Seth Thomas Foresman

     Seth Thomas Foresman was born on 26 February 1838 at Washington Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.¹ He was the son of David Watson Foresman and Margaret Simmons McCormick.¹ Seth Thomas Foresman married, at age 24, Sarah Elizabeth Updegraff, age 20, daughter of Samuel Updegraff and Delila Fessler, on Tuesday, 9 December 1862.¹ Seth Thomas Foresman died on 5 August 1911 at age 73 years, 5 months and 10 days.²
     In 1892 the "History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania" was published, in which we find Seth's biography that was submitted to the book's editor, John F. Meginness. On page 743, preserved for future generations we find the following:

     Seth T. Foresman, lumber dealer and manufacturer, was born in Washington Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania on February 26, 1838 and is the oldest son surviving of David Watson and Margaret S. Foresman, and a grandson of Robert Foresman one of the pioneers of White Deer Valley. He was reared under the parental roof, and remained with his parents until he was twenty-six years old, assisting his father to support the family. He received a common school education, and taught school two winter terms, with the money thus acquired he took a course of two years at Dickinson Seminary. In April 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, served for four months and then returned home to assist in tilling the farm. He afterward went out with the Emergency Men during Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania. In 1864 he engaged in contracting, and built the two large basins at the foot of Rose Street, also the lumber branch of the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad, from the Star Mills to Hepburn street. He followed contracting for four years, and then organized the firm of Frow, Foresman and Company. They erected a planing mill on the site of the Otto Furniture plant, and conducted a mill and lumber yard. In 1872 Mr. Foresman became a member of the lumber firm of S.N. Williams and Company, but their plant was burned in April of 1873. He then found employment in the Star Mills, and in 1874 he and Mr. Williams purchased one-third of the interest in the company. In 1876 they became sole proprietors, and the firm of Williams & Foresman was then established. From that time up to the present they have carried on business very successfully, and are recognized as one of the prominent lumber firms of Williamsport. Mr. Foresman is also a member of Bowman, Foresman & Company, and of the Bowman Lumber Company of West Virginia. He is a large stockholder in the Lycoming Rubber Company, is a director in the Binghamton Railroad Company, is an active supporter of the Board of Trade, and a charter member of the Ross Club.

     Mr. Foresman was married on December 9, 1862 to Sallie Elizabeth Updegraff, daughter of Samuel Updegraff, of the 'Long Reach', and has a family of two sons and two daughters, as follows: John; George; Laura, wife of Frank Robb; and Ruth. The family are adherents of the Third Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Foresman has been a K.T. in the Masonic order for twenty-five years. He has always been a stanch Democrat, and an unswerving advocate of Democratic principles. In 1882 he was a candidate for legislative honors, and came within two votes of receiving the nomination. He is a member of the select council, and takes a very active interest in public affairs. Mr. Foresman gives his earnest support to every project that tends to the general welfare and prosperity of Williamsport.¹ He and Sarah Elizabeth Updegraff appeared on the census of 15 April 1910 at Williamsport, 5th Ward, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.