James M. Seymour
Encyclopedia
James Madison Seymour was the Mayor of Newark, New Jersey from January 1, 1896 to January 1, 1903.
. He married Amanda Elizabeth Crowell in 1859, and they had one son, James Murray Seymour. After the death of his first wife, he married her sister Anna J. Crowell, and the couple also had one son, David C. Seymour.
At the age of two, in 1839, Seymour's father died in a yellow fever
epidemic in New Orleans. His mother remarried Jose Vantana, and the family went to reside in Spain. Seymour attended St. Austin's College in Cádiz
. At the age of 17 he began an apprenticeship at Novelty Iron Works of New York and was subsequently employed by the Erie Railroad
. When he was 21, in 1858, he was appointed master mechanic of a railroad from Matanzas
to Puerto Príncipe in Cuba
, and later worked for two years as chief engineer of a large Cuban sugar plantation.
In 1865 he joined with Daniel Whitlock to form the engineering firm of Seymour and Whitlock in Newark, New Jersey
. In 1884 he was elected to the Newark Aqueduct Board, re-elected in 1887. In 1888 President Grover Cleveland
appointed him as one of the United States Commissioners to Spain. In 1891 Governor Leon Abbett
named him the State Supervisor of Prisons.
Seymour was a candidate for Mayor of Newark in 1894 but lost by nearly 5,000 votes. He ran for mayor again in 1896 and won by a margin of 3,396 votes. He was re-elected as mayor in 1898 and 1900. While he was mayor construction began on a new city hall in Newark. Seymour argued for the creation of "Greater Newark" by the annexation of a number of nearby towns: East Orange
, Vailsburg
, Harrison
, Kearney
, and Belleville
. Of these, only Vailsburg was eventually annexed to Newark.
In 1901 he was the Democratic
candidate for Governor of New Jersey
, opposing the Republican
Franklin Murphy
. He lost the election by a vote of 183,814 to 166,681.
Seymour died in 1905 at his Newark, New Jersey
home at the age of 68.
Biography
He was born on January 30, 1837 in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He married Amanda Elizabeth Crowell in 1859, and they had one son, James Murray Seymour. After the death of his first wife, he married her sister Anna J. Crowell, and the couple also had one son, David C. Seymour.
At the age of two, in 1839, Seymour's father died in a yellow fever
Yellow fever
Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease. The virus is a 40 to 50 nm enveloped RNA virus with positive sense of the Flaviviridae family....
epidemic in New Orleans. His mother remarried Jose Vantana, and the family went to reside in Spain. Seymour attended St. Austin's College in Cádiz
Cádiz
Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
. At the age of 17 he began an apprenticeship at Novelty Iron Works of New York and was subsequently employed by the Erie Railroad
Erie Railroad
The Erie Railroad was a railroad that operated in New York State, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, originally connecting New York City with Lake Erie...
. When he was 21, in 1858, he was appointed master mechanic of a railroad from Matanzas
Matanzas
Matanzas is the capital of the Cuban province of Matanzas. It is famed for its poets, culture, and Afro-Cuban folklore.It is located on the northern shore of the island of Cuba, on the Bay of Matanzas , east of the capital Havana and west of the resort town of Varadero.Matanzas is called the...
to Puerto Príncipe in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, and later worked for two years as chief engineer of a large Cuban sugar plantation.
In 1865 he joined with Daniel Whitlock to form the engineering firm of Seymour and Whitlock in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
. In 1884 he was elected to the Newark Aqueduct Board, re-elected in 1887. In 1888 President Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
appointed him as one of the United States Commissioners to Spain. In 1891 Governor Leon Abbett
Leon Abbett
Leon Abbett was an American Democratic Party politician, and lawyer, who served two separate terms as the 26th Governor of New Jersey, from 1884 to 1887 and from 1890 to 1893. He was a member of the New Jersey General Assembly, New Jersey Senate, a democratic candidate for the U.S...
named him the State Supervisor of Prisons.
Seymour was a candidate for Mayor of Newark in 1894 but lost by nearly 5,000 votes. He ran for mayor again in 1896 and won by a margin of 3,396 votes. He was re-elected as mayor in 1898 and 1900. While he was mayor construction began on a new city hall in Newark. Seymour argued for the creation of "Greater Newark" by the annexation of a number of nearby towns: East Orange
East Orange, New Jersey
East Orange is a city in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census the city's population 64,270, making it the state's 20th largest municipality, having dropped 5,554 residents from its population of 69,824 in the 2000 Census, when it was the state's 14th most...
, Vailsburg
Vailsburg, Newark
Vailsburg is a neighborhood in the West ward of Newark, New Jersey elevation 280 ft. As of 2000, Vailsburg has a population of 34,348. The Vailsburg section of Newark seems to stick out from the rest of the area, not only geographically, but because of its hodgepodge of suburban, urban and park...
, Harrison
Harrison, New Jersey
Harrison is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town's population was 13,620. The town is a suburb of the nearby city of Newark, New Jersey.-Geography:Harrison is located at ....
, Kearney
Kearny, New Jersey
Kearny is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. It was named after Civil War general Philip Kearny. As of the United States 2010 Census, the town population was 40,684. The town is a suburb of the nearby city of Newark....
, and Belleville
Belleville, New Jersey
Belleville is a Township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 35,926.-History:...
. Of these, only Vailsburg was eventually annexed to Newark.
In 1901 he was the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
candidate for Governor of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
, opposing the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Franklin Murphy
Franklin Murphy (governor)
Franklin Murphy was an American Republican Party politician, who served as the 31st Governor of New Jersey, from 1902-1905. He was the founder of the Murphy Varnish Company in Newark, New Jersey.-Civil War Service:...
. He lost the election by a vote of 183,814 to 166,681.
Seymour died in 1905 at his Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
home at the age of 68.