Seymour Ainsworth (May 17, 1821 – December 22, 1890) was an American businessman born in

Woodbury, Vermont Woodbury is a town in Washington County, Vermont, United States. The population was 928 at the 2020 census. History Woodbury was chartered and settled in the late 18th century. After the U.S. Civil War, granite quarrying became a viable busine ...

, United States.

Biography

Seymour Ainsworth, who died at his home in

Saratoga Springs Saratoga Springs is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 28,491 at the 2020 census. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the area, which has made Saratoga a popular resort destination for over 2 ...

, December 22, 1890, in the seventieth year of his age, was an interesting character and a most useful citizen of this village and county. He was born in Woodbury, Vermont, May 17, 1821, one of twelve children, all of whom lived to be more than fifty-five years of age. His scholastic education was confined to a few terms in the neighboring district schools, but his education in

woodcraft The term woodcraft — or woodlore — denotes bushcraft skills and experience in matters relating to living and thriving in the woods—such as hunting, fishing, and camping—whether on a short- or long-term basis. Traditionally, woodcraft per ...

, the use of the rifle and other outdoor sports was broad, leading him in after years to the business of dealing in products of Indian skill, which gained him an extensive acquaintance with Indian tribes from

Maine Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and north ...

to the Northwest. When a youth of fourteen he learned the trade of

carpenter Carpentry is a skilled trade and a craft in which the primary work performed is the cutting, shaping and installation of building materials during the construction of buildings, Shipbuilding, ships, timber bridges, concrete formwork, etc. ...

and carriage maker and at the age of nineteen came to

to begin business for himself, he was employed for several years in and about the Union Hall of which he subsequently became one of the proprietors. He engaged in a variety of enterprises and was instrumental in the erection of more edifices of a public and private nature than any other man in Saratoga. Mr. Ainsworth gained an international reputation in a business for which he was eminently well fitted-that of selling articles of Indian manufacture, such as deer-skin

moccasins A moccasin is a shoe, made of deerskin or other soft leather, consisting of a sole (made with leather that has not been "worked") and sides made of one piece of leather, stitched together at the top, and sometimes with a vamp (additional panel o ...

porcupine Porcupines are large rodents with coats of sharp spines, or quills, that protect them against predation. The term covers two families of animals: the Old World porcupines of family Hystricidae, and the New World porcupines of family, Erethizont ...

quill and

moose The moose (in North America) or elk (in Eurasia) (''Alces alces'') is a member of the New World deer subfamily and is the only species in the genus ''Alces''. It is the largest and heaviest extant species in the deer family. Most adult mal ...

hair embroideries, basket work, bows and arrows, and snow shoes. He monopolized the entire product of several Indian tribes and for a considerable time had the entire product of the beautiful grass which is used by the Indians in their basket and fan work. Coupled with rare business ability he had an unusual genius for invention and at different times nearly thirty patents were granted him for devices and processes connected with his many lines of business. Perhaps the most valuable of these was his process for manufacturing feather fans, which gave him a practical monopoly in the production of ostrich feather fans. For a number of years he furnished A. T. Stewart, Lord & Taylor, and other large houses with all the feather fans they sold. In 1865 he formed a copartnership with W. H. McCaffrey and purchased the High Rock spring which he greatly improved; the completion of the improvement being marked by a public meeting of citizens which was addressed by Chancellor Walworth, William L. Stone, esq., and others.

Politics

In politics Mr. Ainsworth was a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

and held various public offices in the town and village government. He was the first assistant assessor of internal revenue for his district under the laws of the United States. He was a member of the

New York State Assembly The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature, with the New York State Senate being the upper house. There are 150 seats in the Assembly. Assembly members serve two-year terms without term limits. The Assem ...

(Saratoga Co., 2nd D.) in

1870 Events January–March * January 1 ** The first edition of ''The Northern Echo'' newspaper is published in Priestgate, Darlington, England. ** Plans for the Brooklyn Bridge are completed. * January 3 – Construction of the Broo ...

Sources

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE, A DESCRIPTIVE AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK PREPARED AND PUBLISHED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE SARATOGIAN THE BOSTON HISTORY COMPANY, PUBLISHERS 1899
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ainsworth, Seymour People from Woodbury, Vermont Politicians from Saratoga Springs, New York 1821 births 1890 deaths Burials at Greenridge Cemetery