SEYLAR, J. OLE

SEYLAR, COMERER, ALBAUGH, GLANCY

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 7/30/2003 at 20:10:56

Biography reproduced from page 334 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

J. Ole Seylar, manager of the G. S. Livermore Elevator at Swea City, is a well known and popular business man, who is efficiently handling the elevator and coal business of his company, for whom he also buys and sells live stock. He was born in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, July 26, 1870, a son of John S. and Mary (Comerer) Seylar, the father being a native of Pennsylvania and German descent. In 1870, the year in which the subject of this review was born, Ole Bull made a tour of Pennsylvania and the father, who heard the musician at Chambersburg, was so impressed by his playing that he decided to name his son in honor of the noted violinist. The father was by trade a foundryman, working at that occupation in Pennsylvania and also in Springfield, Illinois, to which city he removed prior to the outbreak of the Civil war. When the war cloud burst over the country he enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry and served for four years, being with Sherman on his march to the sea. He was mustered out at Washington after the grand review, in which he took part, and then returned to Pennsylvania, where he purchased a foundry, which he operated until 1880, when he retired. The balance of his life was spent in Mercersburg, his death occurring in 1884. The mother is still living in Mercersburg, her home being about eighty rods from the house in which President Buchanan was born.

J. Ole Seylar attended the public schools of Pennsylvania and Illinois and at the early age of fourteen years began making his own way in the world. In 1885 he removed to Iowa, taking up his abode upon a farm near Hampton, in Franklin county, which he rented and upon which he lived until the spring of 1899, when he came to Swea City and for a year resided upon a farm near that place. He then removed to a farm four and one-half miles north of Swea City, upon which he lived for three years. In 1904 he came to Swea City and for four years was employed as a clerk in the store of E. A. Bergo. In 1908 he was given the position of assistant to the manager of the Livermore Elevator and two years later was made local manager, a position which he still holds. The elevator was built in 1897 by G. F. Thomas, who after conducting it for a year, sold it in the following June to G. S. Livermore, who now resides in Fairmont, Minnesota, having made his home in Swea City until 1910. Mr. Livermore is also the owner of an elevator in Ringsted, Iowa. The Swea City elevator has a capacity of sixteen thousand bushels of grain and in connection with that business a coal trade is carried on and live stock is also bought and sold.

Mr. Seylar was married in the fall of 1897 to Miss Effie Albaugh, a daughter of Daniel and Jane (Glancy) Albaugh, residing near Mechanicsville, Cedar county. The father is of German descent and the mother of Irish lineage, her birth having occurred near Iowa City. To Mr. and Mrs. Seylar four children have been born: Mary, aged thirteen, who is a student in the Swea City high school; John, aged nine, who is attending the public schools; and Gail and Winnie, aged respectively five and one year.

Mr. Seylar, who is a democrat, is now serving as assessor of Swea City. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and also belongs to the Commercial Club. He has shown great ability and skill in the management of the important affairs under his charge and while serving his employer loyally and with efficiency, he treats the patrons of the business with consideration and has gained a reputation for strict integrity. He has a wide acquaintance in the county and is greatly respected by all who know him.