Seward House
This set-back Queen Anne was originally the home of newspaper publisher Victor Seward, his editor wife, Elizabeth, and their daughter, Mable. Born in Indiana, Victor came to Minnesota at the age of ten. He attended the Western Reserve College in Hudson and embarked on a career in publishing, first working at the St. Paul Dispatch and, in 1869, starting the Redwood Falls Mail newspaper. In 1873, he left the paper and, with his brother-in-law S.S. Taylor, purchased the Stillwater Messenger. Seward became the sole owner of the paper upon Taylor`s death, and the Seward family operated the paper for over two decades, although with some unexpected twists._x000D_ _x000D_ Victor married Elizabeth Putnam in 1871, and their daughter, Mable (nicknamed Minnie), was born in 1872. The 1876 city directory indicates the family lived near Third and Myrtle, but by 1886, they built their new home on South Fifth Street at a reported cost of $3000 (and possibly under the supervision of builder Thomas Roney). While the vagaries and fortunes of the newspaper business are certainly part of the Seward family history, it was the final outcome of one public encounter that created one of the most dramatic family stories. Historian Brent Peterson recounted the tale: _x000D_ _x000D_ "On Tuesday, October 11, 1892, Victor Seward was assassinated by a former employee of the Messenger, George Peters. Peters was hired to be a reporter, but the young Peters could not perform the job. Seward was patient with Peters but then suggested to him that he find another vocation. With that, Peters swore vengeance on Victor Seward for firing him. Nobody took the threat for real, and at about five in the afternoon on October 11, 1892, Peters returned to Seward`s office. George Peters did not find Seward there so he went into Stillwater to find him. It was not long before Peters found Seward walking on Main Street. Peters shouted at Seward, and when Seward turned around, Peters shot him in the head. Seward staggered into the doorway of Drechsler`s Music Store. Peters followed him and fired twice more into Seward`s head, killing him instantly." _x000D_ _x000D_ Thus began another unique chapter in the Seward story. Elizabeth Steward stepped into her husband`s footsteps as publisher, proprietor and editor of the Messenger, a role that she held until 1900. Her daughter, Mable, served as a clerk for the enterprise. Overall, these two women managed an unusual situation. The St. Paul Globe reported on a meeting of the National Billposter`s association in 1896, headlining the article "The Only One of Her Kind. "_x000D_ _x000D_ "At the National Billposter`s association, in session in Chicago this week, a Minnesota woman is the only one of her sex in attendance. Referring to the fact, the Chicago News, of Thursday, says: `One of the members of the association taking an active part in today`s discussion was Mrs. Elizabeth Seward of Stillwater, Minn. She is other a billposter and an editor. In the former capacity Mrs. Seward enjoys the distinction of being the only woman billposter in America. _x000D_ As editor Mrs. Seward owns the leading Stillwater paper and the oldest weekly in the state, the Messenger. As billposter she controls all the billboards in the city and holds the contract for the city posting. ...Victor Seward... met an untimely death at the hands of an insane employee. After his death his widow assumed control, and has successfully managed the paper ever since. An only child, Miss Minnie Mable Seward, and attractive, capable young woman of twenty-two, is her mother`s right-hand man.` Miss Seward is considered a clever writer." (St. Paul Globe, July 25, 1896)_x000D_ _x000D_ In the wake of her husband`s death, and in addition to the responsibilities of publishing, Elizabeth Seward engaged in a three-year court battle with her husband`s insurance company, which refused to pay on the $5000 life insurance policy because (in spite of the newspaper`s insistence), the murdered was judged not to be insane and to have killed Seward intentionally, and thus an exception clause applied. This decision was upheld through several appeals, leaving Elizabeth in, perhaps, more difficult financial straits. She and her daughter continued to operate the Messenger until August, 1900, at which time the paper reported: _x000D_ _x000D_ "Elizabeth Seward has disposed of the Weekly Messenger, the job office, book accounts and good will incidental to the publication. Stephen A. Clewell is the purchaser... The bill of sale names $1 and other valuable considerations as the price of the plant. The outfit is valued at $5,000. The paper will continue to be independent in politics... Mrs. Seward has been