James (Art) Arthur Seybold

Ottawa Citizen - October 29, 1938 - Sudden Passing of J.A. Seybold at Rugby Game - While Watching Sport Which He Loved, Death Comes Suddenly to One of City's Best Known Residents - Prominent Many Years in Business and Sport - Had Been Member of Famous Old Football and Lacrosse Teams Here

Death came with startling suddeness to one of the Capital's best known and highly esteemed citizens on Saturday afternoon, in the passing of Mr. James Arthur Seybold, 232 Metcalfe Street, while in his car watching a city league football game between College and Roamers at Landsdowne Park.

Mr. Seybold, who had been in ill health for some time past, went to the game accompanied by his chauffeur, Mr. William Pratt, and it was about 3:30 o'clock when, receiving no answer to a remark he had addressed to Mr. Seybold concerning the game, Mr. Pratt noticed that he had fallen forward in the seat.

Doctors A.S. McElroy and J.H. Alford who were on the grounds were hurriedly summoned, but found that Mr. Seybold had passed away.

The late Mr. Seybold, who was president of the Pritchard Andrews Company, Sparks Street, and was connected with a number of other prominent firms in the city and in Montreal, was a staunch supporter of all kinds of sport.

An old footfall player himself and one time player on the Rough Riders team which won the Dominion championship, and of which club he was also a one time president, it is said of Mr. Seybold that he never missed a football game played in Ottawa.

In addition, he was a member of the old Metropolitan lacrosse team which was prominent away back in 1880, and which afterwards became the Ottawa lacrosse team and eventually was merged with the Capitals. As a football and lacrosse player in the old days, he was known as one of the cleanest players in the two games, and was never once ruled off.

Born in Montreal, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Christian Seybold, in 1859, Mr. Seybold received his education in Montreal High School, and at the age of sixteen was captain of the old Britannia Football club, and owing to his musical attainments, was at the same time organist at the Erskine Presbyterian church in that city.

He came to Ottawa in 1875 and for many years conducted with his partner, Mr. E. Russell, a wholesale drygoods business under the name of Russell and Seybold, on Sparks Street. He was also a member of the Ontario Equipment Company, and a director of the Starke Seybold Hardware Company, Montreal.

Mr. Seybold was a lover of dogs and horses, keeping at one time many fine animals. He was a director of the Connaught Park Jockey Club; a member of the Royal Ottawa Golf Club, and also of the Thirty-One Mile Lake Fish and Game Club.

It was in 1880 that Mr. Seybold started to become known in the sporting world here, when he joined the old Metropolitan Lacrosse club, which he played with until it was taken over by the Ottawa Lacrosse club, and from then on until 1890, when it became the Capital club. Among those with whom he played in those years were Messrs. George H. Popham, Hugh Carson, the late Dr. Cousens, Jack O'Connor, Tom Crown, Alf Perkins and the late Horace Pratt.

He was at one time a director of the old OAAC, and played on the old Ottawa City Football team, which later became the Rough Riders, of which he was at one time captain, and when he quit playing, was made president.

He was a musician of merit, and loved to play on a beautiful Aoelian organ which he had installed in his home, and he was for fourteen years, organist of St. Andrew's Presbyterian church.

The late Mr. Seybold was an ardent fisherman and spent most of his summers at his beautiful summer residence, Opeongo Lodge, Kingsmere. In politics he was a staunch supporter of the Liberal party, and took an active interest until recent years in federal, provincial and municipal politics.

Mr. Seybold was twice married, his first wife being Miss Lila Booth, second daughter of the late J.R. Booth, who predeceased him in 1918, and two years later he married Miss Mary Rachael O'Brien, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. J.J. O'Brien of Manotick, by whom he is survived.

In addition to his widow, there are living his only sister, Mrs. W.S. Odell, of this city; two nieces, Mrs. (Dr.) J.H. Alford, of Ottawa and Mrs. E. Blackburn of Montreal; and five nephews, Messrs. P.R. Odell, Ottawa; Herbert, Gordon, Clifford and Leslie Seybold, all of Montreal. He was predeceased by two brothers, Messrs. Edward Seybold of this city, and John P. Seybold of Montreal.

The late Mr. Seybold attended St. Andrews Presbyterian church, and the funeral will take place from his residence on Tuesday afternoon, at 2:30, where the service will be conducted by Rev. Geo. G.D. Kilpatrick, and burial will take place in Beechwood cemetery.

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