Andrew J. Seely, a farmer on section I, Portland Township, is a son of Col. Ebenezer and Dolly Seely, and was born in Cattaraugus Co., N.Y. Jan. 26, 1832. In June 1836, the family emigrated to this county, locating in Portland, where Andrew J. has since resided. When 23 years of age he left the homestead and went to Sterling, forming a partnership with Romanzo Ramsay, a brother-in-law, and starting the first furniture store and lumber-yard in that place, but a few months afterward his partner died, in July, 1855. Then in company with his brother, Martin, Mr. Seely opened a hardware, grocery and tin shop in Portland village, under the firm name of A.J. & M.V. Seely. After continuing this about 18 months they closed the business and rented the homestead, consisting of 250 acres, for two years, when the subject of this sketch removed to Prophetstown, opened the first livery stable in that place, and conducted it two years. He then returned to the homestead for a year, and next went to Pike’s Peak, Col., and followed mining for seven months, and was also barber, blacksmith and road-grader, assisting in grading the road to Gold Hill; her returned in the fall.

In January, 1861, he opened the first livery stable in the village of Erie; remained there five months; thence went to Portland Township again, purchasing 40 acres of the homestead and 10 acres adjoining, to which he has since added until he now has an aggregate of 200 acres, where he is now settled, making a specialty of Hambletonian horses, raises some cattle and fattens 40 to 50 hogs annually. During the last 12 or 14 years he has also been engaged to some extent in removing buildings. He has raised and worked on very many buildings in Portland and Prophetstown; is now doing an active business as auctioneer. In 1871-2 he was employed grading on the railroad. Thus he has demonstrated himself to be a handy man at almost anything in the mechanical and live-stock line.

Mr. Seeley has been Assessor Portland Township eight years; is a member of the I.O.O.F., being a Representative of the Grand Lodge; is also Worthy Councilor, in the Lodge of Modern Woodmen at Prophetstown, and is also a member of the Order of the Daughters of Rebecca, as are also his wife and daughter.

He was married Feb. 21, 1856, in Portland Township, to Miss Almina, daughter of Calvin and Sally Williams, who was born in Lodi, Cattaraugus Co., N.Y., Nov. 7, 1833. Mr. and Mrs. Seely have three children: Alexander J., born Nov. 15, 1857, who left here in 1885, and engaged in the smelting works at Rico, Col., and was married in Prophetstown, Feb. 20, 1884 to Miss Florence Bartlett, then a teacher in Prophetstown; Jennie L., born July 29, 1962, still at home; and Charles E., born Dec. 4, 1867.

Mrs. Seely’s parents came to Detroit, Mich., where they resided three years; then, in 1838, came to Prophetstown Township. They are both now deceased, the mother dying July 14, 1840, and the father Oct. 7, 1884, aged 84 years, four months and seven days. Her father was a mechanic, a carpenter and joiner by trade, and erected a member of buildings in Prophetstown Township. He received an injury at Rochelle in 1883, by a railroad train, that was the cause of his death at the state stated. Mrs. S. has three sisters and one brother in this county, and a sister in Rochelle, Ill. Her oldest sister is Mrs. Emily Gage; 2d, Mrs. Harriet Myres; 3d, Mrs. Eliza Barber; 4th, Mrs. Lovina Thanks; and her brother is Enos Williams.

Page 383, “Portrait & Biographical Record of Whiteside County Illinois”, published by Chapman Brother, Chicago 1885.

[Son of Ebenezer SGS # 2660 – Andrew J.; Ebenezer (SGS # 2660); Jeduthan/Juduthen; Ebenezer, David; John; Benjamin; Nathaniel; Robert]