JOHN E. SEELEY, farmer and extensive fruit grower is one of the well known and highly esteemed residents of the town of Somerset, Niagara county. He come of fine old Empire state stock, his people having lived here for generations, taking part in the development of the county and always setting an example of good citizenship.

John E. Seeley was born on his father’s farm in Seneca county, N.Y., Nov. 19, 1846. His parents were John E. and Cornelia (De Forrest) Seeley, the former of whom was born at Ovid, Seneca county, and the latter in the city of New York. While the elder John E. Seeley was a substantial farmer, he was also a lawyer and practiced law all through Seneca county. Both he and wife died in the county aged about sixty-eight years. Of their five children there are, but two living: John E., and Barnum D., a resident of Michigan.

Mr. Seeley attended the district schools and the Ovid Academy and remained at home until twenty-one years old, at which time he started out for himself, coming to Niagara county. He located in the town of Newfane and operated the Hess farm there until 1865 when he came to the town of Somerset and settled on the farm which he bought in 1900. Mr. Seeley has always been a careful and thrifty farmer and has been exceedingly successful. He began operating before many of the present day helps in the way of modern farm machinery had been invented or public effort directed to making farm life more comfortable, nevertheless he found satisfaction and his family contentment in spite of hard work and privations that no longer exist. Mr. Seeley owns eighty-five and one-half acres of valuable land that is now operated by his son-in-law, fifty acres being devoted to growing all the fruits that come to such unusual perfection in Niagara county.

Mr. Seeley was married Dec. 20, 1871, to Jennie Dutcher, who was born Aug. 11, 1854, daughter of Martin Dutcher. Mr. and Mrs. Seeley have had three children: Libbie D., who died July 13, 1876; Grace D., who died Nov. 14, 1910, was the wife of Grant A. Hyde and left three children, the youngest of whom, Luella, resides with Mr. and Mrs. Seeley; and Cornelia D., who is the wife of Thomas Tothill, who lives on the farm adjoining Mr. Seeley’s and operates the latter.

Mr. and Mrs. Seeley are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Barker and are interested in all its benevolent activities. Mr. Seeley has never been very active in politics although he has settled convictions and expresses them on proper occasions. The only public office he has every accepted was that of school trustee. He is a member of the Barker Co-operative Packers’ Association.

Pages 748-749, “Niagara County New York, A Concise Record of her Progress and People, 1821-1921,” Volume II – Biographical, by Edward T. Williams, Published by J.H. Beers & Company Chicago.

[Grandson of John Beardsley SGS #1961 through his son John Edward and his wife Cornelia De Forest – John E; John Edward, John Beardsley (SGS # 1961), John; Hezekiah; Nathaniel; Nathaniel; Nathaniel; Nathaniel; Robert]