Person Page - 593

     A fighter died in New Orleans Sunday afternoon, a fighter for two lost causes. He was Major Robert H.F. Sewall. A fighter to the end.
     In the War Between the States Major Sewall fought under the Stars and Bars. From the time peace once more returned to the nation until Sunday afternoon he fought tirelessly to persuade local, state and government officials that his "spur dike" plan for controlling the inroads of the Mississippi river was the answer to the greatest problem of the Mississippi valley.
Major Sewall knew Appomattox Courthouse. Major Sewall was alive and well when the Bonnet Carre spillway, not spur dikes, was decided upon as the answer to the great flood danger of 1927.
     With his passing Sunday afternoon the champion of state's rights and spur dikes joined his fellows in Gray. He died at Charity hospital, still a fighter though 83 years old.
Following the end of the Civil war, Major Sewall returned to his plantation in Iberville parish. He was keenly alive to the ever-present danger of flood from the treacherous Mississippi which provided life for his crops and if the whim was strong, the death of those same crops. It became a problem which appealed to his nature as a fighter.
In July, 1924, after years of study he redoubled his efforts to get the United States government to apply his idea of constructing spur dikes to withstand the erosions of the Mississippi river water on the levees. He was a violent antagonist to further increase in height of the levees and to spillways.
     Major Sewall's eyesight was failing but not his spirit. He carried his fight for spur dikes into the board of state engineers.
Spur dikes - concrete piling driven into a caving bank, forcing the current of the swollen river to form an eddy. Instead of "eating out" the levees, was the major's contention, the spur dikes would cause a suspended silt to be deposited by the resulting eddy which would "make" instead of destroy the levee wall. Such dikes, was his argument, would force the water to the other side of the river and force it to scour out a channel there. The piling for the dikes would be of either concrete, (a plan patented by Major Sewall) or of wood driven in the river in an upstream direction at a 45 degree angle. The plan he advanced provided for water-tight sections of piling driven in sections 500, 1000, or some other distance in feet apart. The major contended that the idea had show [sic.] practical results near Shreveport and at the Poland street wharves in New Orleans.
     In 1887, so convinced was Major Sewall that his plan would solve the age-old problem, he quit his plantation and devoted his entire time to his new cause. Many engineers heard his arguments and in 1924 his plan was declared impractical. He found a companion spirit in Frank H. Waddill, noted engineer, who after reviewing Major Sewall's spur dike plan warmly supported the idea.
Trials were given the spur dike plan. It was found that while it was adaptable to furnishing and driving watertight sheet piling, as far as flood regulation was concerned Major Sewall's plan was impractical. And so, though defeated, Major Sewall died at Charity hospital Sunday afternoon at 5:30 p. m. Military funeral services in his honor will be held today at 1:15 p.m. at the P.J. McMahon chapel, 4800 Canal street, followed by services at St. Francis de Sales church at 1:45 p.m. At 3:15 p.m. the body will be sent to Baton Rouge for burial. Major Sewall earned his commission while serving in the Second Louisiana Cavalry during the Civil war. He is survived by two daughters, Mrs H.P. Simmonds and Mrs. C.P. Chester, and three sons, Robert H., James Nelson and P.H. Sewall. The Times-Picayune, 18 February 1929.⁵

