William Seward Reset His Path While In Westfield

William Seward at Westfield: The Relaunching of a New York Statesman will be presented by the Chautauqua County Historical Society on October 21.

The program, free and open to the public, begins at 10 a.m. at the Bemus Point Methodist Church.

Jeffrey Ludwig, education director at the Seward House Museum in Auburn, will discuss how Seward’s time in Westfield helped restart his political career.

When 35-year-old Seward arrived in Westfield in 1836, he had just lost an upstart bid to become governor of New York state. He sought a chance to reinvent himself by moving to Westfield to serve as the agent for the Holland Land Company in Chautauqua County.

Seward was successful in easing tensions between the company and local landowners. He remained in Westfield until 1838 when he returned to Auburn to run again for governor, a race he won. Seward took office in 1839 and was reelected to a second two-year term.

As a state senator and governor, Seward promoted progressive political policies including prison reform and increased spending on education. He was also a staunch abolitionist. In the 1850s, the Seward family opened their Auburn home as a safehouse to fugitive slaves.

Seward’s return to politics would see him rise to a meteoric level: governor, U.S. senator, almost-President, and Secretary of State.