George Henry Seeley
Personal
Gender: Male
Date of Birth: June 17, 1876
Birth Place: Warsaw, IL
George Henry Seeley, a prominent realtor of Minneapolis and also a large lumber operator, belongs to that class of men who owe their success to hard work and perseverance, for from a very early age he has been compelled to fight life’s battles unaided, and his record is proof of the fact that merit and ability will always come to the front. He was born at Warsaw, Illinois, June 17, 1876, and his parents, Henry and Mary (White) Seeley, were also natives of that state. The mother passed away in 1879 and the father died in 1883.
George H. Seeley, thus left an orphan when but seven years of age, attended the public schools of his native town, remaining there until 1896, when he came to Minneapolis and entered the public schools of this city, also completing a course in a business college at the corner of Third street and Marquette avenue.
He next took up the study of electrical engineering, devoting about five years to that profession, and then sought another field of activity, as he was desirous of conducting an enterprise of his own, seeing no future in a salaried position. In 1904 he purchased a half interest in Edward Ecklund’s insurance business and two years later acquired entire control of the undertaking, which he has since operated independently under the name of the George H. Seeley Agency. He deals in real estate and fire insurance and his enterprise and close application have enabled him to build up a large business in both departments.
In 1912 he became interested in the lumber business and organized the White Salmon Development Company, which is capitalized at two million dollars. He is president of the firm, which owns a large tract of land in the state of Washington, containing about three hundred million feet of timber, and the company also operates a large sawmill on the Columbia river, about sixty-five miles east of Portland, Oregon. Mr. Seeley has the broad vision, keen sagacity and executive ability necessary for the management of an undertaking of magnitude and carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes, for the word fail has never found a place in his vocabulary. His standing as a business man is indicated in the fact that he was made sole executor of the Elias Fitterling estate, valued at about one million dollars, and administered its affairs with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of the heirs of the property. The will stated that he was to be trustee without bonds and he was at that time the youngest man in Minnesota ever trusted in this manner without being required to furnish bond.
On the 17th of July, 1909, Mr. Seeley was married to Miss Bessie M. Fitterling, a daughter of William Fitterling. Mr. and Mrs. Seeley have become the parents of three children: Evelyn, Marion and George Henry, Jr. The family residence is at No. 2115 Emerson avenue South. Mr. Seeley is a prominent Mason, having taken the thirty-second degree in the consistory, and he is also a Noble of Zuhrah Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is a life member of the Elks Club and since its organization has been connected with the Minneapolis Automobile Club, of which he was secretary for two years. He is also a member of the Minneapolis Athletic Club, the Minnetonka Country Club and the Old Colony Club of this city. He is a self-made man, before whom the door of opportunity has swung open because of his ability, industry and determination, and in winning advancement he has at the same time gained the unqualified esteem and respect of those with whom he has been associated, for he is thoroughly dependable and his integrity and honor have ever remained unquestioned.
Page 236-239, ” History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest”, Vol. III, Published The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago-Minneapolis, 1923.
