Seth Wakeman
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 29th district
In office
March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1873
Preceded byJohn Fisher
Succeeded byFreeman Clarke
Town Supervisor of Batavia, New York
In office
1861–1862
Preceded byMartin F. Robertson
Succeeded byHarry Backus
Member of the New York State Assembly
In office
January 1, 1856 – December 31, 1857
Preceded byAmbrose Stevens
Succeeded byFranklin G. Kingman (Genesee County at-large)
ConstituencyGenesee County 1st District
District Attorney of Genesee County, New York
In office
1850–1855
Preceded byJohn H. Martindale
Succeeded byGeorge Brown
Treasurer of Genesee County, New York
In office
1845–1846
Preceded byPardon C. Sherman
Succeeded byBrannan Young
Personal details
Born(1811-01-15)January 15, 1811
Franklin, Vermont, U.S.
DiedJanuary 4, 1880(1880-01-04) (aged 68)
Batavia, New York, U.S.
Resting placeElmwood Cemetery, Batavia, New York
Political partyWhig (before 1855)
Republican (from 1855)
Spouse(s)Demis Powers (m. 1832–1836, her death)
Laura Winans (m. 1856–1880, his death)
Children6
ProfessionAttorney

Seth Wakeman (January 15, 1811 – January 4, 1880) was an American attorney and politician from Batavia, New York. Initially a Whig, and later a Republican, he was most notable for his service in the New York State Assembly from 1856 to 1857 and the United States House of Representatives from 1871 to 1873.

Early life

Wakeman was born in Franklin, Vermont on January 15, 1811, the son of Nathan Wakeman and Phoebe Johnston.[1][2] The Wakeman family soon moved to Pembroke, New York, where Nathan Wakeman joined the New York Militia for the War of 1812.[2] He died in Malone, New York while on military duty.[2] Seth Wakeman attended the local schools of Pembroke and became a farmer.[1][3] He served in local offices including constable and justice of the peace, and studied law.[2]

In 1844, Wakeman was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Batavia, New York.[1] Originally a Whig,[4] he served as Genesee County Treasurer (1845 to 1846), and Genesee County District Attorney (1850 to 1855).[5] He was also active in several business ventures, including serving as secretary of the Batavia and Lancaster Plank Road Company.[6] He was also a member of the board of directors of the Batavia and Oakfield Plank Road Company.[7] In 1852, Wakeman was appointed secretary of the Buffalo and Batavia Plank Road Company.[8]

Continued career

Wakeman became a Republican when the party was founded in the mid-1850s.[9] He was a member of the New York State Assembly (Genesee Co., 1st D.) in 1856 and 1857.[1] Wakeman was also a delegate to the State constitutional convention of 1867 and 1868.[1]

In 1868, Wakeman was a candidate for the Republican nomination for a seat in the United States House of Representatives, which was won by John Fisher, who went on to win the general election.[10] In 1870, Wakeman was elected to the 42nd United States Congress.[1] He served one term, March 4, 1871 to March 3, 1873.[1]

Later life

After leaving Congress, Wakeman resumed practicing law.[11] In 1875 his health began to decline, and he retired from most of his legal and business interests.[11] For the last few years of his life, Wakeman was nearly invalid and largely confined to his home.[11]

Wakeman died in Batavia on January 4, 1880.[12] He was interred at Elmwood Cemetery in Batavia.[12]

Family

In 1832, Wakeman married Demis Powers of Pembroke.[2] They were the parents of two children, Eugene (b. 1834) and Demie (1836–1904).[2] In 1856, Wakeman married Laura Winans of Cleveland.[2] They were the parents of Mary Emma (1860–1919), Bryan Seth (b. 1862), Henry Clay (1864–1870), and William Sprague (1868–1954).[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Who Was Who In America. Chicago, IL: A. N. Marquis Company. 1963. p. 555 – via Google Books.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Wakeman, Robert P. (1900). Wakeman Genealogy: 1630-1899. Meriden, CT: Journal Publishing Co. pp. 235, 294–295 – via Google Books.
  3. ↑ "Agrarian Convention". Buffalo Whig and Journal. Buffalo, NY. October 8, 1834. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Delegate to the Whig National Convention". Morning Express. Buffalo, NY. February 18, 1852. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ Beers, Frederick W., ed. (1890). Gazetteer and Biographical Record of Genesee County, N.Y., 1788-1890. Syracuse, NY: J. W. Vose & Co. pp. 44, 46 – via Google Books.
  6. ↑ "Batavia and Lancaster Plank Road". Daily Courier. Buffalo, NY. February 6, 1850. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Batavia & Oakfield Plank Road Company". Morning Express. Buffalo, NY. March 29, 1850. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Buffalo and Batavia Plank Road". Daily Courier. Buffalo, NY. March 4, 1852. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Republican Judicial Convention". Morning Express. Buffalo, NY. October 1, 1855. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Personal and Political: Mr. John Fisher". Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, WI. September 11, 1868. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. 1 2 3 "New York State: Genesee; Hon. Seth Wakeman". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, NY. January 7, 1880. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. 1 2 Joint Committee on Printing (1928). Biographical Directory of the American Congress. 1774-1927. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 1656 – via Google Books.

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