My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE D. SEYMOUR. This gentleman may truly be called a self-made man, as will be seen by the perusal of his biography. He occupies a finely improved farm in township 6, range 7, and ranks among the highly respected residents of Randolph County by reason of his intelligence, sterling character and reliable citizenship. He is an enterprising farmer, prudently changing his crops in order to promote the fertility of the soil, and devoting the greater part of his land to grain, although not neglecting other articles of produce. He raises graded hogs, cattle and fine horses, and has his estate well supplied with orchards and groves. Neat fences enclose and sub-divide the six hundred acres which he owns, and good buildings are favorably located upon it. The land has been tilled wherever necessary, and is improved in every part.

Edward A. Seymour, the father of our subject, was a native of Connecticut, where he was engaged as a clock-maker. He also conducted a large business through the west, and in 1838 concluded to locate in Illinois. His good wife, the mother of our subject, was known in her maidenhood as Harriet A. Johnson, and was born in Connecticut. When her husband moved to the Prairie State she did not come with him, as she did not like to leave her native home. Both are now deceased.

The subject of this sketch was born in Farmington, Conn., April 28, 1831, and is the eldest child in the family. He attended school in his native town until reaching his fifteenth year, when he commenced to work in a foundry, and afterward was employed in a furniture factory in that place. He was twenty-three years of age on coming to Randolph County, and after a sojourn of one year here he went to St. Louis. Not finding that city what he expected, he soon returned to this county and located on a small farm, which he at once purchased. To the original acreage he has since added, and he is today classed among the most extensive farmers in Illinois. He is considered one of the keen, thoroughly wide-awake farmers and stock-raisers of the county, who are contributing so much to its material prosperity.

In October, 1864, our subject responded to his country’s call and enlisted in Company C, Thirtieth Illinois Infantry, and was mustered into service at Alton, Ill. The first engagement in which the regiment took part was at Nashville, Tenn., and afterward they participated in the battles of Murfreesboro and Chattanooga. Thence they marched to North Carolina, and at Kingston our subject and some of his comrades were captured. They were confined in Libby Prison, and one month later were paroled and returned to Camp Butler, where he was mustered out June 30, 1865.

From the army Mr. Seymour returned to his home, and has since given his undivided attention to the cultivation of his farm. Socially he is one of the leading members of the Royal Arch Masons and the Council Degrees Lodge No. 86, at Kaskaskia, in which he has served as Worshipful Master. He is connected with Florence Post No. 719, G. A. R., at Florence. Politically a Republican, in national and state elections he is somewhat conservative in local matters. He has served as School Trustee of his township for a number of years.

December 1, 1857, George D. Seymour and Miss Helen M. Beckwith were united in marriage. Mrs. Seymour was a daughter of George and Lovina (Austin) Beckwith, who died at New Hartford, Conn. She became the mother of three children: Clarence A., who died in infancy; Charles Henry, who married Lillie Lovina Young, and lives near Ellis Grove, this county, and George E., who married Mary Lovina Humphries and also resides near Ellis Grove. In December of 1886 Mrs. Helen Seymour died. May 9, 1889, Miss Rosella Bell became the wife of our subject. She is a daughter of David and Mary J. (Hale) Bell, and was born in Jefferson County, Ill. To this marriage one child has been born, who bears the name of Frances Belle. Mr. and Mrs. Seymour are attendants at the Episcopal Church, and are highly regarded in the neighborhood.