desirous of retiring from business for some time. It is rumored that Miss Seward may be married soon..." (St. Paul Globe, August 19, 1900)_x000D_ _x000D_ Elizabeth Seward`s retirement was short; she died on April 10, 1902 of a heart attack, which "was unexpected and caused great shock to acquaintances." Her obituary in the New York Times noted: "She was a woman of literary tastes and attainments and wrote many magazine and newspaper articles." _x000D_ _x000D_ Rumors of Minnie`s marriage appear to have premature; she remained single and relocated to Minneapolis, where she boarded with a family on 2nd Avenue and continued to work as a proofreader until her death from senile dementia in 1944 at the State Hospital in Rochester. _x000D_ _x000D_ In the meantime, beginning in 1904, the house was rented to Sheriff Adam Marty, who had participated in the arrest of Victor Seward`s murderer. Particularly notable during this time period was a state-wide gathering of the Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic, hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Marty in October of 1905. The Stillwater Gazette reported: _x000D_ _x000D_ "... there was more than the usual number of men in attendance...by afternoon it was a fine gathering, the women like the old veterans being well along in life... The pretty lawn was decorated with large flags and there many sat to converse and renew friendships. The interior of the dwelling was elaborately decorated with flags, bunting, and flowers. A great collection of badges and souvenirs of G.A.R. meetings belonging to Adam Marty attracted attention. A bountiful spread was [offered]." (October 2, 1905)_x000D_ _x000D_ In 1906, the house became the property of St. Mary`s Catholic church. The interior of the home was altered to house eight to ten Benedictine nuns (and one or two servants) who taught at St. Mary`s Catholic School across the street. In 1969, the house was sold to Arthur de St. Aubin for $15,700, and sold again in 1992 to current owners Mark and Cathy Balay. Mark, a Stillwater architect, stabilized the foundation and, with an attention to detail, turned what had been a relatively plain turn-of-the-century house into a distinctively updated Victorian-style home, with an exterior addition and interior remodeling to accommodate a growing family.
Seward House
This set-back Queen Anne was originally the home of newspaper publisher Victor Seward, his editor wife, Elizabeth, and their daughter, Mable. Born in Indiana, Victor came to Minnesota at the age of ten. He attended the Western Reserve College in Hudson and embarked on a career in publishing, first working at the St. Paul Dispatch and, in 1869, starting the Redwood Falls Mail newspaper. In 1873, he left the paper and, with his brother-in-law S.S. Taylor, purchased the Stillwater Messenger. Seward became the sole owner of the paper upon Taylor`s death, and the Seward family operated the paper for over two decades, although with some unexpected twists._x000D_ _x000D_ Victor married Elizabeth Putnam in 1871, and their daughter, Mable (nicknamed Minnie), was born in 1872. The 1876 city directory indicates the family lived near Third and Myrtle, but by 1886, they built their new home on South Fifth Street at a reported cost of $3000 (and possibly under the supervision of builder Thomas Roney). While the vagaries and fortunes of the newspaper business are certainly part of the Seward family history, it was the final outcome of one public encounter that created one of the most dramatic family stories. Historian Brent Peterson recounted the tale: _x000D_ _x000D_ "On Tuesday, October 11, 1892, Victor Seward was assassinated by a former employee of the Messenger, George Peters. Peters was hired to be a reporter, but the young Peters could not perform the job. Seward was patient with Peters but then suggested to him that he find another vocation. With that, Peters swore vengeance on Victor Seward for firing him. Nobody took the threat for real, and at about five in the afternoon on October 11, 1892, Peters returned to Seward`s office. George Peters did not find Seward there so he went into Stillwater to find him. It was not long before Peters found Seward walking on Main Street. Peters shouted at Seward, and when Seward turned around, Peters shot him in the head. Seward staggered into the doorway of Drechsler`s Music Store. Peters followed him and fired twice more into Seward`s head, killing him instantly." _x000D_ _x000D_ Thus began another unique chapter in the Seward story. Elizabeth Steward stepped into her husband`s footsteps as publisher, proprietor and editor of the Messenger, a role that she held until 1900. Her daughter, Mable, served as a clerk