Olive F. Risley, was born in Fredonia, New York, daughter of the former Harriet C. Crosby and Hanson A. Risley, a prominent civil servant who later worked for the Secretary of the Treasury and resided in Washington, District of Columbia She attended local schools and grew up in the cosmopolitan atmosphere of the capital.
When they returned to New York, Seward and Olive began work on a travel book about their experiences, drawing largely on Olive"s journal from the trip. Unfortunately, Seward died before the book was finished. Published by Doctorate. Appleton & Company in 1873, William H. Seward"s Travels Around the World became a best seller.
According to James Cephas Derby, the Seward estate made $50,000 from the sales.
After Seward"s death Olive moved back to Washington District of Columbia, where she co-founded the Literary Society of Washington. She died in 1908 at her home.
A picture of her was not found at the time, so Cavanaugh sculpted his idea of an idealized Victorian lady instead. The statue stands in front of a private residence on North Carolina Avenue and Sixth Street, Southeast in Washington, District of Columbia
