Person:Charles Seaver (13)

BIOGRAPHY:

A biography of Charles Hill Seaver was published in the book "Famous Sons and Daughters of Wyoming County, New York" by Harry S. Douglass, published in Warsaw, NY, 1935. It reads (page 17):

"Charles Hill Seaver, publishing firm executive, was born in Wyoming in 1880, the son of DeWitt C. and Catherine Hill Seaver. His grandfather was Doctor Robert Seaver who settled in the Town of Middlebury, near Wrights Corners about 1809. At the same time his great-grandfather, a soldier in the Revolution, became one of the first settlers in Chautauqua county, both coming from Vermont.

"Mr. Seaver received his education at Middlebury Academy, graduating in 1894. Since he was too young to enter college, he took up post-graduate work at the Academy for two years, finally entering Williams College, from which he was graduated in 1900. He returned to Wyoming as Principal of Middlebury Academy, and had the honor of being the youngest principal, being then only 20 years of age. He held this post until 1906.

"During the following year he began service as a representative of the Macmillan Company in the Pacific Northwest, with headquarters in Seattle until 1915. He then removed to White Plains, N.Y., and was manager of the New York District office of the same firm until 1920. The following eight years he was general manager of the educational book business, as well as director of the firm.

"After 1928 he engaged for a time in a business furnishing service to industrial corporations, then in independent editorial work for various publishers. He is now with Newson and Company, publishers, as general editor and director of field work. He is the author of several text books and various articles on educational questions, and collaborator in the preparation of many other books.

"For six years Editor Seaver was a member of the Executive Committee of the National Council of Congregational Churches; delegate to various national meetings and to the meeting of the International Council at Bournemouth, England in 1930; and lay delegate from Congregational churches in the Universal Conference on Life and Work at Stockholm, Sweden, in 1925. He was president of the University Club of White Plains in addition to numerous other local responsibilities. In 1914 Mr. Seaver married Miss Grace Cushing Kelly of Wyoming, also from an old Wyoming family. They have two children living, Ruth Loraine and Jane."

MILITARY RECORDS:

Charles Hill Seaver registered for the World War I draft on 12 September 1918 in White Plains, New York. He was age 37, born 21 November 1880, was white and a native born US citizen. He resided at 17 Chestnut Hill Avenue in White Plains, New York. He was employed as a Publisher by The MacMillan Company located at 66 Fifth Avenue in New York City. His nearest relative was Grace K. Seaver at the same residence address. He was medium height, stout build, with blue eyes and light brown hair, with no disabilities (World War I Draft Registration Card, Draft Board #1,819,217, image accessed at www.ancestry.com web site).

CENSUS:

In the 1900 US Census, Charles H. Seaver (white, male, born Nov 1880, age 19, born NY, parents born NY) was a student at Williams College in Williamstown, Berkshire County, Massachusetts [National Archives Microfilm Series T623, Roll 633, ED 89, Sheet 17, Line 2].

In the 1920 US Census, this family resided at 10 Myrtle Street in the 2nd Ward of White Plains, Westchester County, New York. The family included head Charles H. Seaver (male, white, age 39, married, born NY, parents born NY, a manager, works in publishing, rents home), wife Grace Seaver (female, white, age 30, married, born NY, parents born NY), son Robert A. Seaver (age 5, single, born NY, parents born NY) and daughter Ruth Loraine Seaver (female, white, age 6 months, single, born NY, parents born NY) [National Archives Microfilm Series T625, Roll 1279, page 119, ED 190, Sheet 12A, Line 10].

In the 1930 US Census, this family resided at 22 Ridgeview Street in White Plains, Westchester County, New York. The family included head Charles H. Seaver (male, white, age 49, married, first at age 33, born NY, parents born NY, a sales manager, works in investments, owns home, worth $34,000)), wife Grace K. Seaver (female, white, age 39, married, first at age 23, born NY, parents born NY), daughter R. Loraine Seaver (female, white, age 12, single, born NY, parents born NY), and daughter Jane Seaver (female, white, age 10, single, born NY, parents born NY) [National Archives Microfilm Series T626, Roll 1665, ED 356, Page 15B, dwelling #303, family #362].

DEATH RECORD:

A Death notice was published in the New York Times newspaper, dated 22 March 1964. It reads:

“CHARLES SEAVER, 84, CHURCHMAN, EDITOR POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y., March 21—Charles H. Seaver, a Churchman and Editor, died today at the age of 84. Mr. Seaver had been head of the textbook department of the Macmillan Company and book editor for the National Association of Manufacturers. He was a charter member of the department of church and economic life of the National Council of Churches and a permanent member of its policy committee. Between 1952 and 1960 Mr. Seaver served as consulting editor for a council series on ethics and the economics of society. A life-long member of the Congregational Christian Churches, he served their Council for Societal Action as a member of the international relations committee from 1944 to 1954. He was graduated from Williams College in 1900, the youngest member of his class. Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Grace Kelley Seaver; two daughters, Mrs. William R. Perdue of Sands Point, L.I., and Mrs. James E. Russell of Washington, and five grandchildren.”