Children
Raymond Seip
Jacob Seip
Harry G. Seip
2nd Helen Barron
Sibling(s): Harry
Edward Seip
Charles
Roseberry Seip |
Notes:
Easton Express, Monday, September 2, 1918, Page-1
Worry Over Business Caused Harry G. Seip to End His Life
Prominent Restaurant Man and Republican County Chairman Shot Himself in His Cafe.
Harry G. Seip, Republican leader in Northampton county, ended his life yesterday
by shooting himself at his cafe on South Third Street. When the body was discovered
at 12:20 yesterday afternoon, Mr. Seip was already dead. The news, which soon
spread rapidly, created on of the biggest sensations Easton his known in a long
time and caused a shock in the entire community.
To only one fact alone can Mr. Seip's tragic end be attributed,
and this is that he worried constantly over his business. All
his intimate friends knew this and they tried repeatedly to
divert his mind from the cares which were always in is thoughts.
When he built his big restaurant he emptied every dollar he
had in the enterprise. Success seemed to be assured, and to
close friends he confided that his dreams for the future included
a big hotel on the site a hotel to which and Eastonians could
? with pride. Then came the war, which the problems that it
brought to business men generally. With big increases in every
line of food, with increasing trouble in retraining some of
his capable employees, with the food restrictions, ect. and
then the prospect of prohibition, Mr. Seip worried more and
more. He confided to his friends that prohibition and additional
restrictions he believed would follow, would mean that he could
not conduct the big establishment on the paying basis. This
idea was in his mind constantly. Time and again, his relatives
and friends advised him not to "borrow trouble" to
get his mind off his business for a while by taking a vacation,
but he could not dismiss the situation from his mind. Of late,
his physical health was not good, and this caused additional
brooding. It finally led him to a state of mind in which he
decided to end all by taking his life.
As had been his custom for years, Mr. Seip left his home,
No. 47 South Front street, Sunday morning to go to the barber
shop. On the way here he stopping in the cafe, where he talked
to one of his friends. He soon adverted to a familiar topic.
His friend Avice him to cease thinking about it, saying that
everything would come out all right and that he should go away
for a rest. He was very much depressed when he left the advice
failing to cheer him up. Then he went to the barber shop. Returning
to the cafe, he brought up the subject in a conversation with
one of his employees. The latter made every effort to brighten
his employer, but Mr. Seip shook his head and walked away.
A short time late he went to his private office, on the second
floor of his cafe, and remained there for a half hour or so.
Subsequently, Mrs. Seip arrived at the restaurant and asked
for her husband. She was told that he had gone to his office,
but as the lights were not burning there is was supposed that
he had gone out. However, the cashier and Mrs. Seip entered
the office, thinking that he might have fallen asleep. When
the light was turned on, a note was found on his desk, address
to Mrs. Seip, in which he bade her farewell and told her that
his worries has become so great that he found he could endure
them on longer.
The wording of the note left the worst to be inferred. Mrs.
Seip was overcome and was urges to go home. The employees then
began a search which ended at 12:20 o'clock when Oliver A.
Rhodes, the head waiter, went to the cloak room on the third
floor and found the lifeless body his his employer. Mr. Seip
had stood in front of a mirror and sen a shot into his brain
from a 32-calibre revolver. Death must have been instantaneous.
When Dr's. J.D. Updegrove and J.J. Condran arrived, they stated
that life was extinct. Dr. Condran issued a certificate which
made action by coroner unnecessary.
No one heard the shot fired and the body may have been an
hour before it was discovered. In entering the room, Mr. Seip
had placed a chair against the door, tilting it so that the
top rested under the knob. Mr. Rhodes kept shoving until he
had pushed the chair away and was able to enter. The body was
in a lavatory leading off from the cloak room. Many persons
were dining in the several parts of the establishment at the
time and were entirely unconscious of the affair.
Mr. Seip was one of the foremost figures in Northampton county
politics may years. His interest in things political began
even before he had reached age, and he was active in the interests
of the Republican party from the day he cast his first vote.
He was a staunch and uncompromising Republican of the Quay-Penrose
school. His principle ad precept was "regularity,' and
he preached it day and night when he was in the midst of a
political campaign, and whenever else he had the chance. He
was the recognized leader of the First Ward when he was 21.
His father before him had been interested in the politics of
the ward and he knew every street and corner in it, and also
every voter. As time went on his influence grew. He was an
ardent follower of the late General Frank Reeder, who was a
Republican leader in Northampton county may years. Seip followed
him through thick and thin until the day came, eight or ten
years go, when they split over the squabble regarding the post
office site. Seip favored the location at Second and Ferry
streets. Seip, aided by the influence. of Senator Penrose,
won out, and the post office wen to Second and Ferry Street.
General Reeder's retirement from active participation in the
affairs of the party followed closely on the heels of this
result, and Seip became the undisputed master of the party
machinery in this county.
Under his leadership, the party achieved more success in the
county than it had at any former time. As a politician, Seip
was astute, energetic, resourceful. To a very rare degree he
possessed the faculty of being able to judge i advance the
effect of any measure on public opinion. He was seldom wrong
about this. This quality, coupled with the fact that he surrounded
himself with good advisers and freely sough their judgment,
counted for much of his success. He mad it an invariable rule,
no matter what his own opinion might be, to listen to anothers.
