USA > New York > Genealogical and family history of western New York; a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the building of a nation, Volume III > Part 22
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(IV) John (2). son of John (1) Seymour, was born at Hartford, Connecticut, June 12, 1666. died there May 17, 1748, and his re- mains were interred in the old burying ground
in the rear of Centre Church. His tombstone, a rudely sculptured slab of red sandstone, bears the following inscription: "Here lies interred the body of Mr. John Seymour, who died May the 17th S. D. 1748 aged eighty four years." His widow, Elizabeth, died May 15, 1754, and lies buried beside him. He married, December 19, 1683, Elizabeth, daughter of Lieutenant Robert and Susannah (Treat) Webster. Her mother, Susannah Treat, was a sister of Governor Robert Treat.
Among the descendants of John Seymour may be named: Major Moses Seymour, a revolutionary officer of distinction ; Thomas Seymour. first major of Hartford; Captain Thomas Y. Seymour, a gallant officer of the revolution ; Captain Thomas Hart Seymour, the "Hero of Chapultepec," minister to R11s- sia and governor of Connecticut ; Judge Ori- gen Storis Seymour, chief justice of the su- preme court of Connecticut : Horatio Sey- mour, governor of New York, and many, many others. Children of John (2) Seymour : John, born December 25, 1694; Timothy, June 27, 1696: Daniel, October 20, 1698 ; Eliz- abeth. May I. 1700: Jonathan, March 16, 1702; Nathaniel, November 17, 1704; Susan- nah. April 13, 1706: Margaret, January 20, 1707 : Zebulon, May 14. 1709 : Moses, of whom further.
(\') Moses. youngest son of John (2) Sey- mour, was born at Hartford, Connecticut, February 17, 1710-II, died there September 24. 1795. He married Rachel Goodman, who died there July 23. 1763. Children, born at Hartford: Sarah, February 16, 1740, died 1799: Moses, July 23, 1742, a soldier of the revolution in the northern army, and present at the surrender of Burgoyne; Rachel, De- cember 17, 1744, died July 24, 1794; Dorothy, October 13, 1746, died June 5, 1819; Aaron, of whom further : Eunice, August 7, 1751 ; Samnel. January 21, 1754: Catharine, August 29, 1756, died March 19. 1814.
(VI) Aaron, son of Moses Seymour, was born in Hartford, Connecticut, March 4, 1749, died 1820. We have no record of his marriage or his children, further than he had a son Allen.
(VII) Allen, son of Aaron Seymour, was born in Hartford, Connecticut, 1785. died at the age of eighty-three years. In his early years he followed the sea and became cap- tain of a deep sea sailing vessel carrying car- goes all over the world. Later he left the
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sea and engaged in the cooperage business. He moved to Northern New York and settled in the town of Luzerne, Warren county, many of his kinsmen being residents of that and the adjoining county of Saratoga. In 1832 he moved to Chautauqua county, New York, passing the winter of 1832 in the village of Bear Creek, and in April, 1833, settled on a tract on the west side of Bear Creek one mile from the village of Delanti. This has ever since been known as the "Seymour Farm." It lies in school district No. 2, better known in this day as Stockton of the original tract, three hundred and fifty-six acres being yet owned by descendants, Dr. Burton W. Sey- mour. of Jamestown, New York, and his brother, Allen, who owns one hundred acres on which he resides. Allen Seymour was a member of the Baptist church and a man of high standing. He married Patience Bennett, who died aged seventy-five years. Children : Wilson, died in the east; Calvin, died in the west ; William, died in Jamestown, New York ; Daniel, died in Virginia ; Warren P., of whom further ; Henry, born in Luzerne, New York, October 24, 1826, died in Stockton, Chautau- qua county, New York ; Jerusha, married Sel- leck Weed; Jane ; Polly, married Anson Bar- rows ; Julia, married William Gould.
(VIII) Warren Pulaski, son of Allen Sey- mour, was born in Luzerne, Warren county, New York, 1820, died 1884. He attended the public schools of Luzerne until he was twelve years of age, when his parents moved to Chau- tauqua county, New York, where he finished his studies. He learned the cooper's trade, as did all his brothers, and for many years he operated a factory for the manufacture of tubs and barrels in the town of Stockton. Later in life he moved to the old homestead farm, about two miles from the village, where he passed the remainder of his life. He was a very successful manufacturer and farmer, owning about three hundred and fifty acres of land, which formerly was a part of the old homestead taken up by his father. He raised fine stock in which he took great pride and kept his farm always in the best condi- tion. He was a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Baptist church. He served in several town offices and was a strenuous ad- vocate of the cause of temperance, being a member of the Royal Templars, one of the early temperance societies. He married Pru- dence Morrell. Children: 1. Wallace. 2.
