SEELEY, FRANK TAYLOR, M. D.

SEELEY, TAYLOR, BIGELOW, HEISE

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 8/2/2003 at 22:17:11

Biography reproduced from page 138 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

Dr. Frank Taylor Seeley, who since 1899 has engaged in the practice of medicine in Algona and for the past twelve years has also conducted extensive real-estate operations at various points west of the Mississippi, belongs to that class of men to whom opportunity means activity, for he has eagerly embraced the advantages which have come to him and by reasons of the wise use of his time and talents has won a creditable and gratifying measure of success. He was born in Genesee, Michigan, in 1846, a son of Daniel H. and Julia Ann (Taylor) Seeley. The father came from western New York in 1834 and settled at Flint, Michigan, when that city contained but ten families living in seven houses. He was a merchant tailor and followed his trade there for a brief period, but soon afterward removed to a farm at Genesee, Michigan, where he remained to the time of his death in 1892, when he was more than eighty-seven years of age. His wife, who was born February 22, 1811, died in 1895, when more than eighty-four years of age.

Dr. Seeley was a pupil in the public schools of Genesee, Michigan, passing through the consecutive grades until he left the high school and entered the University of Michigan, from which he was graduated in 1872 with the degree of Bachelor of Science. He continued as a student there, however, in the mastery of the principles of medicine and surgery and in 1874 won the degree of M. D., while the following year that of Master of Science was conferred upon him. After his graduation from the medical department Dr. Seeley located for practice at Clear Lake, Iowa, in 1874, but left that place in August, 1875, taking up his abode in Dubuque county, Iowa. He practiced in that locality until January, 1894, when he returned to Michigan to settle up the estate of his father and was for five years a resident of Michigan. In 1899 he came to Algona, opened an office and was accorded a liberal and growing practice, for his wide and accurate knowledge and his practical ability have long since been recognized. Excellent results followed his labors, but after a few years, owing to poor health he gradually withdrew from practice. He is conducting a profitable business in real estate, for the past twelve years being largely interested in the purchase and sale of lands in Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota, having bought and sold over three thousand acres.

In April, 1878, occurred the marriage of Dr. Seeley and Miss Emma Bigelow, a daughter of Dr. I. S. Bigelow, a practicing physician of Dubuque from the time he located there in 1854 until a month prior to his death, which occurred in 1900, when he was more than eighty years of age. His widow survives and on the 28th of October, 1911, was ninety-one years of age. Dr. I. S. Bigelow, a brother of Mrs. Seeley, is now a leading physician of Dubuque. Dr. and Mrs. Seeley have two children. Frank B., born in August, 1882, is living in Algona. Burton A., born December 16, 1885, married Mina Heise, of Algona. He is a graduate of the veterinary department of the State Agricultural College at Ames, Iowa, and is now a veterinary surgeon, in the Second Field Artillery of the United States army, being stationed at present in the Philippines.

Dr. Seeley has been a Mason for many years, having been initiated into the order at Bellevue, Iowa, while at the present time he is affiliated with Prudence Lodge, No. 205, F. & A. M., of Algona. For a number of years he was a trustee of this lodge. His political support is given the democratic party. He served as mayor of La Motte, Iowa, in 1893-1894 and for several years was a member of the school board. He did also public service as county physician of Kossuth county and health officer of Algona from 1900 until 1903, and was president of the Kossuth County Medical Society for several years. He belongs to the Congregational church and his life has been a serviceable one, fraught with many good deeds for the benefit of others. Like all conscientious physicians, he has done much practice for which he received no remuneration and in this he is true to the teachings of the church and the Masonic fraternity, which has as its basic element a recognition of the brotherhood of man.