History of Florida, (Orange County) New York United States of America

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Biographies:

George Frederick Seward, diplomatist, was born in Florida, N.Y., Nov. 8, 1840; son of George W. and Tempe Wicke (Leddel) Seward and nephew of William Henry Seward . He attended Seward institute and Union college, N.Y., and was appointed U.S. consul at Shanghai, China, in 1861, serving as consul-general, 1863?76. He was married in 1870, to Kate, daughter of Isaac and Mary (Wilson) Sherman of Maryville, Cal. He went to Siam in 1868 on international business; was appointed U.S. minister to Corea in 1869, but did not serve, and during a riot in 1873 in Shanghai be landed the crews of two U.S. men-of-war to aid in its suppression. He was appointed U.S. minister to China in 1876, but was recalled in 1880 owing to his refusal to negotiate a treaty for the restriction of Chinese immigration. He was president of the North China branch of the Royal Asiatic society, 1865?66; a member of several political and social societies; engaged in the brokerage business in New York city in 1880; was elected vice-president of the Fidelity and Casualty Co. of New York in 1887, and president in 1893, and vice-president of the Willson Aluminum Co. He is the author of: Chinese Immigration in its Social and Economical Aspects (1881).

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Theodore Frelinghausen Seward, musician, was born in Florida, N.Y., Jan. 25, 1835; son of Israel and Mary (Johnson) Seward and cousin of William H. Seward . In 1853 he began the study of music under Lowell Mason and Thomas Hastings, and was organist of a church in New London, Conn., 1857?59, and of one in Rochester, N.Y., 1859?62. He was married, June 12, 1860, to Mary Holden, daughter of William and Sarah (Ashbey) Coggeshall of New London, Conn., and moved to New York city in 1863, where he taught music. While on a visit to England in 1869, he was attracted by the tonic sol-fa system which he attempted to introduce in America, but without success. He preserved more than 100 of the religious melodies of the Southern slaves in "Jubilee Songs," and in 1875?76, he managed the company of Fisk Jubilee singers in their European concerts, by which they raised several hundred thousand dollars for the Fisk university. He studied at the Tonic Sol-fa college while in London, and upon his return in 1877 established the system in America. He founded the American Tonic Sol-fa association; the Brotherhood of Christian Unity (1891); the Don't Worry Clubs (1897); the World's Neighbor-chain in 1898, and the Golden Rule Brotherhood (1901). He edired several musical periodicals and is the author of: The Sunny-side Glee-Book (1866); The Temple Choir (1867); The Pestalozzian Music Teacher, with Lowell Mason (1871); Coronation (1872); The School of Life (1894); Heaven Every Day (1896); Don't Worry, or the Scientific Law of Happiness (1897); Spiritual Knowing, or Bible Sunshine (1900); How to get Acquainted with God (1902). He died in Orange, N.J., at the home of his daughter, Aug. 30, 1902.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Sara Cornelia Seward, physician, was born in Florida, N.Y., June 8, 1833; daughter of George W. and Tempe Wicke (Leddel) Seward. She was graduated from the Woman's Medical college in Philadelphia, Pa., 1860. She was in China with her brother, George F. Seward, U.S. minister, 1861?65. In December, 1871, she went to Allahabad, India, under the auspices of the Zenana Missions, to practise among the women, whom male physicians were prohibited from attending. Besides her practice in private families there, she conducted two large dispensaries. She died in Allahabad, India, June 12, 1891.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Philip Sidney Post, representative, was born in Florida, Orange county, N.Y., March 19, 1833; son of Gen. Peter Schuyler and Mary D. (Coe) Post; grandson of Col. Garret and Martinche (Bertolf) Post, and of John D. Coe. He was graduated at Union college in 1855, and was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1856. He first practised in Galesburg, and in 1857 in Wyandotte, Kan., where he also published and edited the Argus. On the outbreak of the civil war he was made 2d lieutenant in the 59th Illinois volunteers; was promoted adjutant, July 21, 1861; major, Jan. 1, 1862; colonel, March 19, 1862, and was wounded at Pea Ridge, Ark., March 7, 1862. He subsequently commanded the 1st brigade, 1st division, 20th corps, the Army of the Cumberland, participating in the battle of Stone's River, and in the capture of Leetown; was transferred to the 2d brigade, 3d division, 4th army corps, commanding the division at Lovejoy's Station, Ga., and was seriously wounded in the hip at Nashville, Dec. 16, 1864, being brevetted brigadier-general of volunteers on the same day for gallant services. He commanded the western district of Texas, with headquarters at San Antonio, 1865-66. He was married, May 24, 1866, to Cornelia Almira, daughter of William Townsend Post. He was at Vienna, 1866-74, as U.S. consul, and as U.S. consul-general, 1874-79. He was a member-at-large of the Illinois Republican state central committee, 1882-86, and a representative from the tenth Illinois district in the 50th, 51st, 52d and 53d congresses, 1887-95. He died in Washington, D.C., Jan. 6, 1895.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor