Thomas Seeley
Personal
Gender: Male
Date of Birth: October 1, 1821
Date of Death: November 12, 1896
Birth Place: Wayne County, NY
Death Place: Guthrie, Oklahoma Territory
CAPT. THOMAS SEELEY, a pioneer settler in Guthrie county, Iowa, died at Guthrie, Oklahoma Territory, November 13, 1896. He was born in Wayne county. New York, October 1, 1821, and was 75 years of age. His parents came out early and settled in Michigan where he grew to manhood. He was well educated and taught school for some years. In 1853 he came to Iowa and settled at Bear Grove, Guthrie county, in 1859, making himself a permanent home near Guthrie Center, where he lived until the opening of Oklahoma territory to settlement, when he removed thither. Captain Seeley bore an important part as a pioneer settler and a man of affairs. He was county surveyor of Guthrie county in 1851, and a member of the Convention of 1857 which framed the present constitution of our State. He was a member of the National Convention which nominated Abraham Lincoln for the Presidency in 1860. He aided in raising a company for General G. M. Dodge’s Fourth Iowa Infantry, serving several months as Captain, when ill health necessitated his resignation. In 1864 he was appointed register of the TJ. S. Land Office at Des Moines, holding the position three years. He was elected to the 17th general assembly in which body he was a prominent and well-remembered member. During his life-time he held many other positions of less importance. A township and creek in Guthrie county bear his name. One of his sons. Mr. Horace Seeley, now a resident of Des Moines, has risen to a prominent position among the railroad men of Iowa. Captain Seeley was a man of large information, especially in respect to State affairs, enterprising, progressive, active and useful, always influential and respected in the community where he spent the greater portion of his life.
Page 646, “The Annals of Iowa,” Volume Two-Third Series, edited by Charles Adrich, A.M., Published by the Historical Department of Iowa, Des Moines, 1895-7
[Son of Thomas SGS # 3040 – Thomas; Samuel (#3040); Jonas (# 1320); John; John S; Obadiah; Obadiah; Obadiah]