Robert Lentner “Bob” Sewall passed away peacefully on March 8, 2016. Bob was born on February 25, 1933. He was raised in Manchester and Hamilton MA. He attended the Brooks School in North Andover MA class of 1952 and Bentley University in Waltham, MA. He served our country as a proud member of the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War. He is predeceased by his parents Rufus Lentner Sewall and Leila Stevens Walker.
Bob enjoyed a rich and rewarding life in a variety of activities. Always possessing an entrepreneurial spirit, he combined the challenge of building things from the ground-up with enriching the lives of others. He had a great love for sports, particularly ice hockey and running. Among his accomplishments, he was a pioneer in the massive growth of ice hockey during the 1970s in Massachusetts. He was an original member of the Amateur Hockey Association of the United States for Massachusetts serving as Treasurer, later known as USA Hockey. He was instrumental in establishing AAA ice hockey in Massachusetts. He founded many youth teams including the North Shore Raiders, which gave many of the area’s skilled youth a higher level of play. He also enjoyed road running. He participated in many marathons and ultra-marathons. This led to him opening a road racing and running store known as The Running Shoe, which was located in Salem and Swampscott. Later on, he was the owner of the North Shore Vending Company that served much of Eastern MA. Bob was a true outdoorsman. He enjoyed hiking and nature. He enjoyed boating and was a member of the Power Squadron in Salem.
In addition to his wife Ingrid Van Velthoven Sewall, of Homosassa, FL, Bob is survived by his five children Jeanne Sewall Richards and her husband Thomas of Oxford, ME, Robert Lentner Sewall Junior of Novato, CA, William Gilman Sewall of Beverly, MA, Stephen Lentner Sewall of Murrel's Inlet, SC and his wife Kimberly, Robin Sewall Hubbard of Groveland, MA, and her husband Kevin, his grandchildren Courtney, Cameron, Catherine, Amanda, Benjamin, Sara, Joshua, Cameron, Lindsay, Randy, Samuel, and Jennifer, his six great grandchildren, his sister Leila Clay and her husband Henry of Leesburg, Virginia, his nephews Henry and Christopher, and niece Abigail. Also, he is survived by many friends.²

“Shorty” Bob was born July 31, 1923 in New Castle, PA and passed away on December 5, 2017 in Spokane, WA. Harrington, WA was his home for over 67 years until moving to Spokane’s Fairwinds Northpointe retirement community in 2015. He was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Carol Uhrich Sewall, his parents, Edward and Mary, brother Harold, sisters Alice and Emma, and his long time companion, Shirley Swartz. He is survived by their three daughters: Ilona Wiley (Larry), Spokane, Heidi Sewall, Woodinville, WA and Amy Philadelphia (Michael), Owings Mills, MD; three granddaughters, Allayna Philadelphia, Fiona Kelley and Alicia Philadelphia; one brother, Edward Sewall, Harrington, WA as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Shorty came west into Washington State with the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1940 and was stationed at Entiat, WA. Next he moved to Odessa, WA where he found work with local farmers. He was drafted into the Army in 1943 and stationed with the 913th Field Artillery Battalion, which was assigned to the 88th Infantry Division serving in Italy. He was wounded during his term and received the Purple Heart medal. He was discharged in 1945 at the end of World War II. Shorty joined the Odessa chapter of the American Legion/VFW Post 7395 and received his 70-year pin in 2016.
He began playing the guitar and singing during his early years in Pennsylvania, once entering and winning a contest broadcast by a local radio station. For many years he sang and played guitar with a bluegrass band in Lincoln County, WA named the Rocky Coulee Ramblers.
Professionally he owned his own excavation business which served customers in Lincoln, Adams and Grant counties. He worked on excavation of a site which became the music building at Washington State University. His wife Carol took care of the bookkeeping and made parts runs for him.
During the summer weekends since 1960, Bob and his family spent most of their weekends at their lake home near Porcupine Bay on Lake Roosevelt. In retirement years, Shorty and Carol vacationed in the winter in a motor home and spent time traveling in the southwest area. In the later years after Carol passed he and his long-time companion, Shirley Swartz, wintered in Yuma, AZ.⁶

Robert L. Sewall, 60, of 917, Sumner avenue, for 37 years employed as a designer at the Brooks Bank Note company, died at the Chapin Memorial hospital yesterday. He was a native of, Bath, Me. He is survived by his widow, Winifred (Chester) Sewall; a daughter, Mrs Raymond V. Hannah of this city; two sons, Robert G. of Springfield and Thomas G. of Boston; and a brother, Henry K. Sewall of Lynn. The funeral will be held at Graham's chapel Saturday afternoon at 2, Rev Earle H. Thayer officiating. Burial will be in Hillcrest Park cemetery.⁵

