Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 493
DAVID SELLECK

David SELLECK, came to Harrison County in March 1855, entered land on sections 11 and 12, and on sections 1, 2, and 3 of Boyer Township, and it would be useless to enlarge upon the fact that it was wild land, his first improvement being the construction of a "dug out." He entered this land in March 1855, and returned to Illinois, and remained until the following October, when he moved out, built this pioneer palace in which he lived that winter, and in the spring built a log cabin which he occupied until the following autumn. During the summer and fall of 1856 he helped burn one of the first brick kilns that was burned in Harrison County, calculating to erect a brick house, as a superstructure over the cellar he had already dug, but he changed his mind and provided the cellar with a roof, in which place he remained during that never-to-be-forgotten severe winter of 1856-57. During the summer of 1857, he built a frame house 16x20 feet, in which he lived until 1870, and then built the house he now occupies, which is 26x32 feet, with a kitchen 12x 32, which stand on a fine natural building site, and hard by may be found two barns, one 20x24 feet and the other 40x54 feet. At the time of his coming to the county there were but few settlers who had ventured into this portion of the Hawkeye State, and these were mostly Mormons, who lived in and about the natural groves of timber.

Mr. SELLECK was originally from the Buckeye State, and was born April 28, 1820 in Ashtabula County, Ohio, where he remained with his parents on a dairy farm, until he was sixteen years old, when he went to New York City where he had an uncle in the mercantile business. He was by him employed as a clerk for two years, after which he returned to Ohio, remaining until 1838, during which time he had visited Iowa, and about 1841 came to Lee County, this State, near Ft. Madison, and on March 14, 1849, he was united in marriage to Miss Maria MOREY, after which they went to Ohio and remained one year, then went to LaSalle County, Ill.

Mrs. SELLECK was born in Ashtabula County, Ohio, June 3, 1832, and with her parents came to Lee County, when she was nine years of age and remained there until the date of her marriage. Seven children have blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. SELLECK, Albert Eugene, born June 14, 1851; George W., October 31, 1853; Caroline M., August 13, 1855; Mary J., May 17, 1857; Augustus C., August 4, 1859; Elizabeth B., July 12, 1865; Abba M., October 15, 1869.

During the winter of 1856-57--"the hard winter"-- the time when snow was no longer known as "the beautiful," for it mantled the earth to the depth of four feet, making it almost impossible to get about with a team, Magnolia being the nearest store town, they hauled groceries to and from there upon hand-sleds. Mr. SELLECK'S stable was built on the hill side of a small draw or ravine, and was covered with poles and hay, and it commenced snowing on the 1st of December and never ceased for about three days, and for that matter hardly ceased all winter. On the morning of the second day, Mr. SELLECK started for his stable but it was completely covered up and the ravine filled to the level. He took poles and run down through the snow but did not find his stable, until afternoon. They then dug straight down as one would in digging a well, and cut holes through the top of the stable to the horses, and immediately the steam came out like smoke. Here the horses were imprisoned within their snow-covered, yet very warm, stable, for nearly three weeks. He dug an alley and had to cover that over as it was snowing incessantly. In the winter of 1856-57 he saw a drove of elk coming from the hills making for the Boyer, near L.D. BUTLER'S mill. He started in pursuit with dogs. They were soon discovered by the men at the mill and headed by them, on the ice of the river with dogs and guns. Several were shot, and Mr. BUTLER, (deceased now), cutting the ham-strings of one, secured it. Deer were caught by dogs, as the poor frightened and fatigued animals would break through the deep crust cutting their legs, causing very many of the nimble-footed herd to perish. At this late day, as the historian reviews those scenes and gathers from the lips of pioneers themselves such narratives, of which the above true story is only one among hundreds, we are touched with a feeling of sympathy and reverence for those who passed through such terrible hardships.

Mr. SELLECK exercises his right of franchise, a boon vouchsafed to him by our own peculiar form of Government, by voting with the Republican Party.

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