Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1911-01-25
OBITUARY..
William Oscar Seymour.

Rridgefield, Conn, Jan. 24.--After an
illness which extended over but few
days william Oscar Seymour, MEM
ber of the state board of railroad COM
missioners and a member OF the mouse
of representatives, of the state general
assembly, died at his home here to-
night of heart disease.
Mr.. Seymour who has been prom
inent in local republican and state
politics for many years. was born IN
this place October is, 1888, and was
one OF the descendants of ThomSs
Seymour, one of the twenty-five per-
sons who purchased the site for the
town of Ridgefield from the Indians.
He was barn and brought up ON his
fathers farm and educated in the To-
cal schools and in a seminary at
Armenia n. Y. He taught school in
New Canaan in 1849, and six years lat
er established private boarding
school for boys and girls in this place,
which he maintained until his health
failed him in 1869. On relfnquishins
his school work he engaged in civil en-
gfnaering. and in 1873 was appointed
chief engineer of the New York, New
Haven and Hartford railroad, a posi-
ton which he held until 1881, when he
was appointed chief engineer of the
Boston Eoosac Tunney and Western
railroad. In 1888 he was placed in
charge of the location and construc-
ton of extensions to the Wisconsin
General railway and other western
roads.
In 1858 and 1869 he was a represent
ative from Ridgefield in the general
member of the railroad commission by
Governor Lounsbury, also of Ridge
field and has been a member of the
commission up to the time of his death
today. From 1892 to 1903 he was judge
of probate for the Ridgeheld district
oil
g. member OF the house of representa-
tiyes He was placed on the commit
tee on cities and 4ooroughs. In 1902 he
was a member of the constitutional
convention.
He was q member of the Congrega-
Masonic circles. In 1885 he was mar
rieh to Rebecca Sproul. daughter 1R
Colonel Thomas Sproul of Warwick,
n. Y. He leaves one daughter, Mrs
Howard d. Smith. living here.
Representative Seymour attended the
opening of the general assembly and
was present for the last time &. week
ago today. when former Governor Me
Lean was formally elected to the
United States senate to succeed Sen
ator Morgan G. Bulkeley by the Joint
vote of the senate and house. He was
not feeling we'll enough to attend We'd
nesday's session and on Saturday was
go i'll that he was not able to attend
TO his duties, and from that time on
gradually grew worse until death came
tonight. The funeral arrangements
have not yet been completed
Hartford, Conn, Jan. 24.-The death
tonight in Ridgefeld of Railroad Com
missioner William o. Seymour makes
O. vacancy on the commission which
will have to be filled by an appoint
ment by Governor Baldwin, If there is
a railroad commission in the future.
Mr. Seymour's death is the second to
occur in the commission within a year.
the other being that of o. r. Fyler.
None of the members who constituted
the commission at the beginning of
Governor Weeks term are now con-
nected with it. Death removed Com
missioners Fyler and Seymour. and
Andrew Gates of Hartford resigned to
engage in law practice. The two re-
naming members are Richard T. Hig-
gins of Winsted appointed to fill out
the uneXpired term of Gates. which
runs to 1913, and Edgar ]. Doolittle of
Meriden. appointed by Governor
Weeks. the latter appointment to run
until the rising of the present general
assembly.