Rodney W. Sewall, 82, of Cedar Creek died November 25, 2014 at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, Dover.
Born January 15, 1932, in Lee, he was the son of Frank Albert Sewall and Marylyn (Ross) Sewall. He lived in Newmarket for over 50 years.
Rodney worked for Bayside Distributing for 30 years, after he was self-employed and drove tractor trailer trucks.
He loved horses, farming, Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots and The Three Stooges.
Rodney was predeceased by his brothers, Robert, Wallace, Bradley and Earle Sewall and sisters, Vera Sewall and Phyllis Johnston.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Margaret L. (Allen) Sewall of Barrington; 4 sons, Rodney W. Sewall Jr. and wife Donna of Boscawen, Jeffrey Sewall and wife Susan of Dover, Vincent Sewall of Barrington, and Gregory Sewall and wife Brenda of Berwick, Maine; 2 daughters, Rhonda Patten and husband Roy of South Berwick, Maine and Janice Paley and husband Mike of Congers, N.Y; many grandchildren; 1 great grandson; 3 brothers, Kenneth Sewall and wife Dorothy of South Carolina, Neil Sewall and wife Karen of Barrington, and Harlan Sewall of Newmarket; 4 sisters, Marjorie Currier of Newmarket, Sylvia Lang of Newmarket, Cynthia Jones of Pittsfield, and Sharon Hopey and husband Chuck of Madbury; many nieces, nephews and cousins.³

SEWALL, Roy Albert
August 2, 1931 – Patricia, Alberta
June 27, 2014 – Calgary, Alberta

     It is with great sadness the Sewall Family and Rodeo World announce the passing of our Uncle Al Sewall on Friday, June 27, 2014 at the age of 82 years.
     Al was born in Medicine Hat and raised in the ranching community of Patricia Alberta, He moved to Calgary in the 1950’s where he worked at the Calgary Stockyards and later as a Brand Inspector for Government of Alberta, He then went on in later years to drive cement trucks for Burnco and LaFarge. Al was a kind, humble and generous man, who always had a place for cowboys, friends and anyone who needed a place to lay their head.
     Al is survived by nieces and nephews Sylvia Foster, Susan Whitney, Larry Smith, Darryl Big Plume, Anita Sewall, Shane Sewall, Michael “Cowboy” Big Plume, Shirley Sewall (Donald), Jimmy Sewall Jr; their numerous extended family members; also Granddaughter in Spirit Zoe Todd. Al was predeceased by his parents Larry and Sarah Sewall; siblings Jim Sewall, Lorraine Smith and Shirley Anne Sewall; son JJ Sewall; daughter Lorraine Sewall; Ex-wife and Life Long Friend Royce McGowan-Sewall-Milton.
     Services will be held at McInnis & Holloway’s Fish Creek Chapel (14441 Bannister Rd. S.E. Calgary). Those wishing to pay their respects may do so on Tuesday July 1, 2014, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Funeral Services will be held Wednesday July 2, 2014 at 11:00 a.m., with Cowboys Last Ride and Graveside Service to follow at Tsuu T’ina Cemetery, and Celebration of Life at the Ranchman’s, 9615 Macleod Trail SW from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Pro Rodeo Canada’s CPRA Cowboy’s Benevolent Fund, P.O. Box 1480, Edmonton AB, T5J 2N5, 1-780-471-8113.²

There are various versions of his death. The Times-Picayune reports: Fatal Affrays at Shreveport. - On the evening of the 20th instant Rufus Sewell, of the firm of Robinson & Sewell, of Shreveport, in this state, was killed in an affray that took place in that town. It appears that in the early part of the day blows were exchanged between Charles Sewell, the brother of the deceased, and Dr. Hardwick ; that in the evening the deceased and his partner, Robinson, met Dr. Hardwick and one Hartsborough at the tavern, when Sewell was knocked down, and while down a cut was inflicted with a bowie knife in his abdomen, of which he instantly died. The Natchitoches Herald of the 25th instant mentions another affray which took place a short time previous to the above at Shreveport, in which Charles A. Sewell, a brother of Rufus, was wounded and a man named Matthew Edwards killed. One Boyle in the first place attacked Sewell in a grocery with abusive language and on the letter coming out fired a pistol at him, wounding him in the leg. Edwards took Boyle's part, but on the arrival of police officers fled. He was shot, however, in endeavoring to make his escape, but Boyle was arrested. Fine times, truly, at Shreveport.⁸