Fanny Seward: A Life

[chellers]

Trudy Krisher (Author)
Syracuse University Press (December 30, 2014)

On April 14, 1865, the night of President Lincoln's assassination, Booth's conspirator Lewis Powell attempted to assassinate Secretary of State William Seward in his home just blocks from Ford's Theatre. The attack, which left Seward and his son seriously wounded, is recounted in poignant detail in Fanny Seward's diary. Fanny, the beloved only daughter of Seward, was a keen observer, and her diary entries from 1858 to 1866 are the foundation of Krisher's vivid portrait of the young girl who was an eyewitness to one of the most tumultuous periods in American history.

Fanny offers intimate observations on the politicians, generals, and artists of the time. She tells of attending dinner parties, visiting troops, and going to the theater, often alongside President Abraham Lincoln and his wife Mary. Through Fanny's writings, Krisher not only skillfully brings to life the events and activities of a progressive political family but also illuminates the day-to-day drama of the war. Giving readers a previously unseen glimpse into the era, Fanny Seward: A Life broadens our understanding of Civil War America.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0815610416/?tag=civilwartalkc-20

Disclaimer: This post is neither a recommendation nor solicitation by CivilWarTalk or Chellers. It is solely for informational purposes.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Whoa, thank you Chellers- must look into this. Have an uncle, Calvin Huson, married her cousin, Katherine, Millers. Fanny wasn't always very strong, the Husons sometimes stood in, in Rochestor when there was a political/social ' do'. Calvin was a lawyer, studied under Seward then his ' something', not sure what. Calvin was lost early, taken as a political prisoner at Bull Run, died in Richmond- long story. The family never recovered fully from losing so much in the war- 3 brothers. There's a letter floating around in the auctions Fanny wrote back to Katherine after the assasination attempt, have to dig it out.

Mom will like this also. Fanny's world was her grgrandmother's and her grandmother's as a small girl. Rochestor, DC., Lake district of NY. Poignant stuff. Not saying that as a ' look at this', truly. There's always been such a tragic pall over the past in New York in the family, information scant. Love to see things in Fanny's words.

 

[FarawayFriend]

Woah, Annie, it's true, you are really related to everyone!
Seems to be a nice book, but so much nicer if one has a personal relationship to the writer ... awesome!

 

[chellers]

Whoa, thank you Chellers- must look into this. Have an uncle, Calvin Huson, married her cousin, Katherine, Millers. Fanny wasn't always very strong, the Husons sometimes stood in, in Rochestor when there was a political/social ' do'. Calvin was a lawyer, studied under Seward then his ' something', not sure what. Calvin was lost early, taken as a political prisoner at Bull Run, died in Richmond- long story. The family never recovered fully from losing so much in the war- 3 brothers. There's a letter floating around in the auctions Fanny wrote back to Katherine after the assasination attempt, have to dig it out.

Mom will like this also. Fanny's world was her grgrandmother's and her grandmother's as a small girl. Rochestor, DC., Lake district of NY. Poignant stuff. Not saying that as a ' look at this', truly. There's always been such a tragic pall over the past in New York in the family, information scant. Love to see things in Fanny's words.

You are quite welcome, JPK. Glad to learn of your family connection.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Fanny Seward

http://www.lib.rochester.edu/index.cfm?page=638

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Woah, Annie, it's true, you are really related to everyone!
Seems to be a nice book, but so much nicer if one has a personal relationship to the writer ... awesome!

Wierdly lucky, I know? Can't say I'd have a personal connection, just one of those windy-road things that give you a kick. I guess that's unfair- old New York/Rochestor, politics, wasn't that large, would be inevitable they'd bump into each other. Political family, his father, also Calvin was a state senator- thinking when Seward was governor. Little shameful not to know more about the politics of the day.

 

[donna]

Annie

You do have so many interesting relations. I really enjoy hearing about them.

Chellers Does sound like an interesting book.

