Seaman, Ben W. – 1830-1908

FREELAND, GAISER, REA, SEAMAN

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 9/7/2009 at 13:14:23

Death’s Sudden Call
B. W. Seaman Met Great Destroyer Without Moment’s Warming
At Work When Summons Came
Ate Hearty Breakfast – Started Out to Help With Some Plowing in Garden – Fell and Instantly Expired
Ben W. Seaman, one of the best known citizens of Knoxville, a wagon maker, with place of business in the West End, died very suddenly at his home on Wednesday morning, April 15, the cause being heart disease with which he had been afflicted for the past 40 years.
Mr. Seaman arose at the usual hour Wednesday morning, apparently in good health, ate a hearty breakfast and then started out to assist Joseph Bachman, who had been employed to plow the garden. The spot devoted to that purpose is situated among some fine fruit trees, on the west side of the residence. In order to prevent any unnecessary injury to roots or branches, Mr. Seaman had volunteered to lead the horses while Mr. Bachman guided the plow. They had plowed two furrows around the patch, and were working on the third, when Mr. Seaman raised his left hand to push some plum tree branches out of the way. With that act he pitched forward and fell upon the plowed ground, expiring instantly, being quite dead, or at least wholly unconscious, before Mr. Bachman had time to hurry to the spot and lift the stricken man’s head from the earth.
Help was immediately summoned from the West End grocery and other places of business in that community, and doctors called by telephone. The physicians, who responded and were at the scene within five or ten minutes, were Drs. C. W. Cornell and C. M. Harrington. After making a thorough examination the doctors pronounced the man to e dead beyond any possible chance of resuscitation. The aged wife of deceased, also his daughter and grandchild, Mrs. Eli Gaiser and son, (who collectively compose the sum total of the Knoxville relatives,) were present during the sad scenes.
Benjamin W. Seaman was born in Bellfountain, Logan county, Ohio, February 25, 1830, and at the time of his death had reached the age of 78 years, 1 month, 21 days. At Zanesfield, Ohio, on April 12, 1851, he was united in marriage with Miss Fannie C. Rea. To their union three daughters were born – Orvia J., now Mrs. Silas Freeland, of Seattle, Wash., E. Adah (Mrs. Gaiser) of Knoxville and Alletta. The latter died in infancy. There are also two grandchildren, Miss Bernie Freeland and Mr. Rea Gaiser.
Mr. and Mrs. Seaman celebrated the 57th anniversary of their wedding at their home in this city last Sunday.
Deceased was a soldier in the 40th Regiment, Iowa Infantry during the rebellion and was a prominent member of Knoxville Lodge No. 90, I.O.O.F.
Deceased had long been afflicted with heart disease and had regularly (almost daily) taken medicine for the relief of that trouble for the past 35 or 40 years.
Source: Knoxville Journal, 17 April 1908