Biography

Clarence Seward was born to Benjamin Jennings and Marcia (Armstrong) Seward on October 7, 1828, in New York, New York. Both of Clarence's parents died by the time he entered his early teens. Following their death, his aunt and uncle, William H. and Frances Seward of Auburn, New York, fostered him.

Clarence graduated from Hobart College in 1848 and moved to Auburn to study law. By 1854, he lived in New York City and was a partner in the law firm of Blatchford, Seward, Griswold & Da Costa. The firm specialized in patent law, as well as railroad and other industrial interests. Clarence served as Judge Advocate General of the State of New York from 1856-1860 and Assistant Secretary of State for President Johnson while his uncle was convalescing from the assassination attempt upon his life.

In 1851, Clarence married Caroline DeZeng, daughter of William Steuben de Zeng and Caroline Cutbush (Rees) DeZeng, of Geneva. He and his wife had two daughters, Alice Seward and Caroline (Seward) Endicott.

Clarence died on July 24, 1897, in Geneva, New York, of heart failure.