Dr. William H. Seward, one of the younger members of the medical fraternity of Amsterdam, is making rapid progress in his profession and has firmly established himself in public regard as an able physician and surgeon. He was born in Mechanicsville [i.e., Mechanicville], Saratoga county, New York, September 2, 1886, a son of James P. and Mary (Sullivan) Seward, the former a native of Broadalbin, this state. The latter was born in Amsterdam and both were representatives of old families of the Mohawk valley. The father was superintendent of the old Fitchburg Railroad, now the Boston & Maine system. His death occurred in 1899, when he was forty-two years of age.
William H. Seward completed a course in St. Mary's high school at Amsterdam and afterward matriculated in the Albany Medical College, from which he was graduated in 1912 with the M. D. degree. In June, 1912, he became an interne at the Hudson River State Hospital of Poughkeepsie, where he remained for about six months, and from January, 1913, until January, 1915, was interne at Gouverneur Hospital, affiliated with Bellevue Hospital in New York city, thus gaining valuable experience. He opened an office in Amsterdam on the 1st of January, 1915, and about two years later laid aside his practice to enter the United States army, enlisting for service in the World war in September, 1917. He was commissioned a first lieutenant in the Medical Corps, and was stationed successively at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Bellevue Hospital and the Base Hospital at Camp Upton. He was next assigned to duty at the United States Army Debarkation Hospital, which was opened on Ellis Island in March, 1918, and remained there until May, 1919, when he received his honorable discharge. Dr. Seward returned to Amsterdam and now devotes the greater portion of his attention to surgery, in which he has acquired much skill. He is a member of the surgical staff of the Amsterdam City Hospital, also of St. Mary's Hospital, and has a large private practice.
Dr. Seward gives his political allegiance to the republican party and his religious views are in accord with the doctrines of the Catholic church. He is a Knight of Columbus and is also identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He is a deep student of his profession and keeps in touch with the great truths which science is constantly revealing through his affiliation with the Amsterdam City, Montgomery County and New York State Medical Societies, and the American Medical Association. Dr. Seward gives his undivided attention to his profession and his fellow citizens speak of him in terms of the highest respect.