Manford Erasmus Seevers

LEACH, MCCORKLE, WHEELER, SEEVERS, SHAFFER

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 10/11/2005 at 09:41:48

Manford Erasmus Seevers devotes his entire time to farming and stock-raising, owning a tract of well improved land on section 25, Jackson township. He is a native of Iowa, his birth having occurred in Oskaloosa, October 14, 1851. His parents, George W. and Mary (Wheeler) Seevers, were natives of Coshocton county, Ohio, the former born October 6, 1819, and the latter in 1826. Both are deceased, the father dying in July, 1897, while the mother preceded him in death by five years, her demise having occurred in 1892. The father was reared on a farm in the Buckeye state, but in 1841 he made his way to the middle west and first lived on the land where Oskaloosa is now situated, having made the overland trip to this place.

In 1845 he returned to his native state and was there married to Miss Mary Wheeler, after which he brought his bride to this state. For many years thereafter he was identified with the farming interests of Mahaska county, Iowa, but in 1864 he came to Madison county, settling on a tract of two hundred acres. He set out a large quantity of fruit and was engaged in the nursery business, with headquarters in Oskaloosa. He was a lover of fine horses and had some of the fastest driving stock in his part of the country, his animals being exhibited at the county fairs.

Mr. Seevers was a great writer and many of his poems were published in the Oskaloosa Herald, the last he wrote being entitled My Old Elm Tree, the subject being suggested from an elm which he had planted on the public square. In 1890 he removed to Orland, California, where he made his home until the time of his death. He gave his political support to the populist party and although urged to become a candidate for various offices always declined, preferring to do his duty as a private citizen.

Manford Erasmus Seevers, who is the third in order of birth in a family of eight children, was educated in one of the old time log schoolhouses of Oskaloosa and also in the district schools of Douglas township, Madison county, and shared with the other members of the family in the hardships and privations of pioneer life. Upon starting out in life for himself he chose as his work the occupation to which he had been reared and for seven years farmed on rented land in Douglas township. He then took up his abode in southwestern Missouri, where he spent two years, while four years were passed in logging camps and in the fishing industry in Aberdeen, Washington. In 1894 he once more took up his abode in Iowa and has since made his home in Madison county. He is now living on section 25, Jackson township, and has here a well improved farm. He is engaged in general farming and stock-raising, making a specialty of polled Durham cattle and Poland China hogs.

In 1884 Mr. Seevers was united in marriage to Miss Olive Leach, who was born in Winterset, Iowa, a daughter of John and Margaret (Shaffer) Leach, the former born in Trumbull county, Ohio, August 6, 1837, and the latter in Indiana May 20, 1835. The father emigrated to Iowa when a young man and here engaged in teaching school for a time. In 1855 he located in Madison county, where three years later, or in 1858, he was married to Miss Margaret Shaffer. He later engaged in farming here and made several trips across the plains, freighting from Omaha to Denver. He always made his home on the farm where he first located after taking up his abode in Douglas township to the time of his death, which occurred April 14, 1897. Mrs. Leach survived him for many years, passing away, July 18, 1912.

Mr. Leach was a very active man and kept up with the trend of the times, always keeping on hand the most modern and improved machinery to facilitate his farm work.

He and his wife were the parents of six children, Mrs. Seevers being the third in order of birth.To Mr. and Mrs. Seevers have been born two daughters. Virgie is the wife of Walter McCorkle, a farmer of Jackson township, and they have two children, Lola Kozette and Kenneth Manford. Mary Aletha, the younger daughter, is a high-school student in Winterset.

Mr. Seevers is strictly a home man, having no fraternal associations. Mrs. Seevers belongs to the West Star Methodist Episcopal church and is active in its work. The name of Seevers is one well known in Madison county and he whose name introduces this review is fully sustaining the high and honorable reputation that has always been borne by the members of the family.

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915,” by Herman Mueller.