Person:James Seaver (5)

BIRTH: JMSeaver #141-iii

DEATH:

MARRIAGE: JMSeaver

RESIDENCE: Magistrate in Burr Oak MI

CENSUS:

In the 1880 US census, the James E. Seaver family resided in Burr Oak, St. Joseph County, Michigan. The household included James E. Seaver (age 42, born NY), wife Cornelia Seaver (age 40, born NY), daughter Julia Seaver (age 17, born NY), son Beverly Seaver (age 13, born NY), son Nelson Seaver (age 10, born MI), son Edgar Seaver (age 4, born MI) and son Herbert Seaver (age 2, born MI) [LDS CD-ROM for 1880 US Census, full record on FHL Microfilm 1,255,603, page 251C].

In the 1900 US Census, the James E. Seaver family resided in Burr Oak, St. Joseph County, Michigan. The family included head James E. Seaver (indexed as Beverly Seaver, male, white, born Oct 1841, age 58, married 35 years, born NY, parents born NY, a hardware merchant, owns a house free of mortgage), wife Cornelia Seaver (white, female, born Nov 1841, age 58, married 35 years, 5 children born, 5 living, born NY, parents born NY), daughter Julia Seaver (white, female, born Oct 1865, age 34, single, born NY, parents born NY), son Edgar D. Seaver (white, male, born Sep 1875, age 24, single, born MI, parents born NY, works in a store) and son Herbert F. Seaver (white, male, born Aug 1877, age 22, single, born MI, parents born NY, works in a store) [National Archives Microfilm Series T623, Roll 742, page 4, ED 105, Sheet 4, Line 94].

In the 1910 US Census, this family resided on Masin Street in Burr Oak township, St. Joseph County, Michigan. The family included Amelia Seaver (head, female, white, age 72, widow, 6 children born, 5 living, born NY, parents born NY, no occupation, owns house free of mortgage), Edgar Seaver (son, male, white, age 34, single, born MI, parents born NY, a machinist, works at electrical plant) and Julia Seaver (daughter, female, white, age 47, single, born NY, parents born NY, no occupation) [National Archives Microfilm Series T624, Roll 674, page 1, ED 119, Sheet 1A, Line 25].

In the 1920 US Census, the remnant of this family resided in Burr Oak township, St. Joseph County, Michigan. The family included Mrs. C.A. Seaver (head of household, female, white, age 82, widowed, born NY, parents born NY, owns home with a mortgage), Julia Seaver (daughter, female, white, age 55, single, born NY, parents born NY, a grade school teacher), Edgar Seaver (son, male, white, age 44, married, born MI, parents born NY, an electrician, works in lighting plant) and Iva Seaver (wife, female, white, age 17, married, born MI, parents born US) [National Archives Microfilm Series T625, Roll 796, Page 10, ED 142, Sheet 10A, Line 17-20].

OBITUARY:

"J.E. SEAVER DIED MONDAY MORNING HAD NOT BEEN FEELING STRONG FOR SOME TIME, BUT WAS UP AND DRESSED ON DAY OF HIS DEATH"

"The word that J.E. SEAVER was dead, came as a surprise to the people of this village Monday forenoon. It was not generally known that he was not feeling well, and his death was a sad surprise to all of us. Mr. SEAVER was a man of few words always pleasant and not a man to spend much time on the streets. A great deal of his time was spent at the hardware store which he and his son Beverly have so long conducted. He was also a great reader, spending the greater part of his spare time at home in company with magazines and books.

"The funeral will be held at the residence this afternoon at 2:00, and will be conducted by Rev. Showerman and D.W. Herman, this being by request of Mr. SEAVER himself.

"His death was sudden, he having arisen and dressed as usual Monday Morning, but later complained of not feeling well and soon after passed away. He was nearly 75 years of age.

He leaves a wife, four sons, Beverly, Edgar and Herbert of this place, and Nelson, of Detroit, also one daughter, Miss Julia of Burr Oak, to mourn, besides a host of near and dear friends and many, many acquaintances, all of whom deeply sympathize with the bereaved family.

"James E. SEAVER was born in Darien, Genesee Co., N.Y. October 28, 1835, and died in Burr Oak, Mich. Monday, November 1, 1909, aged 75 years and three days.

"January 1, 1862 he was married to Miss Cornelia HINMAN of Lockport, N.Y. The family moved to St. Joe county in 1869 and in 1875 to Burr Oak, since which time Mr. SEAVER has been actively engaged in the hardware business.

"Mr. SEAVER was a trustee of the Methodist church of Burr Oak for many years, was a member of the Masonic Order and Eastern Star, was well and favorably known as a business man and a neighbor, and will be greatly missed from the community.

"The funeral will be conducted by the Masonic fraternity.

'Resolutions of Respect

'To the Worshipful Master, Wardens and brothers of Eagle Lodge, No. 124, F. & A.M. Your Committee appointed to draft resolutions on the death of Brother J.E. SEAVER, would most respectfully submit:

'That again the oft-repeated lesson, the Mystic door opens and our Brother enters the portals, his life's work finished, Home and Fraternal ties severed. Later we must all make the journey and well has the poet expressed it in the poem entitled "The Covered Bridge."

'Yet to reach that realm on the other Shore, We must pass thru transient gloom, And must walk, unseen, unhelped and alone, through the Covered Bridge - The Tomb.

'o enable our feet in the next day's March, To climb that Golden ridge, We must all lie down for one night's rest, Inside the Covered Bridge.

'Resolved, That we extend to the family of our deceased brother our heartfelt sympathy in this, the hour of their bereavement.

'Resolved, that our Charter be draped in mourning for a period of thirty days. That a copy of these resolutions be presented to the family of our departed brother, and spread on the records of this lodge.

'Very respectfully yours, John R. Wirts, H.C. Gilson, C.H. Burns, Committee.'

"CARD OF THANKS

'"Words fail to express our thanks to the loving friends and neighbors for their great love, sympathy and assistance. Time will not efface from our memory the words of the Clergy, the music, the picture of the beautiful flowers or the ministration and Brotherly care of the Mason Fraternity.

'Most gratefully, Mrs. J.E. SEAVER and Family.'"

From the papers of Geneva Smith, provided by Shirley Elmer, listed by Jo Garzelloni (josie@@voyager.net) on 26 May 1999 on the Ancestry.com message board for St. Joseph county, Michigan.