The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-01-13

and Atchison one of her most wealthy
and public spirited citizens.
Aside from his IS years in the Kansas
legislature, which caused him to be
known as the father of the house,
the life of Captain Seaton was full of
the unusual and filed with interesting
events.
His father. a soldier under General
Scott was killed during the storming
of Cerro Gordo In the Mexican war
A4r. Seaton was II years old when thus
robbed of his parent. He too became a
soldier and performed deeds of heroism
during the civil war. His family is
from Virginia, and his early life was
spent in Kentucky, near Louisville.
Short Sketch of His Life.
John Seaton was born in Cincinnati.
June H. 1884. When three weeks old.
his family removed to Louisville, KY,
where he spent his boyhood. At Is
years old, he went to work to learn
the trade of machinist-
Before he was of age, Mr. Seaton
worked as a journeyman in ST Louis.
At % he established foundry at Alton.
Ill, when he had but ESQ he could call
his own. but he prospered, and had so
men in his employ when he removed to
Atchison in 1872.
Mr.. Seaton was captain of Company
= in the 22d Illinois infantry. and was
under Grant when he foysht his first
u
command Of the sE1irmish line that
opened that engagement. and proudly
showed a letter from General Grant
commenting him for the efficient man
ner in which he did it,
Atehison's Best Move.
Mr. Seaton moved to Atchison from
Alton. Ill. in 1872. Six months before
the city had voted $4,000 in bonds to
any man VITO would establish foun-
dry. Mr.. Seaton accepted the bonds
has 60, it,
ever made. He gave employment to 200
men, The six foundries in Kansas City
put together are not as large as John
Eeaton's in Atchison. and st. Joseph
gave him large amount of work. The
secret Of this is that Mr. Seaton did
strictly hrst-class work
For Is years he carried dinner
bucket, ard worked with the men,
although he owned a summer house on
the seashore at Orient, Long Island
at the time of his death. No cheap
work was ever allowed to go out of
his establishment under any circum-
stances, and no founder in the west
stands higher with architects and build
Srs- In addit ion to general architectural
work. Mr. Seaton did work for the
Santa Fse. Missouri Pacific and Fort
Scott & Gulf roads such as casting
locomotive wheels. snCkestacks steam
cylinders, car stoves. etc.
AtchisOn Owed Him Much.
Mr. Seaton was in business since
failed to pay his bills at maturity. His
business no. amounts to quarter OF
a million annually. His works cover
an area Of 700x400 feet, and in addi-
fion to giving employment to 200 men.
Mr.. Seaton was useful man in other
ways He always took an active in
terest in affairs of state. Mr.. Seaton
had q larger income than any other
citizen of AtChison, ana probably work
er as hard
Father of Irvine Plant
Mr.. Seaton was the father of the
binding Irvine factory law passed by
the Kansas legislature. which is re-
sponsible for the esta blshment of a
plant at the state penitentiary-
The Atchison statesman and manu-
factureF was unalterably opposed to
trusts and opposed in general prin-
ture. He believed that corporations
generally are devoid of souls
Mr.. Seaton probably did more to-
ward the success of the Douglas
house during the Legislative trouble
of 1898 than any other member of the
legislator Mr.. Seatcn enjoyed the con-
ddence and respect of Kansas people
generally, without regard to party
ahiliations.
Besides Mrs. Seaton four children
survive him. They are John c. Seat
OF Atchison, Mrs. w. Fl. Condit of
Kansas City and Mrs. @. w. Hendrick-
son of Atchison. Another daughter,
Mrs Nellie Seaton Bryan died several
years ago.
s7OO. 600 and 81 900, 000 The funeral
will occur Monday afternoon, the Rev.
Holmes Dysinger, of the Western
Theological seminary IS here, to con-