141 Woodland Avenue
Seymour House

Lots 20-22 L.B. Tussing's Trustee Subdivision

On April 21, 1903, the Seymours purchased lots 21 and 22 from L.B. Tussing for $1,600. On April 10, 1907, the Seymours purchased lot 20 from builder Odos M. Blose for $1,000.

The house was probably completed about 1905, with the Seymours being listed at this address in the 1906 City Directory.

Augustus Theodore Seymour was born August 22, 1873 in Nebraska City, Nebraska, son of Theodore Holly and Elizabeth Barribod (Banibal) Seymour. He married Evelyn G. Owens on June 5, 1902 in Licking County. Evelyn was born September 1, 1878 in Newark, Ohio. They had children James Owens (August 23, 1904), Augustus, Jr. (March 1, 1907)

Seymour grew up in Mount Vernon, Ohio, attended Oberlin College and Ohio State University Law School. He was admitted to the bar in 1894. He served as assistant Franklin County prosecuting attorney 1900-1905 and as the county prosecuting attorney 1905-1906. Augustus was a founding member of the law firm Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease in 1909, and also served as Assistant US Attorney General 1922-1925 under Harry M. Daugherty, notable member of President Harding's "Ohio Gang" and party to the Teapot Dome scandal.

In 1903 the Seymours lived at The Normandie Hotel at 259 East Long Street. In 1904 and 1905 they lived at 350 Linwood Avenue. 

Seymour's partner, Lowry Sater also lived in Woodland Park, at 1654 East Broad Street. 

The Washington Post, August 26, 1924, "Assistant Attorney General and Mrs. Augustus T. Seymour have closed their home on Woodland drive and have gone by motor to Columbus, Ohio, where they will occupy their summer home until the late autumn. Mr. James Seymour and Mr. Augustus T. Seymour, jr., their sons, who have been in Europe since June, will join their parents in Ohio about the middle of September"

Augustus died March 11, 1926, as reported in the Zanesville Times Signal, March 12, 1926, "Augustus T. Seymour, 53, prominent Ohio lawyer and assistant attorney general of the United States during the Harding administration, died at his home today of heart disease..."

The Journal News (Hamilton, Ohio), March 16, 1926, "Augustus T. Seymour, Columbus lawyer and assistant attorney general of the United States under Harry M. Daugherty, left an estate of approximately $180,000, according to his will probated today. Under the will, Evelyn Owens Seymour, the widow, was left the entire estate."

Evelyn continued to live in the house until her death on about April 22, 1955. The Seymours are buried at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Newark, Ohio. 

On August 6, 1956 the house was deeded to James and Augustus. They sold the house on February 20, 1957 to the Hancocks. 

Henry Moses Hancock was born December 12, 1912 in Virginia, son of Belle Hancock (his father's name is listed in records as "unknown"). His second marriage was to Grace Jeanette Karshner on March 26, 1951 in Wayne County, Indiana. Grace was born March 14, 1914 in Ross County, Ohio. Grace had first been married to Harold E. Peecher.

In 1920 Henry lived in Union Hall, Virginia with his mother and siblings: Kitty L. (1902), Rebecca (August 4, 1910 - February 1, 1968), and Garfield (1917). Belle was a farmer and the two girls worked as farm laborers. 

In 1936, Henry lived at 1266 Atcheson Street and then at 957 Gibbard Avenue. He was working as a porter. Henry married Rose Mattox in Franklin County on February 25, 1937. Rose was born March 12, 1907 in Virginia, daughter of WIll and Myrom English Mattox. 

In 1939 and 1940 Henry and Rose lived at 114 Chesterfield Road working as a butler and maid for A.B. Winfield. Henry was also working at Lazarus department store between 1938 and 1942. In 1941 they moved to Grove City. Henry and Rose divorced in April 1949.

In 1950, Henry lived at 3191 West First Avenue in Urbancrest. 

In 1951 Henry and Grace were renting 1543 Hawthorne Avenue from the Longs. The City Directory lists his occupation as city policeman. On March 22, 1954 the Hancocks purchased 1543 Hawthorne Avenue. Henry is listed in the 1953 and 1954 City Directory under house cleaners. 

Grace died in 1993. Henry died August 25, 1999. They are buried at Riverside Cemetery in Columbus. 

On November 27, 1963 the Hancocks sold the house the the Binns who lived at 1963 Maryland Avenue. 

William Thomas Binns was born September 16, 1927 in Ohio, son of Angus A. and Mary Simmons Binns. He married
Bonnie L. Williams in Franklin County on November 26, 1949. Bonnie was born September 7, 1927 in Columbus, daughter of Nathan and Esther Deadwiler Williams.

In his youth Binns lived of Jefferson Avenue and Ohio Avenue. In January 1946 he enlisted in the Army. On the Binns' 1949 marriage license, his occupation is listed as musician, and hers as file clerk. In 1950 he lived in Poindexter Village at 177 Champion Avenue, Apt. J and was listed as being in the U.S. Army.

In 1951 the Binns were living at 89 North 20th Street and Binns was working as a clerk for the Veterans Administration. In 1953 and 1954 he was a machine operator at the Columbus General Depot. In 1956 the Binns lived at 1963 Maryland Avenue. 

Bonnie died May 19, 1997. William died July 30, 2002 in Columbus. The Binns are buried at Evergreen Cemetery.

The house was sold by Steven P. Binns, Sr., the executor of WIlliam's estate, to Jennifer P. and Matthew E. Harvey on January 29, 2003. 

141 Parkwood Avenue, April 2014

Augustus T. Seymour, circa 1896

Augustus and Evelyn Seymour, circa 1921

Augustus T. Seymour, Jr., circa 1921

James O. Seymour, circa 1921

Appleton Post Cresent, January 29, 1923

The Ohio State News, November 11, 1948