The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-07-12
ARTHUR SEWALL.
Sketch of the Life of the Man Nom
mated for Vice-President by the
Chicago Convention.

Sketch of the Life of the Man Nom
mated for Vice-President by the
Chicago Conventions.
Arthur Sewall the Vice. Presidential
nominee of the Democratic party, is well
known in San Francisco among ship
owners and agents. He has been here sew
eral times in the capacity of managing
owner in several ships in which he is
largely interested, and all. or nearly all, of
which were built at his shlpyards in Bath,
Maine. The large ships Shenandoah, Sus-
quehanna and Kenilworth, Henry Viii
lard, Reaper, Willie Resenfeld, Iroquois.
w. F. Babcock, Solitaire and the Dirigo
| have been controlled by Mr.. Sewali. Tue
names of these vessels are familiar about
the city front. The last time Mr.. Sewall
was in San Francisco was ABOUT one year
ago. The firm of Williams, Dimond d
Co. are his agents in San Francisco. The
concern of which Mr.. Sewall is the head
is Arthur Sewall & Son.
The father of the e-Presidential can
didate was a builder of ships in Bath when
that industry was at its height and there
was money to be made in that way. They
were wooden ships of the old time sort, as
stout and as trim as they could be made
by the burly and skilled shipwrights OF
New England. The father laid the basis
of an enduring business, and provided
handsome competence for his family. His
son Arthur became identified with the
business in due time, and another brother
also was shipbuilder. but he died some
wears age. Arthur Sswall has continued
in the business. and has added to the
original wooden-ship plant a steel ship
yard. From the latter it is not known
that more than one steel ship has been
produced-the Dirigo. The product of the
Sewail plants has included schooners in
considerable numbers. In fact, the Sewall
name has been connected with shipbuild-
ing for many years.
Arthur Sewall has been largely inter-
ested in railroads. and has been president
| of the Eastern Maine Railroad and also
president of the Boston and Maine Rail
road. He has been largely concerned in
other business enterprises. He is esti-
mated to be a wealthy mana millionaire.
| He lives in an elegant mansion on the
| finest street in Bath, the Sewall home
having cost somewhere about $50, 900 and
perhaps more. About it are fine grounds,
conservatories and generally pleasing and
slightly accessories. 1t may be recollected
u,
somely entertained President Harrison
when the latter visited Bath few years
! ago. Harold M. Sewall. who was United
States Consul General at Apia, Samoa,
during the trohblous times in which Malie-
! toa was a prominent figure, is son of
| Arthur Sewall. The son is an ardent Re-
publican, and was delegate to the Re-
! publican National Convention of 1896 at
O. 7 - r.
Kinley for President.
Personally Mr.. Sewall is about feet 8
| inches tall, rather heavily built. HIS
whiskers and hair are somewhat gray. He
| is 81 years old. His manneris modest and
unassuming. He has not figured as an
ofice-hclder largely in politics. Maine,
his native State, it will be recolected, has
been at times the scene of much discussion
over the money question. Scion Chase.
the once-noted Greeuback leader, stumped
the State in behalf of fiat money" in
company with Samuel F.. Cary of Ohio in
a campaign in which the agriculturist was
pushed to the fore, the favorite illustra-
ton of financial questions chosen by Scion
Chase to point his meaning being an alle-
| CORY about 'them steers"
| Captain McLoon, who resides at 242S
Jackson street, this City, an old towns
man of Arthur Sewsll, has just returned
from Bath. He recently sailed q ship be-
| longing TO Arthur Sewall, but he has
| little to add to what Is already know
concerning the personality OF Mr.
Sewall. Captain McLoon gave repre-
sentative of THE CALL some facts concern
! ing Bath, Me-, which form the basis of
/ picture of the surroundings among which
| Arthur Sewall has lived. Bath, he says
lis quiet little place, its streets shaded
with great trees after the fashion of so
many New England towns, an air of peace
and industrial decay resting upon it. The
ship-building industry is far from being
what it was. Other industries have been
established there, but have generally
failed. THE town is no bigger than it
was when was boy there" said Captain
McLoon. Into this picture the stability of
the Sewall family fits as into a frame
Arthur Sewail who was born in Bath
November 25, 1895, lives on the estate
| which has been in the possession of the
Sewall family since 176O, when his grand
father took the title only three removes
from grant by King George. Among the
vessels built in earlier days the old-fash-
Toned whaling vessels and coasters figured.
The State of Maine was once famous for
these craft. The firm has been Sewall &
Son for three generations.
Arthur Sewall has two children, Harold
nj. and William D. He is president and
principal owner of the Bath National
Bank. He retains large interests in rail.
roads aud railroad building. For many
years he has been chairman of the Maine
Democratic State Committee ana he ha:
been liielong Democrat.