SEYMOUR, Merton Eugene & Silas James
Commemorative and Biographical Record of Columbia, Sauk and Adams Counties, 
WI. Chicago: Ogle, 1901, p 234-235 and 576

Biography of Silas James SEYMOUR (pp 234-235) - father of Merton Eugene 
SEYMOUR

Hon. Silas James SEYMOUR, deceased, whose death occurred at Reedsburg [Sauk 
County, WI], 25 Apr 1899, was one of the most conspicuous pioneers of Sauk 
County, WI. During his residence there of half a century, he had been 
identified with many events of the utmost interest and importance to its 
people and fully merited the confidence which was unanimously reposed in him. 
Mr. SEYMOUR was born at Pompey, Onondaga County, NY, 21 Feb 1824. He was a 
son of James and Susan (OSTRANDER) SEYMOUR, and sprang from a family which 
has always been distinguished for the patriotic spirit of its members and 
their devotion to principles of integrity and honor. His grandfather, Zadoc 
SEYMOUR, was born near Hartford [Hartford County], CT.

While a boy Zadoc SEYMOUR was bound out to a farmer in the neighborhood. 
Before reaching his majority, however, his father cancelled his indentures, 
whereupon he enlisted in the Continental army, being one of the first to do 
so, and spent six or seven years in the service. He went through the 
terrible winter at Valley Forge and saw much other hard service under the 
immediate command of George Washington. About 1798 he settled at Pompey 
[Onondaga County], NY, where he died about 1844, at the age of 88 years. He 
was a conscientious member of the Presbyterian church. His wife, Naomi 
MUNGER, was born in VT and died some years earlier than her husband, 
attaining the age of 75 years. They reared a family of five sons and five 
daughters, in which James was the third son and sixth child. He was born in 
Chenango County, NY, and lived for some years in Genesee County. He died at 
Covington, Wyoming County, NY, reaching the age of nearly 60 years. He was a 
devout member of the Congregational church and a public-spirited citizen. In 
early life he was a Democrat but became an Abolitionist when that question 
began to be agitited. His wife, who was born at Pompey [Onondaga County, 
NY], died about three years before her husband. Her father, Peter OSTRANDER, 
who was of Dutch lineage, came from Essex County, NY, and was one of the 
founders of the town of Pompey. His wife, Clarissa, was a native of CT. It 
is related as a curious coincidence, that at the time of their marriage this 
lady could not speak a word of Dutch nor her husband a word of English. One 
of their sons, Rev. Jared F. OSTRANDER, a Congregational minister, was one of 
the pioneers of WI, settling at Aztalan, Jefferson County, in 1836. He never 
accepted any remuneration [p 235] for his professional services, thereby 
demonstrating his disinterested zeal in the cause of Christianity.

Silas James SEYMOUR, whose name heads this article, left home at the age of 
14 years and was employed about two years on the Wabash and Erie canal in 
western OH, but as he suffered much from fever and ague, he returned to NY. 
Up to this time he had attended school but six weeks, but he now determined 
to obtain a better education and spent the two winters at school at Covington 
and Pompey. He then began teaching and spent several winters in that way, 
attending school in summer. While teaching at Manlius [Onondaga County], NY, 
he began using the "word method," since adopted by the most progressive 
teachers generally. This is the first instance known of the use of that 
method of instruction.

In 1849 he determined to seek a home in the wilds of WI, and came to Sauk 
County to locate a claim. Walking from Madison to Reedsburg, he selected a 
farm in the present town of Dellona and continued on foot as far as the U. S. 
land office at Mineral Point to enter the same. At that time there were but 
five dwellings in Reedsburg [Sauk County, WI]. These were built of logs and 
shingled with bark. There was one other house between that place and his 
farm. This farm he cultivated until 1892, when he became a resident of 
Reedsburg. He was a practical land surveyor and for 40 years did more or 
less work in that line.

