NEGenWeb Project
Resource Center
On-Line Library
  
     Portrait or sketch  

Border

OTOE COUNTY.

391

These all lived to mature years: Sophia and Minnie were married, but are now deceased; Frank is farming in Custer County, this State; John is living in Stockton, Cal.; William is farming in Wyoming precinct; Frederick, Jr., is living in this County.
   Mr. Dow contracted a second marriage, in August, 1871, with Mrs. Rebecca J. (Searle) Nail. This lady was born Nov. 4, 1835, in Scioto County, Ohio, and was first married to John Nail, in that county, where he died a year later. Mrs. Nail came to Nebraska City after the death of her husband, and by her union with our subject there have been born three children, two of whom died young. The survivor, a son, M. Albert, born in Otoe County in 1875, continues at home with his parents. Mr. Dow and his first wife were trained in the doctrines of the Lutheran Church, and our subject, politically, uniformly votes the Republican ticket. His present wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Letter/label or doodle

Letter/label or doodleON. CHARLES WILLIAM SEYMOUR, whose portrait graces the opposite page, is a distinguished citizen of Nebraska City, and one of the first lawyers of the State. He has mingled much in public life, and has held many important offices for which his ability and legal attainments have eminently fitted him, He is a native of Ohio, Hartford, Licking County. being the place of his birth, and June 4, 1838, the date thereof. His father, John William Seymour, was born in Salem, Conn., and his grandfather, Medad Seymour, and his great-grandfather, Zachariah Seymour, were both natives of and lifelong residents of that New England State, the former having been born in Hartford. The Seymour family is of ancient English ancestry, and is descended from the famous Duke of Somerset, which statement is confirmed by the Encyclopedia Britannica. The American branch of the family were early settlers of Connecticut, the first ancestor of our subject coming to this country in 1649.
   The father of our subject was reared in his native State, receiving a substantial education, and when a young man he went to Railway. N. J., to teach school. From there he went to Ohio about 1836, and located at Hartford, Licking County, where he was prosperously engaged in the mercantile business until 1868. In that year he moved to Mt. Vernon, Knox Co., Ohio, and receiving the appointment as special agent of the Etna Insurance Company, continued in the insurance business in that town until his death in the month of July, 1872. He was a man whose ability, intelligence and integrity were of a high order, and he was valued as a loyal and upright citizen. The maiden name of his wife was Sarah J. Clark, and she was born in New York City, of which her father, Thomas Clark, was likewise a native. He spent his entire life there, and was for many years engaged in the mercantile business. The mother of our subject died at Mt. Vernon, Ohio, in 1880. There were eight children born to her and her husband, and he had one child besides by a former marriage.
   Charles W. early showed a taste for scholarly pursuits, which was gratified by a liberal education at one of the best universities of the day in the West, the Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio. He entered that institution of learning in 1854, and after attending there three years, he left for awhile to take a business course in a commercial college at Cleveland. On receiving his diploma there, he resumed his studies in the Wesleyan University, and was graduated from there in 1860, having attained high standing in his classes, and with the degree of A. B. and subsequently A. M. He immediately commenced the study of law in the office of the renowned jurist, Judge Allen G. Thurman, at Columbus, Ohio. Having under the Judge's instructions acquired a good, practical knowledge of the legal profession, in 1861 he came to Nebraska City, and in 1862 was admitted to the bar. He at once opened an office with William H. Taylor, who was his partner for two years. Mr. Taylor then moved away, and our subject continued to practice alone until 1865, and then was with B. M. Davenport until 1868. He their carried on an extensive law business alone until 1886, when his son William became his partner. Mr. Seymour was appointed Notary Public in 1863, and has held the office ever since. In 1870 he received his appointment to

Border

Border

392

OTOE COUNTY.

his present position as United States Commissioner. In 1862 he was elected to the Territorial Legislature, and was re-elected the following year. He was Master in Chancery for ten years and Land Commissioner for the Midland Pacific when he first located here, and was Prosecuting Attorney for one year, appointed by Judge Streeter. At the time when the removal of the capital of the United States from Washington was agitated, Mr. Seymour was seat as a delegate to the convention held at Cincinnati for the purpose of discussing the question. He was a member of the commission that met at Chicago in accordance with an act of Congress to locate the Union Pacific Railway. On two occasions he acted as Chief Clerk of the State Legislature at the opening of the session. He is one of the leaders of the Republican party, he having always been a Republican since he attained his majority, and he has served as Chairman of the State Central Committee. Our subject also has an honorable military record. When the war broke out he was in early manhood, and just about to enter upon his brilliant career as a lawyer and a statesman. yet notwithstanding his bright prospects of winning his way to an assured position in his profession, he put aside all personal aims and ambitions at the first call for troops, and enlisted as a member of the 2d Ohio Infantry, for a term of ninety days. He served with his regiment that length of time, and was present at the first battle of Bull Run. In 1863 a regiment of State Militia was raised, and he was appointed Major by Gov. Saunders, of Nebraska, and at the same time he was serving as Captain of the Union Guards. Our subject is identified with the following societies: Western Star Lodge No. 2, A. F. & A. M.; Keystone Chapter No. 2; and Mt. Olivet Lodge No. 2. He is also a member of the Alpha Consistory--of the Ancient and Accepted Order of Scottish Rite Masons, having attained the thirty-second degree. In St. Mary's Protestant Episcopal Church Mr. Seymour is a Vestryman.
   In this brief summary of the many responsible civic positions which he has held, we have not spoken of the conspicuous ability that Mr. Seymour has brought to bear upon his work, nor the lofty sense of duty that has been the guiding motive of all his acts, so that he has never been accused of neglecting public trusts for private interests. He has a keen, cultivated intellect, a clear and comprehensive knowledge of the law, and, by the force of an indomitable will, has attained his present eminence as one of the most astute and successful lawyers now practicing before the Nebraska bar, although he is not yet much beyond the prime of life.
   The brief limits of this biographical sketch will not permit us to more than glance at the home life of our subject. He was married, July 4, 1863, to Catherine Ella Holly, a native of Savannah, Mo., and a daughter of Judge Charles F. Holly. Her father was born in Stamford, Conn., and went from there to Kenyon College, Ohio, to complete his education. After graduation he was married, and then went to Savannah, Mo., where he edited a paper a number of years. In 1855 he came to Nebraska City, and was one of the first lawyers ever located in Nebraska. In 1863 he went to Colorado, and was soon after elected to the Territorial Legislature, and was made Speaker of that body. In 1864 he enlisted, and was commissioned Captain, and served until the close of the war. Soon after that he was appointed District Judge. He went from Colorado to New Mexico, and was there engaged in a land speculation. He now resides in Paskack, N. J.
   Mr. and Mrs. Seymour have a delightful home, the center of a refined and cultured life, and their pleasant wedded life has been blessed to them by the birth of five children--William F., Catherine Ella, Howard S., Hugh A. and Louisa Maria.
Letter/label or doodle

Letter/label or doodleONRAD MULLIS. The agricultural interests of Wyoming Precinct are admirably represented by the subject of this sketch who until recently, was the owner of 380 acres highly cultivated land, which embraced one of the most valuable farms in the county. The homestead proper is on section 25, and adjacent is quite an extent of land which Mr. Mullis has divided among his children. He may ranked among the pioneers of Nebraska Territory.

Border

Prior page
Name index
Portrait index
Views index
Next page

© 2000, 2001 for the NEGenWeb Project by Pam Rietsch, Ted & Carole Miller