Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-04-09
7. w. Seton Dead.

and banker, passed away wednesday
morning shortly before noon, at his city
home, Park avenue and Laurel street,
after an acute attack which came upon
him last Sunday while he was at his large
ranch in the Jamacha Valley. lie had
been in delicate health for some time
previous to this, and for the past three
months the decline was steady. he was
moved to his San Diego home Sunday.
At the time of his death, Mr.. Seton
was trife past 81 years OF age. lie
had lived in San Diego number or years,
coming here shortly after the great boom
in 1889, and had been prominently ldent-
flied with the progress OF the city Tor
nearly score OF years: lie was pfesi-
dent of the San Diego Savings Bank, the
oldest savings bank in the city, establish
ed the wear of Mr.. Seftons advent in
San Diego: owned the Seton Building,
one of the finest in the city; a 900-acre
ranch, known as the Monte Vista ranch
in the Jamacha, and other valuable real
estate; and in addition controlled the }:
w. Seton Manufacturing Company OF
Anderson, Ind, and Chicago.
This plant turns out many sorts OF pa
per boxes, cartoons, butter dishes, ETC.,
and is one of the big factories in the In
diara city. He was identified with the
San Diego Flume Company as president
in 1890, succeeded E. S. Babcock as pres
ident of the San Diego Water Company
in 1894, and consolidated the two in 1895.
His ranch is one of the finest in the en-
virons of San Diego. :,
Mr.. Seton loved the California air and
sunshine and especially San Diego. A
wound he received by the accidental dis
charge of pistol many years ago, caused
him much trouble, but the healing climate
of San Diego prolonged his life.
One of the characteristics that distin-
guished him was his fondness for birds,
amounting almost to passion. He had
the finest aviary in the city, in which he
kept birds of all species from all over the
world. One class, particularly, he davot-
ed his attention to. This was the species
of phesants known as the Chinese; he
had large flock of these. Then, too,
he was proud of his success in raising
malard ducks. His ranch was paradise
for the feathercd animals.
The following account of his life is
written by one of his closest friends:
"Born in. Thurmont, Md, March Il,
1851, the youngest of seven children.
Began his business career when fifteen
years old, in general merchandise store.
When nineteen, went to Baltimore, Md,
and secured position as travelling sales
man for wholesale hardware company.
By hard work and close attention to his
employers interests he made himself so
valuable that when he reached the age OF
twenty-five he was getting the largest
salary of any travelling man that went
out of Baltimore.
"In Piedmont Md, in the same year,
he received wound by the accidental
discharge of a pistol he was handling that
was the cause of years OF Ill health.
About two months ago he contracted a
severe case of grippe, which affected the
heart and resulted in his death. In 1878
he married Miss Hattie Lyle Hollida, of
Shepherdstown, w. Va, and went into
the manufacturing of paper boxes, in
Dayton, Ohio, under the name of the
Crume-Sefton Company, and continued in
this business until 1889, when he sold his
interest and started another company,
the j. w. Seton Manufacturing Com
pany, with plants in Chicago, H., and
Anderson, Ind, of which company he be-
came the president and continued up to
the time of his decease. They are today
the largest paper novelty plants in the
United States.
In 1889 he, with his family, moved to
San Diego, where he built his present
home.
"He at once became identified with the
business interests of the town, was made
president of the San Diego Savings Bank,
which position he held to the day of his
death. A director of the First National
Bank and president of the San Diego
Flume Company. In 1895 he consolidat-
ed the tiume company and the San Diego
Water company and sold out his inter-
ests in both, retiring from the presidency.
He was always proud to call himself a
self-made man and was always on the
lookout for ambitious young men that he
could help. There are men today high
in the business world that can and do
give j. W. Seton credit for their success
in-life. He was worker himself and
| liked to have workers about him. Very
conservative, strictly honorable, abso-
lutely honest and just, when he had any
thing to say he said it-he never equivo-
cated-he loved the truth and hated a
! liar.
''Mr. Seton leaves very large es-
tate, of which he has been heard to say,
| every dollar is an honest dollar.
! Besides his wife, he leaves son, Jos.
Weller Seton, Jr., and daughter, Lena
Seton Wakefield, and two grandchildren,
Franklin Webster and Joseph Seton
| Wakefield"
The funeral services, to which friends
are invited, will be held at the residence,
Laurel street and Park avenue, at 3 p.
M, Thursday, under the auspices of San
Diego Lodge of Elks. The San Diego
| Sun of March 18th.