Jeannette, married Hiram D. Hart. 3. Allen J., born July 29, 1849, now a resident of Stockton. 4. Burton Webb, of whom further. 5. Ella J., born February 14, 1856, died May 28, 1910; married Charles C. Todd, and re- sides in Stockton, New York ; children: Ma- bel and Myrtle.
(IX) Dr. Burton Webb Seymour, son of Warren Pulaski Seymour, was born in the town of Stockton, Chautauqua county, New York, August 2, 1854. He attended the pub- lic schools and was graduated from the high school in 1871. His early life was spent on the farm, but his desire was for the profes- sion of medicine, beginning the reading of medical books when but a lad of twelve years. He began professional study under Dr. Har- rison, continuing three years, was also a stu- dent under Drs. J. J. and D. G. Pickett. Af- ter a preparatory course of two years at Buf- falo, New York, he entered the medical school of the University of Buffalo, from which he was graduated M. D., class of 1889. During his last year at the university he spent a great amount of time in the general hospital study- ing diseases and their treatment. In 1884 he began the practice of his profession at Stock- ton, New York, and built up a large practice among the farmers of that town. His health would not stand the strain and work incum- bent on a country practitioner. He moved to . the village of Falconer adjacent to Jamestown, where he purchased and remodeled a house for residence and office combined, at the same time establishing an office in Jamestown. In 1911 he sold his Falconer residence and purchased a home on East Second street, Jamestown, where he is now located with home and of- fices. Dr. Seymour stands high in his profes- sion, and has been very successful in his prac- tice. He is a specialist on rupture and dis- eases of women and children and in the treat- ment of such cases his reputation is wide- spread. He is a member of the county and state medical associations and interested in the work of these societies. He lias large business interests outside his profession. He is one of the proprietors of Forest Park Land Company, which has erected over thirty resi- dences in Jamestown ; is president of the New Oil Company ; was one of the original paten- tees and owners of the Monroe-Seymour de- vice for cleaning oil wells by steam, and inter- ested in other enterprises. In early life he took a great interest in music, played several
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instruments and was connected with an or- chestra. He is a member of Sinclairville Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and is a Seventh Day Adventist in religious faith.
He married at Niagara Falls, New York, June 19, 1895, Clara Sprague, born in Boston, New York, November 2, 1866, daughter of Edwin and Malinda S. (Berry) Sprague (see Sprague). Child, Burton W., born in Stock- ton, March 14, 1901.
(The Sprague Line).
The Spragues of Vermont descend from William Sprague, born in Upway, England, about 1609, died in Hingham, Massachusetts, October 26, 1675. In 1629 he settled at Charlestown, Massachusetts, and in 1635 mar- ried Millicent Eames, removing to Hingham in 1636. She died February 8, 1695. They had ten children, including six sons: An- thony. John, Samuel, Jonathan, Jonathan and William. The descendants of John, the sec- ond son. settled in Vermont. From them came Benjamin Sprague, grandfather of Mrs. Dr. Seymour, of Jamestown.
Benjamin Sprague was born in Vermont and settled in Fredonia. Chautauqua county, New York. He was a carpenter by trade and conducted a general contracting and building business. He served many years as justice of the peace and on the board of education. He was prominent in the Universalist church, and a Republican in politics, but cast his last vote for Governor Cleveland for president when he was first a candidate. He died aged about eighty-eight years. He married ( first) Anda Cook. Children : Welcome, Edwin, Calvin. Andrew, Clarence and Cordelia. He married ( second) Samantha Bull ; no issue.
Edwin, son of Benjamin Sprague, was born at Boston. Erie county. New York. February 17, 1831, and is now ( 1911 ) residing at Stock- ton, New York. He received a good education. learned the carpenter's trade with his father and later blacksmithing at which he worked many years. He later became interested in the breeding and development of fast horses and owned some of the best in Western New York. He made his home for many years in Fredonia, but since 1894 has been a resident of Stockton. He is a Republican in politics, and a Seventh Day Adventist in religious be- lief. He married. January 4. 1852, Malinda Shaw Berry, a devoted Christian and deep Bible student, born February 26. 1836. died
May 29, 1907, daughter of Abiah Berry. Chil- dren: I. George W., born August 27, 1853, deceased. 2. Lucy A., February 17, 1857; married William D. Smith. 3. Bruce O., Sep- tember 2, 1859, died 1887. 4. Addie M., Jan- uary 7, 1864; married Fred E. Morse. 5. Clara : married Dr. Burton Webb Seymour (see Seymour IX).