A discussion of political affairs was a mater of keen delight
to him, and he was always accessible when anyone wanted to
talk politics. Through pursuing this course. he came into contact
with many persons in all stations of life, and made the most
of what he gathered during his intercourse with them. He made
mistakes but always freely acknowledged them after they were
pointed out. There were times when members of his party talked
of contesting his authority in controlling its affairs and
nominations, but none had the hardihood to take issue with
him in a straight out-and-out fight. Whatever opposition there
was to him after he became the local leader was never formidable.
Senator Penrose regarded him highly and often remarked to
friends that Seip was one of his ablest and most trusted lieutenants.
During a factional fight in the party several years ago. Penrose
remarked to some friends in Philadelphia, "if they were
al like Seip it would be easy sailing." Penrose admired
Seip for his loyalty, and in return supported him whenever
the occasion required it. For that matter, loyalty was on of
Seip's strong characteristics. His friendship was something
that could be counted on, no matter how severely it was tested.
His generosity was abounded. No appeal for held - no matter
what king of help it was - was ever mad to him in vain. He
found happiness in doing favors for persons and did not draw
political lines in doing so. Thos whom he helped politically,
or in obtaining positions in private life, ere countless. He
made it a pint be always at the service of his friends. Those
who counted him as a friend could do so in every sense of the
word.
That he contemplated retirement from active participation
in politics is known to those who knew him intimately. Frequently
, during the past several years, he would humorou8lsy remark, "The
day of the boss is almost gone; people won't vote straight
any more."
For a number of years, he was amember of the Republican county
committee, its chairman and treasurer, and a member of the
Republican State Committee. A few weeks ago, he was appointed
a member of the Resolutions Committee, which is to draft the
State platform of his party. He held few political offices
himself, no carrying for it. In 1900 and 1910, he was the census
enumerator for this section of the state, receiving such high
praise for the excellent character of his work on both occasions
that he had expressed the hope to supervise the same work in
1920;. He represented the First Ward in Common Council from
April 1, 1902 to December 4, 1911, yielding office when the
Clark Act became effective. His record as a councilman was
subject to both praise and Snure, but he supported and though
his influence, had enacted considerable legislation of a commendable
nature. Hise greatest pride was in the fact that he fathered
the "anti-sign and awning" ordinance which resulted
in the removal of many obstructions and eye-sores. At various
times he served as chairman of the Department of Highways and
Department of Warter and Light. In pushing a measure through
councils, he followed but one method, and it was straight and
direct - to get the required votes- and there was no question
but that he was highly successful in many instances in pursing
this policy.
In business, he was no less successful than in politics. A
poor boy with only limited educational advantages, he learned
much in the school of experience through hard work and lots
of it. When still a youth he entered the employ of Jacob Garren,
who oyster house was the most famous in this section. Through
energy, perseverance and thrift he finally became the mainstay
of the business succeeding to it after Mr. Garren's death by
purchasing the interests held by others than himself. The cafe
was then located in the building adjoining it on the South.
Mr. Seip planned and erected the present establishment of a
few years ago. Later, when the Veile estate was settled, he
bought the property in which the former restaurant was located.
It was his ambition to use the two properties for the site
of the hotel he projected.
As a restaurateur, he knew the business thoroughly and had
few equals in the smaller cities. His establishment was far-famed
for it's excellent cuisine and was a favorite topping place
for tourists and other visitors. His whole heart and soul were
wrapped up in it, and no detail of the business was too small
to escape personal attention.
Mr. Seip was a member of more fraternal and social organizations
than probably any other Eastonian. He had a life membership
in a number of Masonic bodies, including Dallas Lodge, No.
296, F. and A. M.; Pomp Council, No. 20, R. and S. M.M. Easton
Chapter, No. 173, R. Am M; Hugh De Payens Commandery, No. 19,
Knights Templar; Rajah Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine,
and Caldwell Consistory, 32d Degree masons, of Bloomsburg,
Pa. He was also a member of the following organization; The
Manufacturers' Club, of Philadelphia; the American Automobile
Association, the Easton Board of Trade, the Optimist's Club,
of New York; Lehighton Lodge, No. 244, Improved Order of Odd
Fellows; Saranac Tribe, Improved Order of Red Men; Easton Lodge,
No. 121, B.P. O. Elks; Easton Aerie, No. 111, Fraternal Order
of Eagles; Easton Lodge, No. 45, Loyal Order of Moose; Loyal
Legion; Triple City Council; Judson Kilpatrick Camp No. 283,
Sons of Veterans; the Law, Order and License League, the Heptasoph
Associations insurance branch; the American League of American
Travelers; the Frankin Fire Company, The Humane Fire Company
No 1; the Pen Argyl Republic Club, the Lincoln Republican Club
of Bethlehem, the Northampton Republican club and the McKinley
Club, of Easton, the Kiwanis Club and St. John's Lutheran Church.
Mr. Seip was a native of Easton and the son of the late Mr.
and Mrs. Roseberry Seip. His father was a well known Civil
War Veteran. His is survived by his wife, who was formerly
Miss Helen Barron, of this city, and three sons, Raymond Seip,
Jacob Seip and Harry G. Seip, Jr., all of Easton.
Mr. Seip was 47 years of age. |
