Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 417
ALVIN SEELEY

Alvin SEELEY, a farmer of section 21, Magnolia Township, has been a resident of Harrison County since the autumn of 1866, when he bought a quarter section, a part of his present farm. There were about thirty acres under the plow, and a frame house 16x24 feet on the place, in which he lived until 1884, and then built his present farm house. He sold eighty acres of his original place and bought forty more, making one hundred and twenty in his farm, besides forty acres of timber land. When he came to the county, he supposed that he would have a range for his cattle, as long as he lived, believing that the hill sides and uneven surface of Magnolia Township, would never be settled in his day.

Mr. SEELEY was born in Erie County, Pa., March 6, 1830, and in 1843, his parents removed to Knox County, Ohio, and lived there until 1850, then moved to Hillsdale County, Mich., where his father cleared up and improved a farm. In 1852, our subject left the paternal roof and went to work at $14 per month, and bought forty acres of land with his wages. He remained there until 1866, sold out and came to Harrison County, Iowa.

He was married in Hillsdale County, Mich., August 26, 1855, to Miss Julia PALMER. Mr. and Mrs. SEELEY are the parents of five children, born as follows: Jennie M., March 3, 1857; Jerome F., February 13, 1860; Anna. August 20, 1863; Clara M., March 16, 1866; and Roy A., September 27, 1873. Mrs. (PALMER) SEELEY was born in Ohio, May 24. 1837, and when a girl moved to Hillsdale, Mich.

Daniel SEELEY, father of our subject, was born in Vermont in 1800, and when a small boy his parents removed to Erie County, Penn., and in 1843 moved to Ohio, and in 1850 to Hillsdale County, Mich., where he died in 1889.

Sophia (HART) SEELEY was born in Rhode Island about 1810, and she came to Erie County, Pa., with her parents where she was married. Mr. and Mrs. SEELEY are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

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