Biography of
Charles Walton Seymour

THE son of William North and Anna Garthwait (Halsey) Seymour, this classmate was born in New York City, March 19, 1843. He fitted for college in Yonkers, New York, and entered our Class in September, 1859. While in college, he joined the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity; was a member of the 'Logian Literary Society; a disputant on the Adelphic Union Debate, March, 1863, and valedictorian on the Adelphic Union exhibition, July, 1863; a member of the Williams Art Association; and received the appointment of an oration on the Commencement program.

After graduation, Seymour studied law in Peekskill-on-the-Hudson, New York. He also is reported as giving lectures on Byron and Hood in Yonkers, his home town. This may have been the shadow of coming events. Seymour was admitted to the bar in New York City in 1866, and practiced in that metropolis for twenty-two years, when he removed to Tacoma, Washington, in 1888, and continued his legal practice until 1895. During these years our classmate traveled extensively. In 1895 he visited Japan, and after his return from this trip went on the lecture platform, lecturing especially upon historical characters. He is now very busy during the season from October to June, giving courses before educational institutions of the several States; so busy that last year in the State of Wisconsin he gave seventy-four courses, three hundred and thirty lectures, during the season.

In 1865, Seymour married Miss Helen A. Holmes, daughter of Samuel P. Holmes, of New York City. To this marriage four children were born:

Charles Holmes, born in 1868, died of typhoid fever in 1883, all ready to enter college.

Helen, born 1870; married to William W. Clifton, and has a daughter, Eleanor. 

Jessie G., born 1874.

Winifred, born 1880.

In 1896, our classmate's wife died, and he has since married Miss Margaret Rugg, daughter of Benjamin Rugg, of St. Louis, and by this marriage he has a son, Whitney North Seymour, born January 4, 1901.

A little handbook has recently been received which gives the themes of many of our classmate's lectures. They cover a wide range of subjects in travels, history, biography and literature; and, judging from the accompanying press notices, are instructive and popular. 
  

Source:  Class of Sixty-Three Williams College Fortieth Year Report, by the Class Historian, Thomas Todd Printer, Boston, 1903