice and popularity One OF
his biographers says: during the whole course OF
his practice he has never been known to act for
man against q woman; and he was mover but once
engaged in a cause against the accused, and that
was an instance of extreme outrage by man upon
n younQ woman" Mr.. Seward naturally betook
himself at an early period to politics. his father who
was of the Jeffersonian school, being warmly en-
gagged in them During the warm controversies
which preceded the admission of Missouri to the
Union, Mr.. Seward is said first to have expressed his
convictions upon the subject of Slavery. In Octo-
ber 1924 he wrote the address of the Republican
Convention of Cayuga County to the people. This
is remembered as strong and effective attack upon
tbe Albany Regency body of politicians
strongly and successfully devoted to the in
terests of Mr.. Van Buren. In an oration de-
hvered July H. 1926 at Auburn he took strong Anti
Slavery grounds in 1927 he spoke to his townsmen
i'm favor of rendering assistance TO the Greeks srug
Cling for liberty; in 1923 he favored the reeiecton
of John Quincy Adams to the Presidency; and then
il was after the triumph of Gen. jackson, that the
National Republican party disappeared from the po-
litcal field. The Anti Masonic party had risen into
temporary and local importance. With this party,
his biographer states "Mr Seward and his friends
naturally united as it afforded the best position for
successful resistance of the National and State Adj
ministrations. The Anh-Masons, in $780, sent Mr..
Seward to the State Senate from the With District,
he being elected over the Jackson candidate by
majority of 20O0-an entire revolution in the poll
ties of the district This Mr.. Stewards first
election to a civil office. He had not yet COM
pleted his 29th year, but he easily took
foremost position and kept it. He found the jack
son party strong and confident, sustained by the
patronage both Of the State and National Govern
ment, and he was opposed to the Albany Regency
perhaps the most powerful clique which ever con-
troed the politics of New-YOrk or took possession
of the legislative authority. Mr.. Seward fell natu-
rally into the position of leader OF the opposition
lie distinguished himself as the promoter of wise
laws and necessary reforms; and of period of his
life were his public services honorable OF use
full. Long afterward, when he had made some mis-
takes and experienced not few disappointments,
he must have looked back with pride and pleasure
TO his career in the Senate of NewYork when he
was the champion of many benefcent measures-of
the abolition of Imprisonment for debt, of the cstab-
lishment of the common school system, OF
the ameliOration of prison discipline OF
better pententiary system Tor female
convicts, and of several internal improvements At
this time he advocated economy in public expendi-
lures and sustained the personal liability OF stock
holders He sustained Gen. Jackson in his defense
of the Union against Notification, but vehemently
opposed the removal of the deposits. 1t is remem-
bered that he was an early friend Of the New-iork
and Erie Railway; and he may be considered one OF
the chief promoters of our present efficient militia
system. In respect to national politics he generally
affiliated with those who very soon were consoh-
dated in the famous Wing party. In 1882, he voted
for Writ electors it being understood that they
70 support Mr. Clay in the College, If such support
should be found of any value. In 1893, Mr. Seward
visited Europe and published on his return series
of letters in The Albany Ereniny Journal describing
tho countries which he had visited. The career OF
Mr. Seward in the Assembly concluded with an ad-
dress of the minority TO the people, in defense
of the Whiq position. He delivered. on the 10Th of
July an Grafton on the life and character of Lafay
cite before the citizens of Auburn, which was rem
dered interesting by containing an account OF his
recent personal interview with the great French
statesman.
In 1894, as the Wing candidate for Governor of
New-York, AR. Seward was defeated, although he
led his ticket He went back to the law and to the
private advocacy of liberal measures and reforms,
speaking at Auburn in 1885 on Education and Inter
nal improvements In 1896 the Anti-Rent troubles
brought him prominently forward, and he estab-
lshed at Westfeld as agent Of the Holland Land
Company. speech delivered by him in 1887, in the
Whig Convention of Cayuga County, is still remem-
bered as an unusually able production. During the