Harrison Lafayette SEYMOUR & Elizabeth "Lizzie" Margaret SMYTH
Father: Harrison Lafayette SEYMOUR, (son of Coleman " Cole" SEYMOUR), b. 17 Oct 1858, Pleasonton Decatur Iowa, d. 1 Jan 1933, Kansas City KS, bur. Highland Park, Wyandotte County KS
Harrison was born in Iowa in 1858 although he claims on the 1900 Census that the year is 1857, . His parentage and birth and death info are confirmed on his hard copy of death certificate. He married Elizabeth Margaret Smyth on Christmas day 1884 in Wyandotte County KS. They first turn up on the census in the Quindaro district in Grindle precinct. under the spelling of Seymore. in 1900. He was a farmer and Elizabeth who was supposedly a very industrious woman lists herself as a farm labourer. With them are their six children, Robert, John, George, Henry, Florence, and Mary. Harrison whose father was a teacher can both read and write. By 1910 they are living at the home they would have for the rest ot their lives 1622 the Terrace Avenue (this residence was the home of Lizzie Smyth's parents prior to her mother's illness and fathers death. . On pension papers for Elizabeths father her mother lists this as her residence in 1906 sometime later she moves in with Lizzie's sister Florence and the home is turned over to Lizzie and Harrison ) in Wyandotte County with five children as John has married by this time and is living next door to them at 1620 the Terrace with his new wife Minnie. In 1920's , he and Elizabeth are living with only one child George F and his wife Erna F Kitchen and two grandchildren Helen 7 and little George who is 4. There are two George's at the residence, this name having been passed down in the Seymour line since the mid 1700's and possibly even the middle 1600's in the Seymour family. For most his life Harrison was a stereographer for a newspaper and then a printing press and finally he drove a truck finally he is retired in 1930. In 1930 he is without his beloved Lizzie who has passed away. Living as a widow at 71. Next door was his son John and daughter in law Minnie and his 19 year old granddaughter Nora. Both parcels of land belonged to Harrison who was always generous about giving his children a place to stay in hard times. Harrison himself passed away on New Year's day 1933 of angina pectoris which he aggravated after a bout with influenza. His obit reads Harrison Lafayette Seymour 74 a grading contractor and a resident of KC KS for 45 years died yesterday at his home 1622 The Terrace. He is survived by his two daughters, Mrs Leon J Miller 137 S 15th, Mrs HW Robinson 1517 Lawless avenue , four sons,Robert C Seymour Shawnee Kansas, John E Seymour 1618 The Terrace, George F Seymour 1300 Central Avenue and Henry N Seymour 1421 Glenn Avenue , seventeen grandchildren and one great grandchild.. The body will lie in state from 4 o clock this afternoon until 10 o clock tomorrow morning when it will be taken to the George H Long mortuary where the funeral will be at 1:30 o clock. Burial will be in Highland Park Cemetery.
Mother: Elizabeth “Lizzie” Margaret SMYTH, (daughter of Robert Coleman SMYTH), b. 8 Sep 1858, Casey County Kentucky, d. 18 Jan 1925, Kansas City KS, bur. Highland Park
Elizabeth Margaret Smyth was born on Sept 8 1858 and she kept the Bible quite meticiously .. She was said to be a very industrious , assertive woman and indeed on the 1900 Census she calls herself a farm labourer.She came on a wagon train from Kentucky in the year 1867 when she was 9 years old.However it must have been a bit later as her brothers were born in Kentucky after that. In her Bible is a memory book with several dedications from her family. The memory book is inscribed Presented to Miss Lizzie Smyth with compliments of yours truly, H.L Seymore December 25, 1882 Kansas City, Mo. It was a gift to her two years before their marriage. Her brothers Robert W Smyth and JE Smyth inscribe to Lizzie on Feb 10, 1884 and April 20, 1884 respectively. Both sign in Wyandotte County KS. Her sister Florence writes, “Remember me dear Lizzie when on these lines you look, remember it was Florence who wrote this in your book.” Florence Henderson May 6, 1884. Her brother in law , CJ Henderson simply signs his name on Feb 25, 1883. Also signing her memory book are her father ,“To my Lizzie Smyth daughter, Robert C Smyth Wyandotte County KS Feb 10 1884 and her mother Nancy W Smyth on the same day. and her brother Henry as well. She was christened a Baptist and my father said that his early church going ,what there was of it was Baptist and with his grandma. She died on Jan 18th 1925 at Bethany Hospital having left the home where she had lived for 15 years 1622 the Terrace. She died of chronic nephritis. at age 66. Her Bible and memory book are in posession of her great grandson George Frederick Seymour the III. There are many tin type photos in that book, most of the Smyth family but one of Harrison and even it is said his father Coleman.
Married 25 Dec 1884, Wyandotte County KS
Children:
- Robert Coleman SEYMOUR, b. 23 Jan 1886, d. 18 Mar 1969, bur. Highland Park Cemetery, Kansas City KS
- Nancy May SEYMOUR, b. 6 Jul 1887, Wyandotte County KS, d. 16 Jul 1888, bur. Woodlawn Cemetery, Kansas City KS
- John Edwin SEYMOUR, b. 16 Sep 1888, Wyandotte County KS, d. 26 Aug 1938, bur. Highland Park, Kansas City KS
- George Frederick SEYMOUR Sr, b. 26 Oct 1890, Kansas City KS, d. 19 Oct 1963, Pawnee Oklahoma
- Henry Newton"Duke" SEYMOUR, b. 5 Dec 1892, Wyandotte County KS, d. 18 Jun 1959, bur. Highland Park Cemetery, Kansas City KS
- Florence Pearl SEYMOUR, b. 14 Jul 1895, Wyandotte County KS, d. 1971, bur. Highland Park Cemetery, Kansas City KS
- Mary Frances SEYMOUR, b. 29 Nov 1898, Wyandotte County KS