SEYMOUR, S. W.

SEYMOUR, DRAPER, DEPEW

Posted By: Nettie Mae
Date: 1/18/2003 at 15:27:15

SOURCE: "Biographical history of Crawford, Ida and Sac Counties, Iowa" Lewis Pub. Co., Chicago, 1893

S. W. SEYMOUR, one of the representative citizens of Charter Oak township, Crawford
county, Iowa, resides on his farm of 120 acres in section 21.

Mr. Seymour is a native of the "Hawkeye" State, born in Clinton county, October 4,
1847, son of William P. and Sarah A. Seymour. His father was killed in March, 1872, and
his mother is now a resident of Kansas City, Missouri. The Seymours are of Scotch
descent, three brothers of the name having come to America from Scotland several
generations ago, the subject of our sketch being descended from one of these. Grandfather
Seymour was named Reuben. William P. Seymour was a native of New York State, and
was one of the pioneers of Clinton county, Iowa. He was a farmer by occupation.
Following are the names of his six children: Laura, wife of J. D. Draper, of Marion, Iowa.
Acenith, Jackson county, Iowa; Cynthia, Kansas City, Missouri; Henry, Crawford county,
Iowa; May, Kansas City, Missouri; and S. W.

When the subject of our sketch was ten years old the family moved to Lyons, in the
same county in which he was born, and in the public schools of that town and at the
Western Illinois College he received his education. At the age of twenty-two he began
farming for himself in Clinton county, or, rather, operating the county farm, completing
his father's term as steward. This was just after his father was killed. From the spring of
1873 until the spring of 1881 he farmed at Vernon prairie, same county, and at the end of
that time came to Crawford county and purchased his present farm. The following spring
he settled upon it, and his well-directed efforts have developed a fine farm out of what
was then raw prairie. He built a residence and other farm buildings, planted a grove of
three acres, and here he has since been engaged in general farming and stock-raising.

Mr. Seymour is one of the most active and public-spirited men of his township. He
is a Republican, and is at present serving as Township Clerk. He is a member of the I. O.
O. F., No. 105, charter Oak, and encampment, No. 142.

December 14, 1871, he was married to Miss Mary J. Depew, who was born near
Toronto, Canada, in 1846, daughter of Isaac and Mary Depew, who were of French origin.
They have three children: Fred, Ralph and Clyde.