Biography

"Seward, Sara Conelia, physician, born in Florida N.Y., June 8, 1833; died in Allahabad, India, June 12, 1891.  She was the daughter of George W. Seward, youngest brother of William H. Seward, and a sister of the late Rev. S.S. Seward, D. D., and of George F. Seward, ex-United States minister to China.  She was graduated at Miss Willardd's Troy Female Seminary, and at the Womans' Medical College in Philadelphia in 1860, and in 1861-'65 was in China with her brother.  While she was studying medicine Sir William Muir, Governor of the Northwester Provinces of India, suggested to the Zenana Missionary Society the desirability of having women physicians to practive among the women of India, whom male practioners were never allowed to see.  In response to an appeal from the society, Dr. Seward volunteered to go to India, and left New York in December, 1871.  She established herself at Allahabad, and labored there with great success till her death, at first under the jurisdiction of the British Government, but for many years under that of the Presbyterian Board of Foreigh Missions of the United States.  She had two dispensaries in the city, both of which were visited every day and showed an attendance of from forty to eight patients, and also a large practice in private houses and in missionary families."