William H. Seymour

William Henry Seymour (September 8, 1840 – December 24, 1913), was an American politician and amateur historian best known for having written a history of Algiers, Louisiana.

For the British Army officer, see William Henry Seymour.

Judge Wm. H. Seymour

Early life

Seymour was born in Warrenton, Warren County, Mississippi. He lived in Europe as a child, then moved to Louisiana while still a dependent of his parents.

Career

At the outset of the American Civil War, he enlisted in the Confederate Army, becoming an artillery sergeant and receiving an honorable discharge.[1]

In 1863, he moved to Algiers, Louisiana, where he was initially employed by the Opelousas Railroad. Algiers, across the Mississippi River from New Orleans, was then an independent municipality, but would be within a few years annexed to the city.

Seymour is best known as the author of The Story of Algiers, a 128-page history published in 1896. The book was republished in 1971 and has been referenced in New Orleans and Louisiana histories.[2] An index of the book is on-line at the New Orleans Public Library Web site.[3]

Political career

Seymour took an interest in local affairs and was elected in 1864 to the Louisiana Constitutional Convention, where he was the youngest delegate. Also in 1864 Seymour was elected justice of the peace and president of the parish police jury.[1] In 1865, Seymour was elected to the Louisiana state legislature. He was admitted to the state bar association in 1881. From 1892 through 1896, he served as elected judge of the Third City Court.[4]

References

Cited references

1. "Biography of Seymour, William H., Warren County, Mississippi, then Orleans Parish, Louisiana". LAGenWeb Archives. Archived from the original on August 3, 2004. Retrieved April 28, 2006.
2. Seymour, William H. (1971). The story of Algiers, 1718-1896. Gretna LA: Pelican Publishing Company. LCCN 71162346.
3. "The Story of Algiers 1718-1896 by William H. Seymour". New Orleans Public Library. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
4. Dixon, Richard Remy (1981). Old Algiers : a story of Algiers, yesterday and today (2nd ed.). New Orleans: Algiers Annexation to New Orleans Centennial Committee. LCCN 82139424.

General references

• Fortier, Alcée (1914). Louisiana; comprising sketches of parishes, towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form, Vol. 3. Madison: Century Historical Association.
• Seymour, William H. (1896). The story of Algiers, now Fifth District of New Orleans, 1718-1896. The past and the present (Limited ed.). Algiers, LA: Algiers Democrat Publishing Company. LCCN 48041591.