The Penn's Grove record., 1901-10-18
James NJ. SEYMOUR.

James NJ. Seymour was born III New
York. He is the senior member Of the
engineering firm OF Seymour Il Whitlock,
After completing his time Of service in
the engineering department oil the Novel
tv Iron Works in New York City, he was
engaged by the Newark Machine Com
pany to take charge OF the designing de
partment OF their works here. In 1862,
when the Sharp's Rife Manufacturing
Company of Hartford, Conn, received
the contract for gun machinery for the
Spanish armory at Oyeido, Spain, Mr..
Seymour was selected to superintend its
construction. He was also sent to Bos-
ton to prepare drawings for the machln-
cry to be used in making guns Tor the
Boston armory. He then returned to
New Jersey and was made general super
intendent OF the New Jersey Arms and
Ordnance Works at Trenton, which en-
ployed between six hundred and eight
hundred men. He served there during
the war time and so endearcd himself 10
the hearts OF the workmen that his name
and fame spread over Mercer county.
That accounts, TO a degree, Tor the great
popularity with which the people in that
section greeted his candidacy for the nom
inatiOn OF Governor. The firm of Scy-
llibllI u W lllbibth Was Stdlttu III A2'Hs
and has continued in business since.
In 1884, and again in 1887, Mr.. Sey-
maur was elected a Democratic member
of the Newark Aqueduct Board-since
abolished. When a member of the New
ark Aqueduct Board in 1856, Mr., sey-
mour introduced a resolution abolishlng
certain contract work. He Contended
that the profits that went into the peck
cts OF the contractors should 90 instead to
the men. This resolution was passed
and remained in force during his con-
nection with the Board. He also adyo-
Gated Saturday ~half-holidays for the en-
ployees OF the Water Department, and
was the originator OF the movement
which has resulted in the closing of fac
tories, stores and public and private bust
ness on the seventh day Of the week at
noon in this State.
In 1888, Mr.. Seymour was appointed
United States Commissioner to Spain by
President Cleveland.
In 1891 Governor Albeit selected him
for State Supervisor OF Prisons.
In 1898 he was nominated for Alderman
by the Democratic party in the Eighth
Word, then, as now, overwhelmingly Re
publican, and came within thirty-siH
votes of election.
In 1894 MIR. Seymour was appointed by
Governor Werts a member OF the State
Board Of Education, which office he still
holds.
In 1894 he was nominated for Mayor by
the Democrats, and although he led his
ticket by nearly one thousand votes, he
was defeated. In 1895 he carried the city
for the Assembly, but was beaten in the
entire county. lie was named again for
Mayor in the Spring of 1896, and received
a plurality of d;Jef2 1,o. Julius Il htah
kuecher, who had beaten himt%G years
before. In 1898 he vas again elected by
3, 73S over JohnsEisele, the Republican
nominee, aud last year was reelected Tor
a third term, defeating r.. c. Jenklnson
by-2, 62S.
The Mayor is a member OF several
prominent organizations, and enjoys the
rare distinction OF being honorary mem
Der of the Newark Typographical Union
No. 103, a branch union OF the lnterna-
tionaI Typographical Union OF North
America, and is generally well thought
of among the laboring people.
Mr.. Seymour lives amid comfortable
but u]npretentious surroundings in Mt.
Prospect avenue. Neither himself nor
Mrs. Seymour take any amount OF inter
est in society. The family attends the
Methodist church.