 

[FarawayFriend]

Wierdly lucky, I know? Can't say I'd have a personal connection, just one of those windy-road things that give you a kick. I guess that's unfair- old New York/Rochestor, politics, wasn't that large, would be inevitable they'd bump into each other. Political family, his father, also Calvin was a state senator- thinking when Seward was governor. Little shameful not to know more about the politics of the day.

I think we will all forgive you if you lack that intimate knowlegde ...
But to be able to drop these names ... the greatuncle a senator, the grgrgrandfather a governor ... we Germans would say: boah, ey!
And then the Mayflower ancestors ...

 

[Northern Light]

Fanny Seward
View attachment 47814
http://www.lib.rochester.edu/index.cfm?page=638

Wow she looks so much like my grandmother at that age, same eye and face shape! Even the same little quirk of the mouth. How odd.

 

[Northern Light]

Wierdly lucky, I know? Can't say I'd have a personal connection, just one of those windy-road things that give you a kick. I guess that's unfair- old New York/Rochestor, politics, wasn't that large, would be inevitable they'd bump into each other. Political family, his father, also Calvin was a state senator- thinking when Seward was governor. Little shameful not to know more about the politics of the day.

It is impossible to know everything, so best to concentrate on a few things and know them as well as possible! You seem to be doing well with the areas you have chosen, so don't beat yourself up!

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

It is impossible to know everything, so best to concentrate on a few things and know them as well as possible! You seem to be doing well with the areas you have chosen, so don't beat yourself up!

That was kind! Ha! It's a very tough forum to belong to, tough as in intimidating, without a good knowledge base in the things one is interested in- which I do not have. The thing is, no one particularly minds- except if someone BS's on topics. Or turns around, pokes fun at other people who do not have much knowledge. Even did that once, isn't that awful? Pretty arrogant, considering, never made that mistake again. Do not mind at all admitting being a rank beginner just trying to stay out of trouble, mostly. ' Mostly'? Have areas of interest, love to build on- Cavalry, ships, abolitionists- love the engineering aspects of the war, the quartermaster's thing slays me- and of course our Women of the War.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

I think we will all forgive you if you lack that intimate knowlegde ...
But to be able to drop these names ... the greatuncle a senator, the grgrgrandfather a governor ... we Germans would say: boah, ey!
And then the Mayflower ancestors ...

Oh dear but it's exactly what's so iew, right? Probably the real reason the Civil War was an inevitable intrusion in my life- roads kept coming directly back here- a few of them. Lucky, yes. The thing is, there's this horrible ' thing' here in the States- " Related to everyone important on the planet which makes me important too ". Pretty horrendous- one of the reasons Ancestry has become wrecked in spots. These roads back to the war- have them on both sides- like being screamed at to go be decently informed or something.

Better than the whole royalty thing. We have that too here. Got an email not long ago because someone in my tree had a certain last name, never thought anything of it? SO funny, the person wanted to make sure I knew this person was NOT one of the royal family. Hahahahaha! Ok. Can cancel the family reunion at Buckingham Palace now.

 

[Northern Light]

My father-in-law has traced his family back, almost to the Mayflower, but cannot make that final connection to prove. Funnily enough, one of his great uncles always said the family had come over on the Mayflower, and we used to laugh and say the Mayflower Moving Vanlines!

 

[Northern Light]

My father-in-law has traced the family back almost to the Mayflower, but hasn't been able to make the final connection. His Great Uncle always said that the family had come over on the Mayflower, but we used to laugh and say, "Yeah, the Mayflower Moving Vans". Maybe some day I will try to trace that.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

My father-in-law has traced the family back almost to the Mayflower, but hasn't been able to make the final connection. His Great Uncle always said that the family had come over on the Mayflower, but we used to laugh and say, "Yeah, the Mayflower Moving Vans". Maybe some day I will try to trace that.

