Thursday, November 28, 2019

Seavers in the News -- Alexander H. Seaver Dies in 1911 in Arlington, Mass.

It's time for another edition of "Seavers in the News" - a weekly feature from the historical newspapers about persons with the surname Seaver that are interesting, useful, mysterious, fun, macabre, or add information to my family tree database.

This week's entry is from The Boston [Mass.] Globe newspaper dated 13 November 1911:

The transcription of the article is:

"ALEXANDER H. SEAVER DEAD
------
Had Been a Resident of Arlington
for Many Years - Formerly in Business in Boston

"ARLINGTON, Nov. 15 -- Alexander H. Seaver died at his home, 824 Massachusetts av, this morning after a long illness from cancer of the stomach.

"Mr. Seaver was born in Worcester, Nov. 16, 1841.  At the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted with the 25th Massachusetts Regiment and served through the war, but escaped serious injury.  After the close of the war he followed his trade of silversmith for a time, and later came to Boston, where he was a member of the firm of Seaver Dunbar & Whidden, furniture dealers, in Haymarket sq.  When Washington st. North was constructed the building was demolished, and the firm went out of business.  Mr. Seaver then came to Arlington and purchased the news stand here and built up the Arlington News Company.  He held the store for four years, and then sold out.  Since that time he has led a retired live.

"In town affairs he served three years on the Board of Assessors.  In G.A.R. life he was always prominent, and a meeting of the comrades was never complete without him.  He occupied many minor offices in Francis Gould Post 36, G.A.R., and also served as commander two terms.

"Mr. Seaver was well known all through the town.  He was a man of sterling quality, and his word was as good as his bond.  He is survived by his wife.

"The funeral will be held Wednesday afternoon, the day on which he would have been 7 years old.  The services will be conducted by Rev Samuel C. Bushnell,  pastor of the Pleasant st. Congregational Church.  Interment will be in Worcester."

The source citation is:

"Alexander H. Seaver Dead,The Boston [Mass.] Globe newspaper, obituary, Monday, 13 November 1911, page 4, column 6, Alexander H. Seaver obituaryNewspapers.com   (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 28 November 2019).

Civil War soldier, GAR member, silversmith, furniture dealer, news stand owner, retiree.  There is only a passing mention of a surviving wife and no mention of children.  

Alexander Harrison Seaver was born 16 November 1841 in Holden, Worcester County, Massachusetts, the 4th son and 7th and last child of Alexander H. and Nancy (Newman) Seaver.  His father died before he was two years old, and his mother died before he was seven years old.

Alexander married Ellen Frances Drury (1842-1918) on 3 August 1862 in Worcester, Massachusetts, and they had two children born in Worcester:

*  Frederic Seaver (1866-1866).
*  Alice Seaver (1870-1870).

Both children died within five months of their births.  How sad that must have been for Alexander and Ellen.

Alexander Harrison Seaver is my 3rd cousin 4 times removed, and his children are my 4th cousins 3 times removed.  

There are over 8,000 Seaver "stories" in my family tree - this was one of them.   Life happens, accidentally and intentionally, and sometimes the life of a person is dedicated to business and public service.  I am glad I can honor Alexander Harrison Seaver today.

                                  =============================================

Disclosure:  I have a paid subscription to Newspapers.com and have used it extensively to find articles about my ancestral and one-name families.




Copyright (c) 2019, Randall J. Seaver

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2 comments:

RJ said...

I am very curious about this family. The father and mother died quite young and all the siblings of Alexander died before the age of 25. I was just wondering if you know anything about the family and what happened to the family that caused them to die so young?

Randy Seaver said...

I don't know. The death records usually don't give a cause of death. It could be genetics, or disease, or a dangerous occupation, or hygiene, or something else.