Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 09.djvu/329

This page needs to be proofread.

SEWARD


SEWELL


nities to study the governments, politically and commercially, and the social and ethnological characteristics of the peoples. After reaching his home at Auburn, Oct. 9, 1871, he gave his time to preparing a narrative of his travels and a history of his life and times. He received the honorary degree LL.D. from Yale in 1854, from Union in 1858, and from the University of North Carolina in 1867. The citizens of New York city erected a bronze statue by Randolph Rogers in Madison square, and in 1888 the citizens of Au- burn erected another by Walter G. Robinson in the public square of that city. His more notable speeches include: Prospects of the United States, Syracuse, N.Y., July 4, 1831; Eulogy on La- fayette, Auburn, N.Y., July 16, 1834; Elementsof Empire in America, Union college, N.Y., 1843; Freedom of the Press, in libel suit Cooper vs. Greeley, 1845; Eulogy on Daniel O'ConneU, New York city, 1847; Fugitive Slaves, defence of John Van Zandt, 1847; Eulogy on John Quincy Adams, Albany, N.Y., 1848; TJie Higher Laiv, U.S. senate, March 11, 1850; The Compromise Bill. U.S. senate, July 2, 1850; The Homestead Law. U.S. senate, February, 1851; Freedom in Europe, U.S. senate, March, 1853; The Destiny of America, Columbus, Ohio, 1853; The True Basis of American Independence, New York city, 1853; The Phys- ical, Moral and Intellectual Development of the American People, Yale College, 1854; The Irre- pressible Conflict, Rochester, N.Y., 1858; State of the Union, U.S. senate, Jan. 12, 1861. George E. Baker prepared an edition of " Seward's Works with his Earlier Speeches and Addresses, and a Memoir" (3 vols., 1853; Vol. IV., 1862; Vol. v., 1863; Vol. VI., with later speeches and diplomatic correspondence, 1888) . His diplomatic correspondence was published in full by order of congress. Charles Francis Adams published " Address on the Life, Character and Services of Seward" (1873), and Frederic Bancroft, " Life of William H. Seward-" (2 vols., 1900), Mr. Seward is the author of: Notes on New YorJc; Introduc- tion to "Natural History of New York" (1842- 54); Defence of William Freeman (1846); Oration on Death of John Quincy Adams (1848); Life and Public Services of John Quincy Ada^ns (1849); Speeches on Admission of California (1850); Seward's Travels Around the World, edited by Olive Risley Seward (1873); and Autobiography, which first extended to 1834 (1871). This was brought down to 1846 in a memoir by Frederick W. Seward, with selections from his letters (1877), and two volumes were added (1890). He died in Auburn, N.Y., Oct. 10, 1872.

SEWARD, William Henry, soldier, was born in Auburn, N.Y., June 18, 1889; son of William Henry and Frances A. (Miller) Seward (q.v.). He was educated in his native city and became a


banker in 1861, in which business he was still en- gaged in 1903. He was married, June 27, 1862, to Janet M. , daughter of Margaret and Robert Wat- son of Auburn, N.Y. He entered the U.S. army as lieutenant-colonel, 138th N.Y. volunteers; was promoted colonel, 9th N.Y. heavy artillery; was sent on a special diplomatic mission to Louisiana in 1863; took part in the battles of Petersburg, Cold Harbor and Opequan, and was wounded at the battle of Monocacy. He was commissioned brigadier-general, Sept. 13, 1864: and command- ed a brigade at Martinsburg, Va., until June 1, 1865, when he resigned his commission and re- turned to Auburn. He was elected president of the city hospital. Auburn, N.Y., a member of the Loyal Legion, president of the state electoral col- lege, 1886; president of the Cayuga county his- torical society, and vice-president of Wells col- lege.

SEWELL, William Joyce, senator, was born in Castlebar, Ireland, Dec. 6, 1835. His parents both died when he was a child and he came to the United States in 1851. where he found em- ployment in a shipping office and made several voyages in the mer- chant marine service. He went to Chicago where he engaged in business, and abouti 1860 returned to' Camden, N.J., and joined the 5th New Jersey volunteers as captain in 1861, He was promoted lieu- tenant-colonel in July, and colonel in October, 1862, com- manded his regiment in the Army of the Potomac at Fred-

erickburg in Revere's brigade, Sickles's division, Stoneman's corps, andatChancellorvilleinMott's brigade. Berry's division, Sickles's corps, succeed- ing to the command of the brigade when Mott was wounded. Colonel Sewell was wounded at Gettys- burg, while in command of his regiment in Bur- ling's brigade, Humphrey's division, Sickles's corps. He was with his regiment in McAllister's brigade, Mott's division, Hancock's corps, in Grant's cam- paign against Richmond, and in September, 1864, was made colonel of the 38th New Jersey volun- teers, and was honorably discharged with his regi- ment in the summer of 1865, He was brevetted brigadier-general of volunteers for Chancellors- ville in 1863, and major-general for services dur ing t!ie civil war, March 13, 1865, He returned to Camden, and was appointed an officer in the Penn- sylvania railroad company in the New Jersey