Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 941
JOSEPH SEDDON

One of the prominent farmers of Persia, Harrison county, Iowa, who is not only a farmer, but a minister in the church of Latter-Day Saints, is Joseph SEDDON, a venerable citizen of the community and a man who is profoundly respected within the circles of the community where he has led an active life. He is one of those men who has impressed his character upon the community, and one who is by virtue of his public spirit, and his native interest in the welfare of his neighbor, entitled to representation in this volume.

Joseph SEDDON was born on December 28, 1847, in Lancashire, England, the son of John and Alice (GARRETT) SEDDON, who were the parents of two children, of whom the subject is the elder. Rachel Ann Bullard, the other child, is now living at Independence, Missouri.

John SEDDON was born about 1828, in Lancashire, England, and was there employed as a miner. He came to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1848, and worked as a laborer there, until 1850, when he moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa. Here he died on August 12, 1850. Alice (Garrett) SEDDON was born in Lancashire county, England, December 24, 1832. She was twice married, the second time to Henry Halliday, also a native of England, born about 1834. He came to Iowa about 1852, and engaged as an engineer on a ferry boat. Later he moved to Nebraska, where he engaged in farming. He returned to Iowa in 1864 and bought land in Shelby county, where he farmed until his death in 1882. His wife died in 1906. She was the mother of five children by her second marriage, Mrs. Elizabeth Mather, deceased; Mrs. Mary E. Copeland, lives at Arcada, Nebraska; Henry S., deceased; Rebecca, also deceased, and Mrs. Katherine Waller, of Des Moines, Iowa.

Joseph SEDDON attended the public schools of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Florence, Nebraska, as well as the district schools of Shelby county, Iowa. At the age of twenty he began farming for himself. At first, he rented about fifty acres of land, and two years later he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway Company, for which he paid eight dollars an acre. This land was located in Washington township, Harrison county, Iowa. Mr. SEDDON made improvements on this land, and lived here until 1882. While he still owns this land he removed to Persia, where he purchased a general store, which he operated until 1906. In that year Mr. SEDDON disposed of his store. He was postmaster of Persia, Iowa, from 1901 until 1907, when he resigned this office to engage in the fruit tree business. Mr. SEDDON made an efficient and capable postmaster, and a record of which he is justly proud. He has prospered in the fruit tree business, and conducts this in connection with his ministry in the church of the Latter-Day Saints. He is the owner of two hundred and four acres of land in Harrison county, besides property in the town of Persia.

Joseph SEDDON was married in 1867 to Nancy M. POE, who was born in 1838, in North Carolina. She was a daughter of Zadoc and Eliza (MORGAN) POE, both natives of North Carolina, who came to Harrison county, Iowa, about 1856, and engaged in farming until their death.

To Mr. and Mrs. Joseph SEDDON eight children have been born, John, deceased; Alice, deceased; William, a farmer of Washington township, in this county; Nancy M., the wife of G. W. TURNEY; Asaph, deceased; Oliver; Edward, deceased, who was the first born, and Joseph A., a farmer of Washington township.

Mr. SEDDON is a Republican and throughout his active career, has been influential in the councils of his party in local public affairs. He has served as a justice of the peace, mayor of town of Persia, as road supervisor, and also as township trustee, all of which positions he has filled with the distinction born of steadfast courage, adequate preparation and sterling integrity. Mr. SEDDON is well known as a minister in the Latter-Day Saints church, and is a popular and interesting speaker. Mrs. SEDDON died on January 3, 1915.

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