Have to guess you can now- there are SO, so many more people getting their charts done by professions then posting them Not to say the pros can't be wrong. I once had one tell me nope- my grandmother wasn't my grandmother, was I SURE I was looking in the right family? Hahahahahaha! Well yes, Grandmom .. oh never mind. It was Grandmom, Knew her quite well,A LOT of people do not know of the Mayflower connection- because it's a ' thing', you'd think there were only 4. Hysterical, when in fact think of all the generation ago it was, right? And it IS a cool connection because it's one of earliest although I've always had a problem being related to bad dressers- even in England they were known for it.

Do you have Ancestry? LOTS of disclaimers there because once you begin tracking the ' desirable folks there the trees become All messed up, people faking dates and things just to slide an ancestor in, Have to be careful, keep checking on other sites too- and also mayb not ask advie from the various clubs'. Some good some seem to be based on exclusiveness, you know? Like NO one was EVER related to a Mayflower passenger ever-nothing worse than a genealogical snob! Geesh. There's another cool CW name in our tree, we always knew it- from the days of the war. In all curiosity, once wrote to the ' name' portion of it, ( of course there's some kind of club, folks must sit around preening themselves and polishing each other's chains of DNA with Windex ), asking if they could please help clarify a point for me. Our connection is the mother's. WELL. What we got back is that the mother's side was never documented ( it was and is ), they get dozens of bogus exquires a week, and try to be more sure of my facts.Sent them back something about how they'd have been fortunate to have been related to me, just missed their chance. Didn't mean it but really? Anyway- tough crowd out there- be confident you know what you know- don't let anyone buffalo you and never, ever be drawn into a position where you're defending who you are. SO, so stupid.

Some family legends turn out to be false- from what I've seen- a lot true because they came from somewhere.

ps NL, ever think of having a fun thread, you seem good at this kind of thing- " Caption the photograph' ?

 

[Northern Light]

To be perfectly honest, I'm still a little (LOT) in awe of the immense amount of knowledge out there, JPK! I live in fear of being jumped upon, however nicely, by those who know so much more than I. But now you've got me thinking! Thanks for the nudge.

 

[Northern Light]

Have to guess you can now- there are SO, so many more people getting their charts done by professions then posting them Not to say the pros can't be wrong. I once had one tell me nope- my grandmother wasn't my grandmother, was I SURE I was looking in the right family? Hahahahahaha! Well yes, Grandmom .. oh never mind. It was Grandmom, Knew her quite well,A LOT of people do not know of the Mayflower connection- because it's a ' thing', you'd think there were only 4. Hysterical, when in fact think of all the generation ago it was, right? And it IS a cool connection because it's one of earliest although I've always had a problem being related to bad dressers- even in England they were known for it.

Do you have Ancestry? LOTS of disclaimers there because once you begin tracking the ' desirable folks there the trees become All messed up, people faking dates and things just to slide an ancestor in, Have to be careful, keep checking on other sites too- and also mayb not ask advie from the various clubs'. Some good some seem to be based on exclusiveness, you know? Like NO one was EVER related to a Mayflower passenger ever-nothing worse than a genealogical snob! Geesh. There's another cool CW name in our tree, we always knew it- from the days of the war. In all curiosity, once wrote to the ' name' portion of it, ( of course there's some kind of club, folks must sit around preening themselves and polishing each other's chains of DNA with Windex ), asking if they could please help clarify a point for me. Our connection is the mother's. WELL. What we got back is that the mother's side was never documented ( it was and is ), they get dozens of bogus exquires a week, and try to be more sure of my facts.Sent them back something about how they'd have been fortunate to have been related to me, just missed their chance. Didn't mean it but really? Anyway- tough crowd out there- be confident you know what you know- don't let anyone buffalo you and never, ever be drawn into a position where you're defending who you are. SO, so stupid.

Some family legends turn out to be false- from what I've seen- a lot true because they came from somewhere.

ps NL, ever think of having a fun thread, you seem good at this kind of thing- " Caption the photograph' ?

