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Switzerland County

Biography

Ezra G. Seymour,

farmer, preacher and undertaker, Cotton Township, was born in that locality on Section 3, May 3, 1834. He now owns in said township, 105 acres of choice land, which is well improved. His education was completed at Vevay Seminary. His father, Hezekiah, was born in Chatauqua County, N.Y., April 24, 1794; his mother, Mary (Bennett) Seymour, October 16, 1795. They married December 9, 1813, and raised five children: Hezekiah B., born October 10, 1814, died September 21, 1852; Abijah H., born February 2, 1820, died August 20, 1878; William B., born June 26, 1826, died April 10, 1879; Daniel T., born June 16, 1831; Ezra G., born May 3, 1834. The father was a farmer and Methodist preacher, and came to Rising Sun, with his family, in 1825, and to Cotton Township in the spring of 1826. He served his constituents as township assessor and collector of delinquent taxes, and died November 28, 1858. The mother passed to her rest September 12, 1841. Elder Ezra G., was married April 9, 1852 to Phoebe Dunning, who was born in Ohio County, Ind., in 1836, and to them was born William B., July 11, 1853. This wife died in January 1854. March 20, 1856, he married Elizabeth Moore, a native of Cotton Township, born December 25, 1841, and by this union eleven children: John A., born December 6, 1856; George W., born September 19, 1858, died October 26, 1859; Abijah H., born August 13, 1860; Levi H., born June 7, 1862; Mary A., born December 12, 1865; Charles G., born July 18, 1868, died March 11, 1871; Henry B., born June 4, 1871; Nannie J., born January 18, 1874, died October 5, 1875; Elmer E., born December 15, 1876; Grace M., born May 4, 1880; Jennie P., born March 20, 1883. Mr. Seymour engaged in farming till 1870, then began his ministry. In the spring of 1882, to add if possible, to his finances, he began the business of undertaking, and since then, has rented out his farm. He now devotes his entire time and talent to the ministry and undertaking, by which combination he was able to meet the demands of life, death and immortality. The elder has a fine hearse and carries a full stock of burial cases and robes, to meet the demands of his customers in that line. He is a member of Allensville Lodge No. 81, of F. & A.M. A Baptist in religious faith, he has done much to advance the interests of the church in his community, commanding, as he does, the esteem of all those with whom he is associated.

Source: History of Switzerland County, Indiana 1885. Chicago, Illinois: Weakley, Harraman & Co., 1885
Transcribed by: Sheila Kell