D. C. LaRue, a well-known minstrel manager, who had his own companies in the 60’s, and during the same period was associated in minstrel ventures with J. B. Donniker, Tom Prendergast, Archie Hughes and Cool Burgess, died in Charleston, S. C., March 15, 1875; age about 40 years.
“Hank” Goodman, the old-time comedian, was a member of Gorton’s New Orleans Minstrels for many years.
In 1887 he retired, and later assumed the management of Goodman’s Opera House in Friendship, N. Y., continuing there until his death, which occurred in that city May 14, 1908.
Nelse Seymour (Thos. Nelson Sanderson), made his first appearance in his native city as a clown in a circus. His initial black-face appearance was in the same city in 1861 as a member of Kunkel’s “Nightingales,” a prominent minstrel organization, with whom he remained the season.
The following year he joined Bryant’s Minstrels in New York; January 26 following he opened with Wood’s Minstrels, same city. He rejoined Bryant’s in 1863, and continued with them until the Fall of 1866, when he became a member of Kelly and Leon’s Minstrels, also in New York; he remained until May, 1868.
That same month he again joined Bryant’s, and a few weeks later went to England, where he opened with Moore and Crocker’s Minstrels. November 23, 1870, found him back to Bryant’s, where he continued until his death.
Mr. Seymour was exceedingly tall, and correspondingly slender, and in the various acts in which he worked with Dan Bryant he was very funny. He was equally at home, sitting on the end or in the middle on the first part.
Nelse Seymour was born in Baltimore, Md., June 5, 1835; he died in New York, February 2, 1875.
Matt Thompson, a good general performer and “Essence” dancer, who was with Mrs. Matt. Peel’s Minstrels in 1861; died in New Orleans, La., August 21, 1867; age 32 years.
M. T. Skiff was a well-known and prominent manager of minstrel companies. He organized a company bearing his name September 26, 1863, at Alexandria, Va. In November the following year, with Low Gaylord, he formed Skiff and Gaylord’s Minstrels, and as such traveled for several seasons.