The L. A. Seymour Family

Facts provided by Marion Seymour

L. A. Seymour, farmer and teacher, his wife, Mattie Peacock Seymour, and their six children moved from Navarro County to Jacksonville in 1912. Mr. Seymour bought a farm on Troup highway (now owned by Kent Holman), operated the farm and taught in Jacksonville schools.

He was an organizer and president of East Texas Fruit Growers Association, and in the early 1920s, moved to Austin to serve as director of Bureau of Marketing with the Department of Agriculture, a position he held until retirement in 1934. His wife died in 1936 and he in 1943.

Cora, oldest child, and Mattie Lee, youngest, had teaching careers. Cora graduated from The University of Texas and taught in Jacksonville and elsewhere. Upon retirement, she lived in Austin, and was a counselor at Scottish Rite Dormitory for several years. All except Cora were Jacksonville High School graduates.

Mattie Lee graduated from Lon Morris College and The University of Texas, later teaching. The Ford Foundation awarded her a grant to travel and study school systems in the United States for one year. She has retired and lives with Cora in the old home in Austin. She now does special assignments for the Austin Public Library.

Harvey, oldest son, graduated from Tyler Commercial College, going to Eagle Pass in 1916 as a civil service clerk in the Finance Corporation of the Army. In 1920, he married Mary Buck, daughter of a Methodist preacher. Following a business career, he retired, and a few months after retirement, became full-time manager of the Eagle Pass Chamber of Commerce. He previously had served as its president. He also was president of the Rotary Club. He has been retired since 1967.

Clyde, after high school graduation, returned to Corsicana to be employed by Magnolia Petroleum Company. He took a leave of absence to attend The University of Texas and serve in the Navy during World War I. After this, he returned to work for Magnolia in Dallas. He retired as senior vice-president of the company in 1959 and lives in Dallas.

Leslie was the preacher of the family. A graduate of Southern Methodist University, he served as pastor and district Superintendent in the Texas and North Texas conferences of the Methodist Church. In 1969, he retired as associate pastor of Highland Park Methodist Church, Dallas. He lives in Dallas and continues to do special assignments for Highland Park church.

Marion was the only family member to make Jacksonville his permanent home. After graduating from Alexander College, he married Florine Alexander, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. P. Alexander, in 1923. They lived in San Angelo, where their only child, Alex, was born, and in Midland until 1933, when they returned to Jacksonville and joined Mr. Alexander in operation of the Liberty Hotel.

In 1943, Marion purchased Mr. Alexander's interest. His son, Alex, joined in the operation, after taking hotel administration at Michigan State University, attending The University of Texas and graduating from Stephen F. Austin State University. In 1949, Alex married Shirley Carter, daughter of Mrs. Lee G. Carter and the late Mr. Carter. Their only child, Lee, was born in 1952.

In 1953, Marion was appointed Jacksonville postmaster, and Alex took over the hotel which they sold in 1963. Alex now is employed as general manager of Blackstone Hotel in Tyler. Marion, who retired as postmaster in 1968, served Jacksonville as a city councilman for ten years, was a former president of the Jacksonville Jax baseball team, president of the Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce. He also served as president of the Texas Hotel Association.

The Seymour family in front of their original home on Troup highway.

The Seymour boys, Leslie, Marion, Clyde and Harvey, pose in front of the family's 1914 Studebaker.