Initial Response Information:

Chris Havnar worked on this family as she investigated burials in Greenwood Cemetery, Crawford Co. PA to add material to the SGS Ancestor File. One of the headstones there is for Alexander Powers Seley b. 3 Aug 1842 in Greenwood, died Geneva, Crawford, PA 28 Aug 1872. Age 30. The Findagrave (www.findagrave.com) entry lists his wife as Delia Antoinette Manning Stevenson and his child as Francisco Seley who was born in Greenwood and died in Portland, OR.

Chris also found an obituary for Stephen’s mother:

• Aileen Lindsay Sherwood Block passed away on May 31, 2013. She was born to the late William Sherwood and Miriam Seley, Oct. 14, 1925 in Medford, Oregon. Aileen graduated from Prospect High School in 1938 and then graduated from Oregon State College with dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Education and Home Economics. She was a member of Kappa Delta Sorority. She married Frank E. Block in 1947 and they recently celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary. She lived for many years in Corvallis, Oregon, and in 2009 moved to Reno to live with family. Aileen was an award winning watercolor artist whose work was displayed in several public buildings including the Good Samaritan Hospital in Corvallis. She was also a harpist and a published author. Her popular cookbook sells in both the United States and around the world. Aileen tasked herself with keeping the family chronology which spanned generations. She is survived by her husband, Frank, brother David Richey, daughter Emily Barnes (Vern) of Reno, son Stephen Block (Judy) of Palm Springs, and six grandchildren. Her grandchildren knew her as “Grandma A”. Inurnment will be at Northern Nevada Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery. A Memorial gathering is planned with family and friends. “See you in Heaven!” Walton’s Funeral Homes and Cremations

1900 Census: Salem, Marion, OR

• Seley, John F Seley  Nov 1867 PA PA PA Teacher Music, married 6 years to
• Seley, Etta S wife b. June 1872 MI MI MI , mother of 3 – 2 living
• Seley, Arthur M son b. May 1895 MI PA MI; F. Miriam, daughter b. Dec 1896 OH PA MI
• Elsie M Stevenson age 17 May 1883 born PA PA PA

1920 census: Salem Ward 4, Marion, OR

• Seley, Etta Squier age 47 wd born MI MI. unknown writer for magazine
• Seley, Arthur, age 24 born MI PA MI;
• Seley, Mariam F. age 23 stenographer in office; Russell, age 16 born OR PA MI delivery boy for grocery store, both b. OH PA MI

1930 census Flounce Rock, Jackson, OR

• Sherwood, William E age 34 b. OH, OH, OH, service station merchant, , md 7 yr to
• Sherwood, Francis M. age 33 b. OH, IL. IN
• Sherwood, William A age 5 yr 11 mos., Aileen L age 4 yr 6 mos. both b. OR, OH, OH

1940 census Flounce Rock, Jackson, OR

• Richey, Thomas J age 44 b. KS, owner/operator camp resort
• Richey, Marian F. age 43 b. OH
• Richey, Aileen L. age 14, stepdaughter b. OR
• Richey, Thomas W age 6, David J age 5, both b. OR

Chris traced the line back to Joseph Seley b. 1785 PA, died 1855 Greenwood, PA and his wife Lovina Loper. So the line is Stephen BLOCK, Aileen L SHERWOOD, Frances Miriam Seley, John Francisco Seley, Alexander Powers Seley, James L. Seley, Joseph Seley b. 1785. Unfortunately, this is one of our brick walls. If you have any suggestions, please contact me.

Responder: Query Editor and Chris Havnar