WILLIAM MASON SEELY—A life-long residence at Port Monmouth rendered Mr. Seeley’s name familiar to three generations of its inhabitants, and thirty years as the proprietor of a nourishing business have placed him among the representatives of its commercial interests. As a citizen Mr. Seely has always sought to further the welfare of his community and is active in its Masonic circles.

William Mason Seely was born September, 1848, at Port Monmouth, New Jersey, and is a son of James and Amanda Seely, both natives of Keansburg, New Jersey. His education was received in the public schools of his birthplace and after leaving school he went to sea as pilot on a coast steamer. For eight years he served in this capacity, at the end of that time securing a position as steward on the “Jessie Hoyt,” a boat plying between Sandy Hook and New York. After retaining this position for a considerable period Mr. Seely ceased to “follow the water”, deciding to spend the remainder of his life as a landsman. Accordingly, he opened a store at Port Monmouth and as the years went on built up a business which has yielded gratifying results and has given him an enviable reputation for ability and fair dealing.

While always voting the Republican ticket and lending his influence to the support of Republican principles, Mr. Seely has never taken an active share in the political life of his community, preferring to bestow the greater portion of his time and attention on the discharge of his business responsibilities. He affiliates with the Masonic fraternity, and he and his family are members of the Baptist church at New Monmouth, New Jersey. Mr. Seely married, December 22, 1872, at Port Monmouth, Charlotte Murphy, born February 28, 1854, at Keyport, New Jersey, daughter of John R. and Charlotte (Prüden) Murphy. Mr. Murphy, who was a steamboat pilot, was a native of New York State, and his wife was born at Hope, New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. Seely have been the parents of one son: Bradford Seymour, who was born November 21, 1873, and died in 1898.

As a young man Mr. Seely’s career partook of the open-air changefulness which attends the lives of those who seek a means of livelihood on the sea, but during his latter years he has led the life of a prosperous business man of his native town. In both phases of endeavor his record has been one of honorable success.

Pages 313-314 “History of Monmouth County, New Jersey, 1664-1920,” Published by Lewis Historical Publishing Co., New York, 1922

[William Mason; James Edmond; John; Unknown]