Seth Wakeman

Wakeman was born in Franklin, Vermont on January 15, 1811, the son of Nathan Wakeman and Phoebe Johnston.{{cite book |date=1963 |title= Who Was Who In America |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9GnhAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA555 |location=Chicago, IL |publisher=A. N. Marquis Company |page=555 |via=Google Books}}{{cite book |last=Wakeman |first=Robert P. |date=1900 |title=Wakeman Genealogy: 1630-1899 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A3RZAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA295 |location=Meriden, CT |publisher=Journal Publishing Co. |pages=235, 294–295 |via=Google Books}} The Wakeman family soon moved to Pembroke, New York, where Nathan Wakeman joined the New York Militia for the War of 1812. He died in Malone, New York while on military duty. Seth Wakeman attended the local schools of Pembroke and became a farmer.{{cite news |date=October 8, 1834 |title=Agrarian Convention |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99785757/agrarian-convention/ |work=Buffalo Whig and Journal |location=Buffalo, NY |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com}} He served in local offices including constable and justice of the peace, and studied law.

In 1844, Wakeman was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Batavia, New York. Originally a Whig,{{cite news |date=February 18, 1852 |title=Delegate to the Whig National Convention |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99785587/whig-convention/ |work=Morning Express |location=Buffalo, NY |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}} he served as Genesee County Treasurer (1845 to 1846), and Genesee County District Attorney (1850 to 1855).{{cite book |editor-last=Beers |editor-first=Frederick W. |date=1890 |title=Gazetteer and Biographical Record of Genesee County, N.Y., 1788-1890 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M6rvxpaD9S0C&pg=PA44 |location=Syracuse, NY |publisher=J. W. Vose & Co. |pages=44, 46 |via=Google Books}} He was also active in several business ventures, including serving as secretary of the Batavia and Lancaster Plank Road Company.{{cite news |date=February 6, 1850 |title=Batavia and Lancaster Plank Road |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99785967/batavia-lancaster/ |work=Daily Courier |location=Buffalo, NY |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}} He was also a member of the board of directors of the Batavia and Oakfield Plank Road Company.{{cite news |date=March 29, 1850 |title=Batavia & Oakfield Plank Road Company |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99786065/batavia-oakfield/ |work=Morning Express |location=Buffalo, NY |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com}} In 1852, Wakeman was appointed secretary of the Buffalo and Batavia Plank Road Company.{{cite news |date=March 4, 1852 |title=Buffalo and Batavia Plank Road |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99786203/buffalo-batavia/ |work=Daily Courier |location=Buffalo, NY |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}}

Wakeman became a Republican when the party was founded in the mid-1850s.{{cite news |date=October 1, 1855 |title=Republican Judicial Convention |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99785650/republican-convention/ |work=Morning Express |location=Buffalo, NY |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}} He was a member of the New York State Assembly (Genesee Co., 1st D.) in 1856 and 1857. Wakeman was also a delegate to the State constitutional convention of 1867 and 1868.

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.{{cite news |date=September 11, 1868 |title=Personal and Political: Mr. John Fisher |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99846783/john-fisher/ |work=Wisconsin State Journal |location=Madison, WI |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}} In 1870, Wakeman was elected to the 42nd United States Congress. He served one term, March 4, 1871 to March 3, 1873.

After leaving Congress, Wakeman resumed practicing law.{{cite news |date=January 7, 1880 |title=New York State: Genesee; Hon. Seth Wakeman |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99846958/seth-wakeman/ |work=Democrat and Chronicle |location=Rochester, NY |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}} In 1875 his health began to decline, and he retired from most of his legal and business interests. For the last few years of his life, Wakeman was nearly invalid and largely confined to his home.

Wakeman died in Batavia on January 4, 1880.{{cite book |author=Joint Committee on Printing |date=1928 |title=Biographical Directory of the American Congress. 1774-1927 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z8lAs_QeKkkC&pg=PA1656 |location=Washington, DC |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |page=1656 |via=Google Books}} He was interred at Elmwood Cemetery in Batavia.

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

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Category:1811 births

Category:1880 deaths

Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state)

Category:19th-century members of the United States House of Representatives

Category:19th-century members of the New York State Legislature