SMITH Writing in her quaint and inter- esting diary, September 18, 1795, Mrs. Elizabeth Drinker, the pret- ty Quakeress of Philadelphia, says: "Samuel Smith of Bucks County, Samuel Smith of Philadelphia and Sally Smith called this morn- ing. Those three Smiths are in no way re- lated, it is I believe the most common name in Europe and North America." This comes from the fact that it is one of the so-called trade names, and every land that has its work- ers in iron has its Smith. Many of the Smith families of colonial days, even in the same locality. were unrelated. The Smith family of South Jersey, large and important as it was, seems in no way to have been related to the "Burlington Smiths" of nearby locality. The founder of the South Jersey family set- tled in Cape May county, where by gift or purchase from King George he secured a large tract of land by royal patent .* His descen- dants overflowed into the counties of Cumber- land and Atlantic, and were as a family vessel builders, owners and seafaring men. They were seated in the colony prior to the revolu- tion and furnished many soldiers to the patriot army. William Smith was a lieutenant-col- onel in the New Jersey line and there were other officers and many privates.
The first definite record in the branch here- in recorded is of Abel Smith, who was born in Cape May county. New Jersey, where his youth was spent. His parents were land own- ers but he did not remain with them. He be- came engaged in glass manufacturing, and at the time of the second war with Great Britain had a prosperous business established
* Among those who, by 1696, had obtained land in Cape May county, of the West Jersey Society, or of the agents of the former proprietor. Dr. Daniel Cox, of London, was William Smith, who had one hundred and thirty acres. He was in the county by 1694. for his ear mark for cattle was recorded in that year. By the end of this century, an Abraham Smith was residing in the county: Richard Smith died in 1713 or 1714. at which time the population was about two or three hundred. These may well have been father and sons .- EDITOR.
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that was swept away during the years 1812- 14. He removed to Ashtabula county, Ohio, about 1830, where for two years he was in the iron business. Later he settled in Penn- sylvania near the Ohio line, and died at Clark's Corners, and is buried there. Abel Smith married Elizabeth Applegate, a descendant of the Englishman, Thomas Applegate, the first of the name to be found in America. Thomas Applegate went from England to Holland with a party of Englishimen before 1635, came to Massachusetts where he was licensed to run a ferry between Weymouth and Braintree. He does not again appear in Massachusetts rec- ords, but was in Rhode Island in 1640, and at New Amsterdam, 1641. He secured a pat- ent for land at Gravesend. November 12, 1646, and appears in many land transfers. He mar- ried Elizabeth Morgan and had a large fam- ily. His son. Thomas, married Johanna, daughter of Richard Gibbons, who was one of the twelve patentees of Middletown, Mon- mouth county, New Jersey. Thomas also had a tract of farm land in Shrewsbury township. His descendants settled in South Jersey and in Monmouth county, where they have always been among the most prominent in the pro- fessions, on the bench and in business. Chil- dren of Abel and Elizabeth (Applegate) Smith: I. James Plummer, of whom further. 2. Martha, married Otis Ransom, of Erie, Pennsylvania : her daughter, Esther, married Clinton Hoyt, of La Porte, Indiana, and re- sides in Oregon : there are also two sons. 3. William G., resides at Clark's Corners. Ashta- bula county, Ohio.
(II) James Plummer, eldest son of Abel and Elizabeth (Applegate) Smith, was born in Gloucester county, New Jersey. December 27, 1818, died in Buffalo, New York, Novem- ber 8, 1874. He was educated in the public schools, and early engaged with his father in the lumber business, running a saw mill. For nine years, from 1852 to 1861, he operated saw mills at Conneaut, Ohio, then until 1865 was at Plumb, Venango county, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in the oil business. Fol- lowing 1865 he was for two years engaged in mining coal at Pulaski, Pennsylvania, and then removed to Cleveland, where for one year he attempted unsuccessfully to introduce a water meter of his own invention. In 1868 he removed to Buffalo and continued his ef- forts. He finally induced William M. Tweed to put it in use in New York City, but before
the machines could be manufactured and in- stalled the "Boss" had been dethroned. In 1868 he incorporated a company to manufac- ture the Young America Harvester, an in- vention of his brother-in-law, Samuel E. Pad- en, but greatly improved by Mr. Smith. This machine was far in advance of the times, and after trying for three years they abandoned the attempt. The harvester headed and threshed the grain, delivering to the bag. Thousands of similar machines are now in use on practically the same plan, but at that early day the demand was too small to make their manufacture profitable. The company had taken over the Vulcan Iron Works and converted them into a harvester factory be- fore the final decision to retire was arrived at. In 1872 he went with Dr. R. V. Pierce as machinist and manager in charge of re- constructing the Courter House and convert- ing it into the "Invalids' Hotel." Mr. Smith was an ardent Republican, a great admirer of the New York Tribune, and a personal friend of its editor. Horace Greeley. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church in which his wife was an active worker.
