Biography

Anna Wharton Seward and Frederick William Seward had no children. They lived in Washington, D.C. because Frederick was his father, William Henry Seward's assistant while W. H. Seward was Secretary of State. Anna served as William Henry Seward's 'woman of the house.' She hosted parties and banquets and received callers on behalf of her father-in-law W. H. Seward to keep up their presence in Washington, D. C. society. 

To our delight, Fred went on to marry Anna Wharton. She became just like a sister to me and another daughter to my father and mother. Fred and Anna helped my father a great deal during their marriage. Anna became an important face to the public by becoming my father’s hostess. She was in charge of political dinner parties in Washington, D.C. and kept track of the many guests father received as well as incoming letters.

When father traveled to Alaska and California at the end of his life, Anna and Fred traveled with him. Eventually, they would move to a house they called Montrose in the Hudson River Valley. Many of their possessions from that home, including a big table that belonged to Anna were brought back to the Auburn home and are still there today. Father died before completing his autobiography so Fred finished it for him, and then went on to write about his own political experiences. Fred was a loyal family man who helped his father throughout his life at home as well as in his political career.