Horace Seeley is the owner of a valuable farm of one hundred and sixty-five acres in Brighton township and in addition he has real-estate holdings in Texas. His home place is well improved, presenting a neat and attractive appearance. He has spent the greater part of his life in Washington county, although his birth occurred in Ashtabula county, Ohio, on the 15th of September, 1855, his parents being Julius and Lucinda (Hagarty) Seeley. The father, who was a native of the state of New York, removed westward to Ohio prior to his marriage and there lived until 1865, when he came to Iowa, locating on section 7, Clay township, Washington county. He at once began to develop and improve a farm and continued its cultivation until his life’s labors were ended in death in 1875. His demise was occasioned by a gunshot wound inflicted by unknown parties, who attacked him while he was returning home from Brighton, supposed to have been the work of a cowardly enemy. His wife was born and reared in Ohio and, long surviving her husband, spent her last days in Brighton, where she died in 1908, at the home of her son, Horace, her remains being interred in the Brighton cemetery. In their family were three children : Harriet, the wife of D. E. Nordyke, of Brighton; Horace; and one who died in infancy.

No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for Horace Seeley in his boyhood and youth. He was educated in the common schools and remained at home until the death of his father, after which he and his mother came into possession of two-thirds of the old homestead and he has since continued to farm this land. His life has been characterized by thrift and industry, by diligence and determination. He is now the owner of one hundred and sixty-five acres on sections 7 and 8, Brighton township, and the farm is well improved, giving every indication of the careful supervision and practical methods of an owner whose progressive spirit is shown in the well tilled fields and the substantial improvements upon his place. He also has one hundred and sixty acres of land in Texas. From his home farm he annually gathers rich harvests, his labors bringing to him substantial success.

In 1884 Mr. Seeley was united in marriage to Miss Ida E. Stucker and unto them have been born five children : Ezra, at home ; Myrtle, the wife of Warren Kintz, a resident farmer of Brighton township ; Vernon, Grace and Imogene, all at home. In his political views Mr. Seeley is a stalwart republican, thoroughly in harmony with the principles and policy of the party and has held some minor township offices but prefers to give his undivided attention to his business affairs, which, capably managed, are bringing to him well merited success.

Pages, 162 – 163, “History of Washington County Iowa, From the First White Settlements to 1908,” Vol. II, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1909.

[Horace is son of Julius SGS # 2915 – Horace; Julius (#2915); Jerod (#1182); Lemuel; Gideon; Joseph; John; Nathaniel; Robert]