When the Milwaukee & LaCrosse railroad was projected in that vicinity, like 
many of his neighbors, Mr. SEYMOUR mortgaged his farm to assist in promoting 
the enterprise. While the result of this action was not as disastrous to him 
as to many others, he took an active interest in trying to secure some relief 
for the sufferers and was appointed by Governor Smith one of the 
commissioners to dispose of certain lands, peviously in possession of the 
railroad company, for the benefit of mortgagers and labored diligently for 
several years to secure the best possible results from this fund.

He was married 23 Sep 1851 to Mary Ann CONINE, daughter of Derrick and 
Abigail (BATES) CONINE. This lady, who still survives, was born in the town 
of Windom, Greene County, NY. Five children blessed their union, all of whom 
enjoyed exceptional educational advantages: (1) Ellen Augusta, who was 
engaged in teaching for several years, was born 19 Jul 1852, and died 25 Nov 
1880; (2) Ida Jane, born 02 Mar 1855, died 27 Apr 1876; (3) Merton Eugene, 
a prominent farmer of the town of Dellona [Sauk County, WI]; (4) Walter 
Frederick, who is a graduate of WI University and of Chicago Medical College, 
is now a medical missionary in China; and (5) Arthur Romeyn, is an 
instructor of French at WI University, of which he is an alumnus. [The 
biography of Merton Eugene SEYMOUR follows below.]

Mr SEYMOUR was a leading member of the Methodist church for a number of 
years. Before the organization of the Republican party he began to advocate 
its principles. He filled all the principal offices of the town of Dellona 
and served two terms in the WI assembly in 1876 and 1877. While a member of 
that body he introduced a bill providing for the establishment of the state 
board of health and labored diligently to secure its passage. The wisdom of 
this measure has since been repeatedly demonstrated. He was an active member 
of the Reedsburg Old Settlers' Association and his presence will be greatly 
missed at its annual gatherings.

Biography of Merton Eugene SEYMOUR (p 576) - son of Silas James SEYMOUR

Merton Eugene SEYMOUR, a practical and progressive farmer of Dellona 
Township, Sauk County, is a native of WI, his birth having occurred upon his 
present farm, 01 Dec 1858. He is a son of Hon. Silas James SEYMOUR. After 
leaving the district school, Merton Eugene SEYMOUR attended the Reedsburg 
[Sauk County, WI] high school, from which he was graduated in 1881, and a few 
years later he took a short agricultural course at the Wisconsin University, 
being a member of the first class to pursue that course. He afterward spent 
some months in CA, and five years previous was for a time with his brother, 
Walter F. SEYMOUR, at the Jackson Sanitarium in Dansville [Livingston 
County], NY.

In 1887 Mr. SEYMOUR took charge of the homestead farm, which he purchased 
five years later, and which he has since successfully conducted. By his 
education and previous training he was well fitted for the occupation, and 
prosperity has crowned his well-directly efforts. He devotes the greater 
part of his time and attention to stock raising and dairy business, and makes 
a specialty of high-grade short horn cattle and Poland China hogs. His farm 
consists of 205 acres with first-class improvements and conveniences. He has 
become a prominent and influential member of the farmers' institutes and 
similar societies. He is also interested in horticulture and has often been 
an exhibitor at the Sauk County Fair, where he has won many premiums.

On 23 Mar 1898 Mr. SEYMOUR married Miss Blanche JEFFRIES, of Baraboo [Sauk 
County, WI] who was born in Kilbourn City [Columbia County], WI, and is a 
daughter of William and Nellie JEFFRIES. For a number of years he has been 
an elder in the Presbyterian church of Reedsburg [Sauk County, WI], of which 
he is an active and prominent member. In politics he has been a lifelong 
Republican, and has frequently served as delegate to the county conventions, 
and was the census enumerator for Dellona Township [Sauk County, WI] in 1890.

Contributed by Cathy Kubly