Westcott, Seba Clarence

The following data is extracted from A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans.

Seba Clarence Westcott. With a record of twenty-six years of continuous practice at Galena, Mr. Westcott is secure in those honors and successes that come to the lawyer of ability and character, and is one of the best known men of Cherokee County. He has served in the Legislature and conscientious care and business integrity have marked every relationship of his career.

His people were among the pioneer settlers of Southeastern Kansas. His father, William H. Westcott moved to Baxter Springs, Kansas, in 1869. He died at Baxter Springs in 1872. By occupation he was a farmer, and in politics was a democrat. William H. Westcott was born in Ingham County, Michigan in 1840 and his wife Mary Wright was also a native of that state and died in Ingham County in March, 1867, a few days after the birth of her younger son, Seba Clarence Westcott. The latter was born in Ingham County March 3, 1867. His older brother is Charles W. Westcott, who was born in 1864 and is an ore buyer and has been connected with the Pitcher firm at Joplin, Missouri, since 1889.

The Westcott family originated in England and came to America in colonial days, settling in New York. Charles Westcott, grandfather of the Galena lawyer, was born in 1810 and was an early settler in Southern Michigan. He was a merchant tailor. He died at Lansing, Michigan, in 1887. William H. Westcott ran away from home twice to enlist in the Union army, and finally succeeded in his plan, going out in 1864 with a Michigan regiment and serving a year and a half.

Mr. S. C. Westcott attended the public schools of Baxter Springs, Kansas, graduating in high school in 1885. Later he entered the law department of the University of Kansas, where he completed the course and was given the degree LL. B. in 1890. After a brief experience in Carthage, Missouri, he moved to Galena in 1890, and has since been connected with some of the important civil cases tried in the local courts. His offices are at the corner of Fourth and Main streets.

He was twice elected to the State Legislature on the republican ticket, serving during the sessions of 1907 and 1909. During his first term he was chairman of the Local Judiciary Committee. Mr. Westcott is a member of the Cherokee County Bar Association, of Lodge No. 677 Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge No. 266 Fraternal Order of Eagles, and the Galena Community Club.

In 1893 in Emerson, Iowa, he married Miss Lizzie Sutton, daughter of G. B. and Elizabeth Sutton, both now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Westcott are the parents of two children: Ralph, born September 22, 1896, is a graduate of the Galena High School and is now a sophomore in the Manhattan Agricultural College; Frances, born October 1, 1899, is a senior in the Galena High School.

Source: A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans

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