James Seater

SEATER

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 10/10/2006 at 17:03:05

James Seater is a well known and enterprising farmer of Barton township, Worth county, living on section 8. He is a native of Scotland, his parents being John and Isabelle (Meil) Seater. The father was born in Westra, Orkney Islands, Scotland, and was a son of Robert and Jane (Logic) Seater, who were also natives of Westra, where they lived and died, the mother passing away in 1877, while the father died in 1879, each having almost reached the age of one hundred years. John Seater had but limited opportunity to attend school in Scotland. He learned the shoemaker's trade and also engaged in the fishing trade. After reaching man's estate he wedded Miss Isabelle Meil, who passed away in 1859, and he afterward married Miss Mary Randall, a native of Scotland. Emigrating to the new world, he settled in Chicago, Illinois, May 8, 1869, and there followed the shoemaker's trade for two years, after which he removed to Northwood, Iowa, where he purchased property and opened a shoe shop, which he conducted until 1875. He then purchased a farm in Kensett township, Worth county, comprising eighty acres, to which he afterward added a tract of one hundred and twenty acres in Grove township and one hundred and sixty acres three miles east of Northwood, and an additional purchase made him owner of sixty acres near the city of Northwood. For a considerable period he successfully carried on farming in Worth county but eventually retired from active life and removed to Northwood, where he passed away in the spring of 1893, when seventy-three years of age. His second wife died in Northwood in 1880. They were consistent members of the Baptist church and their many sterling traits of character won for them the warm regard of those with whom they were associated. By the father's first marriage there were four children: Ann, Robert, Jane and James; and by the second marriage one son, George.

James Seater spent his boyhood days in Northwood until he reached tire age of fifteen years and enjoyed the advantages offered by the public school system of the city. He learned the shoemaker's trade in his father's shop, working there through the winter months, while in the summer seasons he was employed at farm labor. Later, when he married, he began farming on his own account, cultivating rented land in Grove township for three years. In 1884 he removed to Barton township, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land and since that time he has increased his holdings until he now owns three quarter sections. He also owned at one time two hundred and seventeen acres in Worth county, which he afterward sold. His possessions now include sixty acres of land in the town of Northwood. During the first twenty years which he spent upon his farm he was engaged extensively in dairying and since that period has given his attention largely to the raising of Angus cattle, beef cattle which were imported from Scotland. His business affairs have been wisely and carefully directed and his success is the result of close application and the recognition and utilization of his opportunities.

On the 1st of January, 1881, Mr. Seater was united in marriage to Miss Anna Rosina Walser, a native of Dane county, Wisconsin, and a daughter of John and Elizabeth Walser, who were born in Switzerland. They emigrated to the United States at an early day, making the voyage in one of the old-time sailing vessels which reached the shores of the new world at the end of six weeks. They then made their way to Madison, Dane county, Wisconsin, where Mr. Walser purchased a tract of land which he improved and the further cultivation of which claimed his time and energies throughout the remainder of his life. Mr. and Mrs. Seater have three children, namely: James A.; Robert Melton; and Eugene Cleveland, who is now in the United States Army in France.

In his fraternal relations Mr. Seater is a Mason and loyally adheres to the teachings of the craft. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party and he has served in several local offices, including that of clerk, assessor and road boss. He has also been officially connected with the schools as a director. He is actuated in all that he does by a spirit of enterprise, and progress and in his business career has won substantial success, while in matters of citizenship he has made valuable contribution to the work of general improvement. His entire life has been passed in Worth county and he feels just pride in what has been accomplished here as the work of development has been carried steadily forward.

Source: History of Mitchell and Worth Counties, Iowa, 1918, Vol. II, Pages 492 & 493.