Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 634
DAVID SELLECK

Whoever has lived within the central or eastern portion of Harrison county for any considerable number of years must of necessity be well acquainted with this family name, for it is a common one, especially in and near Woodbine, where the head of the family settled in the month of March, 1855. The land selected and purchased by David SELLECK was situated in the beautiful Boyer valley, described as sections 11 and 12 of Boyer township, just above the present sprightly town of Woodbine. He also claimed land in sections 1, 2 and 3 of the same township and range. This large tract of land, bought at government prices with gold kept in a belt about his body while en route to the country and to the land office at Council Bluffs, was kept in his name and that of his sons and daughters so long as he lived. It includes most of the present Gene SELLECK, Champ SELLECK and Charles Mincy farms, and is counted as valuable as any of the famous valley.

David SELLECK was a native of Ashtabula county, Ohio, born April 28, 1820. He remained on his father's dairy farm until sixteen years of age, then clerked for his uncle in New York City two years, learning the rudiments of a large mercantile business. Returning from city life, he remained in his native county and state until 1838, during which time he visited Iowa, and about 1841 came to Lee county, this state, locating near Fort Madison. On March 14, 1849, he married Marie Morey and after spending one year in Ohio they went to La Salle county, Illinois. Coming to Harrison county in the spring of 1855, David SELLECK entered his land and returned for his little family, which arrived here with him in October following. He found but few settlers to greet him, and many of these were of the Mormon band. In the summer of 1856 he helped burn one of the first kilns of brick in the county, intending to build a brick house, but did not, covering a basement he had made with a roof instead, and in that dugout spent the never-to-be-forgotten winter of 1856-57, one of the most severe, snowy and intensely cold of any since Iowa was known to white men. He later erected two frame farm houses upon his home place, both of which still stand-one as a barn and the other the two-story house overlooking the valley, in which he lived and died, a happy, contented farmer and stock raiser.

Politically, Mr. SELLECK was a stanch Republican. He never sought or held public office, save township positions, but believed in good government and voted with that end in view, his last vote for President being for the lamented William McKinley.

Mr. and Mrs. SELLECK were the parents of eight children. One died in infancy and the others were: Albert Eugene, who died in 1913; George W., of St. James, Minnesota; Caroline M. (Mrs. Ed LEWIS), of Seattle, Washington; Mary J. (Mrs. Matter CLARK), of Woodbine; Augustus C., of Council Bluffs; Elizabeth B. (Mrs. Charles MINCY), who lives near Woodbine, and Abbie M., of Los Angeles, California.

David SELLECK, the honored father, stood for all that was elevating and good in the community. His word was like a gold bond. His friends were on every hand. He despised trickery and dishonor, but befriended and aided all in distress or need. The latch-string of his pioneer home was always hanging out and all were welcome. He was a great lover of the quiet retreat of his own home and cared little for gay and festive throngs. He would rather entertain than be entertained. After going through the hardships of pioneer days, he accumulated a handsome property, but was never idle, preferring to labor as long as his strength would permit. Finally, in the summer of 1901, on August 19, the sands of an eventful, noble life ran low and his spirit passed to other realms. His good wife and companion for more than a half century survived until February, 1910, when she, too, passed on from earthly scenes.

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