John Sammis Seymour (S&B 1875)
Yale University. Skull and Bones.
During April, 1916, he came into prominence through an investigation by District Attorney Swann into the tapping of telephone wires in the lawyer’s office by the Burns Detective Agency. Mr Seymour said the wires had been tapped to learn about the firm’s activity in the sale of munitios to the Allies. Nothing ever cam of the investigation.[4]
1893 to 1897 - U.S. Commissioner of Patents.[3] FYI - Inventions during this period included the 1894, Stadimeter by Bradley Allen Fiske which was useful during the Battle of Manila Bay, Spanish American War. 1894, Medical Glove by William Stewart Halsted of Johns Hopkins Hospital. 1894, Mousetrap. 1895, Clipless pedal. 1897, Muffler, Cotton Candy. 1897, Tapered roller bearing, Ice cream scoop, Charcoal Briquette, Bilards cue chalk. 1898, Remote control (Nikola Tesla), Semi-automatic shotgun, Semi-truck, Installer bit, Sousaphone. 1899, Wing warping.
Preceded by William Edgar Simonds (Yale). Succeeded by Benjamin Butterworth.(“One of Ohio’s big four politically”. The quartet was William McKinley, Joseph Benson Foraker, Charlie Foster and Butterworth. Son was Frank Seiler Butterworth S&B 1895.
1893 - Commissioner of Insurance for the State of Connecticut.[3]
1891 to 1892 - Member of the Connecticut State Senate.[3]
1895 to 1921 - Member of Seymour, Seymour & Harmon [and successors] [law firm in New York City].[3]
1875 - Graduated Yale, Skull and Bones Patriarch.[1]
Died 10 Mar 1926, from details below. Age 77
Stricken by illness last night while walking at Lenox Avenue and 117th Street and was taken unconscious to Bellevue Hospital. He was said later to be suffering from amnesia.[4]
Patrolman George Alberts of the West 123d Street Station was the first to reach the aged man after several persons saw him totter and fall to the sidewalk. He was led to the station, where he lapsed into a coma, and was taken to the hospital after his identity was established.[4]
Mr Seymour’s identity was made known by cards and letters in his pockets. The cards gave his profession as a patent attorney and his address as 43 exchange place. Two letters signed by Gov. Pinchot [S&B 1889] of Pennsylvania and United States Senator Wadsworth [S&B 1898] expressed regret at their inability to accept an invitation sent to them by Mr. Seymour.[4]
The police were unable, however, to learn where Mr. Seymour made his home. They said information obtained at the building where his office is located did not include his address, but that a daughter, Mrs Chester Kerr of Whitney Point, N.Y., was his only relative. The police said they would get in touch with her. Mr Seymour’s brother, Frederick, who was associated with him in the practice of law, died May, 29, 1924, at East Orange.[4]
Mr Seymour was born at Whitney Point, N.Y., Sept. 28, 1848.
[3] - Skull and Bones Membership List by David Luhrssen
[4] - Article - NY Times Obituary
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