The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-03-31
JUDGE SEYMOUR DEAD
Only a Month on the Bench
When Pneumonia Car
Tied Him Off.
SKETCH OF HIS CAREER
A Brave Soldier, d Prominent
Lawyer and q Leading
Politician.

Judge Roderick B. Seymour died at his
home, No 7 Paulmier place, about $50
O'Clock last night. About two weeks ago
he contracted a severe cold which de-
veloped into pneumonia. In spite Of all
that care and skill could do the Judge
sank rapidly until he passed away last
night.
Roderick Burt Seymour was born at
Newark. Kendall county. Ill, May q,
1S4S. He came of New England stock.
His fathers family settled in Connecti-
cut in 1860, and his father, Ephraim San
ford Seymour. was a native of Vermont,
who practiced law in Chicago n other
places in Illinois. His mother was a
descendant of the Foote family of Mas
sachusetts n Connecticut. and was
the daughter of a physician of Whining
ton, Vermont.
Young Seymour came to Jersey City
in early life. He attended Professor
William Dickinson's Academy in the old
Lyceum on Grand street, and also studied
at the Monson and Yonkers Military
Academy. He graduated from Columbia
College in 1866 and was admitted to the
bar in 1869.
In 1852 Judge Seymour enlisted in Com
pany A, Twenty-second Regiment of
New York, as a private and participated
in the campaign at Harper's Ferry n
the Shenandoah Valley. He was hon
orably discharged at the expiration of
his term, but in 1864 when Governor
Parker called for troops, he raised a
company of 100 men, which went to the
front his command as captain,
as Company A., Thirty-seyenth Regiment,
New Jersey Volunteers.
He took part in the campaign of the
Army of the James, in Virginia, under
with General Grant before Petersburg.
At the expiration of his term of service
he was honorably discharged with his
regiment at Trenton. He was one of the
first members of the G. A. r. in this
State, and was at different times a mem
Der of Joe Hooker Post, Edward M.
Stanton Post and G. Van Houten, No. 5
He has held many responsible positions
in this order. He has been post COM
mander. has served in the council of
the administration, as Judge Advocate
of the Department n as delegate to
the National -Encampment.
Judge Seymour was ALSO connected
with many fraternal orders. He was
Lodge, No. 4S, F. and A. M, of Jersey
City, and also a member of Enterprise
Chapter, No. 9, r. A. NJ, Hugh De
Payen's C~ommandery, No. 1, K. r., and
of Warren Council, No. 5, r. and s. M,
Of which he was master for five years.
He furthermore received the thirty
second degree of the Ancient Accepted
Scottish Rite Northern Masonic Juris-
diction. He was a member of the Palma,
the Union League and the Crescent Clubs
and several political organizations. In
1871 he was appointed Police Justice of
Jersey City and occupied the office three
years. He was elected a member of
the Board of ~Freeholders in 1889 and two
years later he was sent to the Assembly.
He was one of the committee tina revised
the Martin act and took a prominent
part in securing its passage. He served
two years in the Board of Finance and
Taxation, being made a member of that
body in 1882. He was also Corporation
Attorney for three years.
Judge Seymour has always been an ac-
tive, consistent Republican, and often
when it looked darkes for his party and
every one else was tempted to give up
the battle. he insisted upon fighting 1t
out on regular Republican lines. He
was a member of the City Republican
Committee continuously from 1868 to the
time OF his death, and in 1883 he was
made a member of the State Committee.
Governor Griggs appointed him Judge
OF the District Court to succeed the late
Judge McGrath, and he entered upon his
duties just a month ago.. He leaves a
wife and three children. A special meet
ing of the Union League Club will be
held this evening to take action of the
Judges death.
The flag on the Minkakwa Club has
been at half-mast last night and today
out of respect for Judge Seymour.
The lawyers of Hoboken assembled in
the Hoboken District Court this morn
ing to take some action touching upon
the death of Judge r. b. Seymour. Upoe.
motion of Counsellor Clement Deb.
Leonard, it was decided to suspend ali
Court business until after the funeral.
Speeches eulogizing the dead lawyer were
mad by Counseilors Stuhr, LEONARD and
Judge E. r. Paxton.