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The subject of this sketch is a native of New York and is
a descendant of the historic stock of that state. He is a
son of Sutloff T. and Antha (Steel) Seward, both of whom
are natives of the town of Lebanon, N. Y. The Sewards were
from New York and the Steels came from Connecticut to New
York State; the former settling in and around the town of
Lebanon, in Columbia county, and the latter in and around
the town of Richmond, in Ontario county. Our subject's
great grandfather, Isaac Seward, was a lad when his father
moved from Connecticut to New York and settled in Columbia
county. In that county the youth of Isaac Seward was
passed, and it was the birthplace of Truxton Seward,
grandfather of our subject, and of Sutloff T. Seward,
also, his father. In 1818 Isaac Seward moved his family to
Richmond, in Ontario county, where he carried on the
business of a currier and tanner for some years, and
where, after his death, his son, Truxton Seward, carried
on the same business for a quarter of a century. Isaac
Seward, here mentioned, and William H. Seward, the
statesman and diplomat, were own cousins.
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Our subject's maternal grandfather, Capt. Roderick Steel, was a
native of Connecticut. He settled in Ontario county about the
beginning of this century. He served in the War of 1812, was
long recognized as one of the solid men of his adopted county,
and is mentioned in the history of Ontario county as one of the
first as one of the first twenty settlers in that county.
The parents of
Albert O. Seward, Sutloff T. Seward and Antha Steel, were
married about the year 1830, in Ontario county, and
settled in the vicinity of Richmond, where they passed
most of their married life. The mother died at Lavonia
Station, Livingston county, N. Y., in October, 1889, at
the age of eighty three; the father is still living, being
now eighty seven years old. He was a strong
abolitionist in earlier years and in later life an ardent
advocate of temperance. He is a member of the Universalist church as was
also his wife.
To Sutloff and Antha Seward were born seven children, as
follows; Dwight, who is now a farmer, residing at Edgewood,
Iowa; Fidelia, now the wife of Allen Richards, of Edgewood,
Iowa; Acantha G., who died at the age of thirty seven in Ontario
county, N. Y.; Amelia, who died in infancy; Adolphus S., who
died at the age of six; Albert O., our subject, and Edith C.,
still single, residing with her father.
Albert O. Seward, with whom this notice is more especially
concerned, was born in the town of Richmond, Ontario county, N.
Y., June 18, 1842. He was reared in his native county and spent
his youth in the common schools of the locality, where he grew
up, and in his father's sawmill, to which he gave considerable
attention while young. He came West in 1863 and located at
Edgewood, on the line of Delaware and Clayton counties, Iowa,
where he remained for three or four years. In 1866 he married
and the following year moved on to the place where he now
resides in Delaware township, Delaware county. He owns eighty
acres in section 13 in this township and forty five acres of
timber land in Delaware and Honey Creek townships. He has been
engaged in farming since settling in the county and he has met
with reasonable success. He has made all the improvements on his
place, moving on to it when it was raw prairie. He built his
present residence in 1877 and his barn in 1887. He has a thrifty
grove of trees which he set out, and his farm is in other
respects in a neat and prosperous condition. He has filled such
offices as he has been called to in connection with the
administration of the civil affairs of his township, and has
generally given satisfaction. He manifests a becoming interest
in all public matters whether relating to his community or not,
and he bears his share of the burdens of every worthy enterprise
or purpose which seeks aid at his hands. He is a republican in
politics and has supported the straight republican ticket since
the organization of the party.
Mr. Seward married, April 8, 1866, Miss Mary A. Annis, then
residing at Edgewood, in Delaware county. She was born, however,
near Yorkshire, Cattaraugus county, N. Y., April 24, 1848. She
is a daughter of Hiram and Mary (Oakley) Annis, both also
natives of New York. Her parents came to Iowa in 1855 and
settled at Edgewood, where the mother died March 16, 1889, aged
seventy three, and where the father continues to reside, being
now in his seventy-ninth year.
Mr. and Mrs. Seward have had born to them two children; Meredith
A. and Mary A. |
