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George S. Seeley

Personal

Gender: Male

Date of Birth: February 2, 1846

Birth Place: Waterbury

Hon. George S. Seeley, mayor of Meriden in 1902-3-4 and 5, like several of his antecedents, was born in Waterbury. He first saw light February 2, 1846. His ancestors on the paternal and maternal sides comprised old Connecticut stock. His great-grandfather was one of the patriots who fought in the Revolutionary War and his grandfather, Roger Pritchard, saw active service as a continental soldier in the War of 1812.

The subject of this sketch and his mother were born at the old Pritchard homestead, and he received his education by attending the public schools of Waterbury and Meriden. When he was 12 years old, his parents removed to Meriden, his father purchasing the farm at East Meriden, now owned by Edwin Birdsey, where for some years he continued in agricultural pursuits, later engaging in business as a stone mason.

At the age of 19 George S. Seeley began to learn his trade and after serving his apprenticeship pursued the calling of a metal turner with marked perseverance and industry for twenty-five years. For the past eleven years he has devoted his energies to the handling of real estate. His wide knowledge of public affairs has been gained by practical experience acquired by his repeated election to town and city offices. Affiliated closely with the Republican party, Mr. Seeley, although a strong organizer, has never been classed a politician in the generally accepted sense of the term, and his public record and private life have ever been above reproach. He served creditably as a member of the Common Council and later of the Board of Aldermen from the third ward and in 1898, 1899, 1900 and 1901 as second selectman and several years as chairman of the Republican Town Committee.

After the town had gone Democratic two municipal elections, the Republicans of Meriden chose Mr. Seeley for their standard bearer and his election was a high personal tribute to his popularity.

Subsequent to his election it was proven that the people of the city had mad no mistake, for both his terms as mayor were marked by wise appointments and an administration of public affairs which reflected credit upon the city as well as its mayor; for the city’s business was conducted in the interest of the taxpayer and property owner. During his four years as mayor he was accredited a most loyal support from the various commissions of his appointment and his management of the city’s finances was most pleasing and gratifying to the citizens. Mr. Seely is a prominent Odd Fellow, and since 1888 has served that fraternity as treasurer of Meriden Center Lodge, of which lodge he is also past grand. He is a member of the Arcanum Club; one of the vestrymen of St. Andrew’s Episcopal church of Meriden, of which parish he has also been treasurer since 1900; he is also a member and a director of the Meriden Board of Trade; member of the Meriden Business Men’s Association, and as a member of the General Committee has shown an active interest in the Centennial celebration.

November 24, 1867, he was united in marriage with Anna G., daughter of Melvin C. and Esther (Guy) Lee, of Meriden, and three children have blessed the union; Frank Guy, who now resides with his wife and two children in Mt. Vernon, N.Y.; Mrs. James H. Guernsey, of Ansonia, and Arthur D. Seeley, a promising young man in his seventeenth year.

Page 303-305, ” A Historic Record and Pictorial Description of the Town of Meriden, CT, and Men Who Have Made it. From Earliest Settlement to Close of Its First Century of Incorporation. A Century of Meriden, “The Silver City”, Issued as the Centennial Celebration. June 10 to 16, 1906. C. Bancroft Gillespie and George M. Curtis, published 1906.

[George Simeon is grandson of SGS# 3184 – George Simeon; Charles; William (#3184); John; Obadiah; Obadiah; Obadiah; Obadiah; Obadiah]

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