He married, January 16, 1840, at Conneaut Junction, Erie county, Pennsylvania, Louise Paden, born in Gibson county, Indiana, March 24. 1819. died in Buffalo, February 14, 1907. Her father. Samuel Paden, was a government surveyor and in charge of the laying out and platting for settlement the states of Indiana and Illinois. Children: I. George Wallace, of whom further. 2. Byron Abel, born June 6, 1843 ; graduate of Philadelphia College, now a physician and pharmacist of Erie. Pennsyl- vania ; he married (first) Salome Griffey ; chil- dren, Salome and Ray ; married (second) Ma- ria Griffey, sister of his first wife : child, Mark. 3. Mary Jane, married Dr. Ray Vaughn Pierce. 4. "Squire" David, born November 20, 1847, died September 23, 1849. 5. Lester, born Oc- tober 30. 1850, died November 23, 1893 ; lie was bookkeeper and accountant for the World's Dispensary and Medical Association for many years : later engaged in independent newspaper advertising in New York City : he married Nellie Eliza Cash: two children: Maud Imogene, married Harris Stoneman Williams, an attorney of Buffalo, son of ex- Senator Benjamin Williams, and Earl Burt, born November 27, 1874, educated in the pub- lic schools and business course, was associated with his father in advertising business until
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the death of the latter; was connected with the advertising department of the World's Dispensary and Medical Association until 1902, manager of the Florodora Tag Company until 1904; in 1908 he was with the Morse In- ternational Advertising Agency of New York; - in 1909 was appointed assistant manager of advertising contracts for World's Dispensary and Medical Association; unmarried. 6. El- mer Stillman, born May 13, 1853; is an in- ventor and in business in Bound Brook, New Jersey ; he married, Marie Smith; children : Alma, Ilo, Ray Lee. 7. Lee Herbert, of whom further. 8. Oakley Ransom, born July 18, 1859, died August 13, 1873. 9. Twin of Oak- ley R., died in infancy.
(III) George Wallace, son of James Plum- mer and Louise (Paden) Smith, was born at Kingsville, Ashtabula county, Ohio, Novem- ber 26, 1840. He was educated in the public schools, and associated with his father in the saw mill and oil business in Venango county. Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the United States navy at Erie, Pennsylvania, May 26, 1862. He was first assigned to the United States steamship "Michigan," transferred to the United States receiving ship "North Caro- lina," at Brooklyn Navy Yard, transferred to the United States steamship "Norwich," Sep- tember, 1862; in blockade duty off Charleston two months; blockade duty three months 011 South Carolina coast ; then on blockade duty in St. John's river, Florida; remained there until May, 1863; then went to Fernandina, Florida, then transferred to the United States steamship, "James Agger," bound for Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania, where he was honor- ably discharged, May 26, 1863. He enlisted as "landsman" and was discharged "able sea- man." An an inducement to reenlist he was offered a non-commissioned officer's position. He returned to Venango county, Pennsylvania, where with his father he entered into the cooperage business and continued for two years making oil barrels. He next removed to Oil Creek, Pennsylvania, remaining there and at Pleasantville until 1868, when he re- moved to the state of Iowa. In 1870 he came to Buffalo, New York, where he entered the employ of Dr. R. V. Pierce, with whom he remained thirty-five years as chief engineer at the Invalids' Hotel and Surgical Institute. He then resigned and retired. Later yielding to Dr. Pierce's request he became manager of the treatment room. He is a member of
the Linwood Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church, and a Republican in politics.