for the enterprise. Overall, these two women managed an unusual situation. The St. Paul Globe reported on a meeting of the National Billposter`s association in 1896, headlining the article "The Only One of Her Kind. "_x000D_ _x000D_ "At the National Billposter`s association, in session in Chicago this week, a Minnesota woman is the only one of her sex in attendance. Referring to the fact, the Chicago News, of Thursday, says: `One of the members of the association taking an active part in today`s discussion was Mrs. Elizabeth Seward of Stillwater, Minn. She is other a billposter and an editor. In the former capacity Mrs. Seward enjoys the distinction of being the only woman billposter in America. _x000D_ As editor Mrs. Seward owns the leading Stillwater paper and the oldest weekly in the state, the Messenger. As billposter she controls all the billboards in the city and holds the contract for the city posting. ...Victor Seward... met an untimely death at the hands of an insane employee. After his death his widow assumed control, and has successfully managed the paper ever since. An only child, Miss Minnie Mable Seward, and attractive, capable young woman of twenty-two, is her mother`s right-hand man.` Miss Seward is considered a clever writer." (St. Paul Globe, July 25, 1896)_x000D_ _x000D_ In the wake of her husband`s death, and in addition to the responsibilities of publishing, Elizabeth Seward engaged in a three-year court battle with her husband`s insurance company, which refused to pay on the $5000 life insurance policy because (in spite of the newspaper`s insistence), the murdered was judged not to be insane and to have killed Seward intentionally, and thus an exception clause applied. This decision was upheld through several appeals, leaving Elizabeth in, perhaps, more difficult financial straits. She and her daughter continued to operate the Messenger until August, 1900, at which time the paper reported: _x000D_ _x000D_ "Elizabeth Seward has disposed of the Weekly Messenger, the job office, book accounts and good will incidental to the publication. Stephen A. Clewell is the purchaser... The bill of sale names $1 and other valuable considerations as the price of the plant. The outfit is valued at $5,000. The paper will continue to be independent in politics... Mrs. Seward has been desirous of retiring from business for some time. It is rumored that Miss Seward may be married soon..." (St. Paul Globe, August 19, 1900)_x000D_ _x000D_ Elizabeth Seward`s retirement was short; she died on April 10, 1902 of a heart attack, which "was unexpected and caused great shock to acquaintances." Her obituary in the New York Times noted: "She was a woman of literary tastes and attainments and wrote many magazine and newspaper articles." _x000D_ _x000D_ Rumors of Minnie`s marriage appear to have premature; she remained single and relocated to Minneapolis, where she boarded with a family on 2nd Avenue and continued to work as a proofreader until her death from senile dementia in 1944 at the State Hospital in Rochester. _x000D_ _x000D_ In the meantime, beginning in 1904, the house was rented to Sheriff Adam Marty, who had participated in the arrest of Victor Seward`s murderer. Particularly notable during this time period was a state-wide gathering of the Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic, hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Marty in October of 1905. The Stillwater Gazette reported: _x000D_ _x000D_ "... there was more than the usual number of men in attendance...by afternoon it was a fine gathering, the women like the old veterans being well along in life... The pretty lawn was decorated with large flags and there many sat to converse and renew friendships. The interior of the dwelling was elaborately decorated with flags, bunting, and flowers. A great collection of badges and souvenirs of G.A.R. meetings belonging to Adam Marty attracted attention. A bountiful spread was [offered]." (October 2, 1905)_x000D_ _x000D_ In 1906, the house became the property of St. Mary`s Catholic church. The interior of the home was altered to house eight to ten Benedictine nuns (and one or two servants) who taught at St. Mary`s Catholic School across the street. In 1969, the house was sold to Arthur de St. Aubin for $15,700, and sold again in 1992 to current owners Mark and Cathy Balay. Mark, a Stillwater architect, stabilized the foundation and, with an attention to detail, turned what had been a relatively plain turn-of-the-century house into a distinctively updated Victorian-style home, with an exterior addition and interior remodeling to accommodate a growing family.
Posted Date
Sep 27, 2021
Source Name
Heirloom Homes and Landmark
