The Seger coat-of-arms is as follows:

Arms-Azure, a lymphad without mast or sail or.

Crest-Out of a ducal coronet the mast or and the sail argent of the lymphad in full sail. From the masthead a pennant flying of the second, charged with a cross gules, and the body of the mast entwined by a ribbon azure.

This family cognomen is of ancient origin, and for many generations the early ancestors of the Seger family resided in the eastern provinces of the Empire of Austria, whence the family migrated westward, and in course of time settled in what is now the "late" Kingdom of Bavaria, Germany. Here this branch resided for a number of generations.

Nicholas Seger, father of George N. Seger, was born August 11, 1827, in Bavaria, and his wife, whose maiden name was Louise Kochert, was likewise a native of the same locality. In 1848 Nicholas Seger decided to seek his fortune in the United States, and embarked from one of the seaport towns of western Europe for New York City. Having been trained along the lines of building and architecture he at once applied himself to such employment, and as a result of his thrift and economy soon established a leading and prosperous contracting business, which he pursued throughout the active years of his career. Nicholas Seger married, in the city of New York, in 1853, Louise Kochert, who was brought to this country by her parents at the age of three years. They had one son, George N., of whom forward. Nicholas Seger died in New York City, April 27, 1875, and his wife passed away May 12, 1894.

George N. Seger, son of Nicholas and Louise (Kochert) Seger, was born at the family home in New York City, January 4, 1866. His early educational training was obtained in the schools of the metropolis, and upon attaining suitable years he entered upon a commercial course of study in one of the leading business colleges of New York, and graduated from the same at the age of seventeen years. Soon after laying aside his text books the young student, being desirous to secure employment, entered the office of one of the leading contracting and building firms in New York City, where in the course of time he acquired a practical knowledge of the building and contracting business. He continued thus engaged up to his twenty-third year, and about 1889 went into the building and contracting business on his own account. He located in the borough of Carlstadt, Bergen county, New Jersey. In 1892 the business was moved to the rapidly growing city of Passaic, where he made a successful initiative in his line of enterprise, and by dint of hard work, efficient service, and straightforward dealings, established himself in the confidence of the leading representative men of Passaic.

In 1906 his fellow-citizens of the Third Ward of Passaic, having recognized his exceptional qualifications and ability, elected Mr. Seger a member of the Board of Education, in which body he rendered valuable service up to 1909, in which year the board became appointive. Hon. Bird W. Spencer, then mayor of Passaic, appointed Mr. Seger a member of the new board, in which capacity he served up to September 19, 1911, when he was elected a member of the commissioners under the elective commission form of government. On September 26, 1911, Mr. Seger was chosen mayor of Passaic, and faithfully served in that office until May 18, 1915, at which time he was again elected a member of the Board of Commissioners, and again chosen as mayor, which office he held up to 1919, in which year he was for the third time elected a member of the Board of Commissioners, and selected for the important office of director of revenue and finance.

In 1909 Passaic decided to build a modern high school building. George N. Seger, at that time vice-president of the Board of Education, was elected chairman of the building committee, where he rendered useful service, and it

was largely due to his untiring efforts and his thorough technical knowledge of the building trade that the splendid structure comprising the present high school of Passaic was finally completed for several thousand dollars less than the amount appropriated for its erection and completion. This splendid achievement on the part of the building committee at once added greatly to the popularity of its chairman in the minds of his fellow-citizens of Passaic.

It was largely due to his standing in the community and his practical judg. ment that Mr. Seger was in 1916 made a member of the board of directors of the Fourth Ward Trust Company in Passaic, and elected to the office of president.

Politically, George N. Seger has been a staunch supporter of the principles and policies as advocated by the Republican party, in which he has been an indefatigable worker. In his fraternal associations, Mr. Seger is an active member of the Royal Arcanum, being a past regent of Passaic Council; he is a past master of Passaic Lodge, No. 67, Free and Accepted Masons; charter member of Centennial Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; past commander of Washington Commandery, No. 21, Knights Templar; Salaam Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is also an active member of Lake Hopatcong Yacht Club, of which organization he served as commodore for two years. During the great World War, Mr. Seger gave his time and thought to the support of the government, and served as a member of the Council of National Defense, in fact, he gave generously of his time and substance to all war activities.

George N. Seger married, in New York City, January 16, 1889, Josephine B. Meyer, born in the borough of the Bronx, New York, daughter of August and Louise (Behrle) Meyer. Her father, August Meyer, was a native of the principality of Lippe-Detmott, in the northwestern part of Germany; his wife, Louise (Behrle) Meyer, was a daughter of Frederick and Bregetta (Walters) Behrle, both of whom were natives of the Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany. George N. and Josephine B. (Meyer) Seger had born to them three children, as follows: 1. George J., born in Passaic, New Jersey. He obtained his early educational advantages in the public and high schools of Passaic, and at Centenary Collegiate Institute, Hackettstown, New Jersey. On November 8, 1917, he entered the service of the United States navy, in the capacity of chief machinist's mate, and was assigned to the United States Submarine Chaser, No. 181, doing patrol duty in the Irish sea. Soon after the signing of the armistice, he assisted in the perilous work of mine sweeping in the waters of the North sea, after which he was honorably discharged in New York City, December 12, 1919. 2. Reginald G., born in Passaic, New Jersey. He obtained his early education in the public and high schools of Passaic, and at Centenary Collegiate Institute, Hackettstown, New Jersey. At the age of eighteen he entered upon a course of study in the law department of the New York University. In 1917 he entered the service of the United States navy on board the United States steamship "Corsair," formerly the private yacht of the late J. Pierpont Morgan. During the first year of his service in foreign waters, Reginald G. Seger was advanced to the position of chief petty officer, and in 1917, as a result of his fidelity to duty, he was sent to the Annapolis Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, where he engaged in technical studies during the next three months, after which time he was sent aboard the United States steamship "Sibony," with the rank of ensign. In 1919 Ensign Seger was advanced to the rank of lieutenant, the duties of which office he faithfully discharged up to November 22, 1921, when he resigned. 3. Alva M., born in Passaic, New Jersey. She graduated from Passaic public and high schools, and entered upon a course of study in the Mary