He married, May 3, 1864, Sarah Rebecca, born March 21, 1843, died August 20, 1900, daughter of David Free, a farmer of Plumb, Pennsylvania. Children : I. Louise Euphe- mia, married Frank Herbert Grantier ; child, Helen Farnham. 2. Cashı Paden, born in Plumb, Pennsylvania, November 21, 1866, died in August, 1911; educated in the public schools of Buffalo and Bryant & Stratton's Business College; clerked in a Buffalo gro- cery, 1880-83 ; was for a time with the Good- year Lumber Company at Liberty, Pennsyl- vania, and in other temporary positions until 1886 when he returned to the grocery business with his old employer, T. S. Dunham ; in 1888 he entered the shipping department of the World's Dispensary and Medical Association, and was in their employ in various capacities until his death, excepting three and one-half years with the Ideal Cash Register Company of Bound Brook, New Jersey; he was an in- dependent Republican and an active worker. 3. Bertha Inez, married George M. Eiss, of Weisman & Eiss, Broadway Department Store ; children : Robert M., Norman S., Dor- othy.
(III) Lee Herbert, son of James Plummer and Louise (Paden) Smith, was born at Con- neaut, Ohio, August 10, 1856. His prepara- tory education was obtained in the Conneaut schools until arriving at the age of twelve years, when the family removed to Buffalo. He attended the Buffalo high school and was graduated at Buffalo University, class of 1876. He entered Columbia University, graduating from the medical department, M. D., class of 1881. He was graduated with the highest honors from the University of Buffalo, taking prizes on three subjects and his thesis. He began practice in Buffalo in 1877, and has so continued until the present, excepting the time spent in a special course of surgery at Colum- bia University. He is a specialist in abdomi- nal surgery and diseases of the abdomen, to which he has devoted himself for the past fif- teen years. His work in the operation of lith- olapaxy is unsurpassed by any surgeon in the United States, and has rendered him famous. Out of two hundred and eighty-four opera- tions of this character he has had but one death. He has also improved the operation for rupture by the use of an insoluble suture and a small incision so that the patient is re-
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quired to remain but one day in bed. In per- forming the latter operation he has never had a death. He was chairman of the questions committee of the State Board of Medical Ex- aminers, been steadily reappointed by the Board of Regents of the State of New York and has served for over twenty years. He is vice-president and director of the World's Dispensary and Medical Association, having served as director since 1882 and vice-presi- dent since 1886. He is also in charge of the Invalids' Hotel and Surgical Institute, Buffalo. For many years Dr. Smith was presi- dent and is now vice-president of the Buffalo Society of Natural Science and resigned same on account of the increasing demands of his practice. He has taken a great interest in the society and has been useful in extending the teaching of Natural Science in the public schools. He is a member of the Buffalo Club, which he served as director ; also was director and treasurer of the Ellicott Club ; was one of the organizers and the second president of the Automobile Club of Buffalo, and is a member of the Buffalo Yacht Club. His fraternal order is the Masonic, belonging to Ancient Landmarks Lodge, No. 44. His professional societies are : The Western New York Medi- cal Society ; New York State Eclectic Society, of which he was president one year, and the National Eclectic Society. He served as ord- nance officer of the Seventy-fourth Regiment, New York National Guard, with rank of cap- tain. After ten years' service with the regi- ment, during which time the rifle team and the regimental rifle practice were brought to a high degree of efficiency, he was promoted to ordnance officer of the seventh brigade with rank of major and is in seniority second in the state. He was one of the founders and is a director and was president of the Seventy- fourth Regiment Veterans' Association. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church.
He married, October 5. 1880, Cora Emma, daughter of Clark D. and Emma (Sleeper) Lacy, and granddaughter of John T. Lacy, of the American Express Company. Child, Herbert Lacy, born May 10, 1888; educated in private schools, Heathcote School. Buffalo, and Cornell University ; now with American Ball Engine Works, Bound Brook, New Jer- sey, in the testing department, an expert in testing high speed engines and dynamos. He married, March 16, 1910, Zora Reed.
The Mackirdys formerly be- MCCURDY longed to the tribes which possessed the Western Is- lands of Scotland. These original inhabitants belonged to the Albanichs. From the Nor- wegian invasion in 880, they were under Scan- dinavian rule to the end of the Scandinavian occupation. The Mackirdys were early pos- sessors of lands on the island of Bute. There is a tradition that one of the family was made a Cardinal.
The McCurdys. McCredies, and others of similar names are supposed to form branches of this ancient family. At the present day they are scattered over various parts of Scot- land, Ireland, England. Canada and the United States. It is said that soon after the middle of the seventeenth century five broth- ers, on account of religious persecution, left Scotland, crossed in an open boat, and settled in the northern part of Ireland. In Ireland the revolution of 1688 soon caused them fur- ther troubles. MIcCurdys have come to Am- erica at various times. The ancestries of those now living of this name are often not clear : a probably correct line to James Earl Spaulding McCurdy is as follows :
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