He did most of his work years ago, before we have all the things to access that we do today. I am not too sure I want to follow the Mayflower thread. I knew a lady once who belonged to the Mayflower Society, someone had trace her family back and oh, my! She lent me some of her Mayflower Quarterlies and reading them was an experience. His family were United Empire Loyalists, and he joined the Toronto group to get his UE status, which goes behind his name like degree s do. That was such a big whoop ti do, I can't imagine what finding the Mayflower status might be!
He was none too impressed when after a cursory check in a family history of my mother's family, I found even MORE Loyalists than his lineage. I didn't tease him too much, though, because he's a sweetie and I love him!

For those who might not know, Loyalists are those who stayed loyal to the Crown in your War of Rebellion in 1776

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

He did most of his work years ago, before we have all the things to access that we do today. I am not too sure I want to follow the Mayflower thread. I knew a lady once who belonged to the Mayflower Society, someone had trace her family back and oh, my! She lent me some of her Mayflower Quarterlies and reading them was an experience. His family were United Empire Loyalists, and he joined the Toronto group to get his UE status, which goes behind his name like degree s do. That was such a big whoop ti do, I can't imagine what finding the Mayflower status might be!
He was none too impressed when after a cursory check in a family history of my mother's family, I found even MORE Loyalists than his lineage. I didn't tease him too much, though, because he's a sweetie and I love him!

For those who might not know, Loyalists are those who stayed loyal to the Crown in your War of Rebellion in 1776

Yes, well it's ok- probably a lot more of those than we all care to admit. The Huson you see on my user ID? My 4x grgrandfather fought for the Wrong George too, while the other side of the family was marching on Lexington. What we can't figure out is why he did not lose all his property? They became hugely political not long after the war, more and more so- but why it did not ruin them we just do not know.

Did not know the whole Mayflower thing was still a ' thing'. I know it used to be? Someone figured out how many there are, and it's immense, right? Kind of takes the exclusiveness out of it. I think now it's just kind of a kick, a connection with History, makes one feel grounded in this massive place. Plus, folks here before that, plus what went on between our forefathers and the Native tribes was a tad unsavory in spots, takes the luster from legend. Still- kind of cool, to be immersed deeply in America. It's the folks who'd like one to believe they're more special than the next guy just because there's a happy accident involving DNA a bunch of years ago who annoy me. Like it was difficult to be born.

 

[Northern Light]

Yes, well it's ok- probably a lot more of those than we all care to admit. The Huson you see on my user ID? My 4x grgrandfather fought for the Wrong George too, while the other side of the family was marching on Lexington. What we can't figure out is why he did not lose all his property? They became hugely political not long after the war, more and more so- but why it did not ruin them we just do not know.

Did not know the whole Mayflower thing was still a ' thing'. I know it used to be? Someone figured out how many there are, and it's immense, right? Kind of takes the exclusiveness out of it. I think now it's just kind of a kick, a connection with History, makes one feel grounded in this massive place. Plus, folks here before that, plus what went on between our forefathers and the Native tribes was a tad unsavory in spots, takes the luster from legend. Still- kind of cool, to be immersed deeply in America. It's the folks who'd like one to believe they're more special than the next guy just because there's a happy accident involving DNA a bunch of years ago who annoy me. Like it was difficult to be born.

I know what you mean!
I think that the REAL problem with Dad is that he could not get past this one guy in the tree to get back to Europe. He did find out that the family is somehow related to Oliver Cromwell, but I think that is one skeleton that could well have staid in the closet! Although it might explain a few family members.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

I know what you mean!
I think that the REAL problem with Dad is that he could not get past this one guy in the tree to get back to Europe. He did find out that the family is somehow related to Oliver Cromwell, but I think that is one skeleton that could well have staid in the closet! Although it might explain a few family members.

Bad haircut?