Pg 558

         REV. MICHAAL SEE, who for forty years traveled over a circuit in the interest of the Methodist Episcopal Church, now resides on section 30, Elm Grove Township. The family is of Virginian descent. The great-grandfather, Frederick See, removed from the South Branch of the Potomac River in Virginia, in an early day, to Greenbrier County, W. Va., there locating by a stream called Muddy Creek, near which the Indians lived in vast numbers. While residing there the family were taken prisoners by the savages and confined at a place called Oldtown, in Ross County, Ohio, but within a year all had made their escape with the exception of Elizabeth, one of the daughters, who remained in captivity nine years, and John See, the grandfather of our subject, who was held for two years. He was reared by his uncle, Adam See, and after he grew to manhood enlisted in the regular army during the Revolutionary War, serving five years. He participated in three of the most important engagements of the war—the battle of Germantown, which was fought near Philadelphia; Monmouth, N. J., where the Indians massacred hundreds of the inhabitants; and the storming of Stony Point. Returning from the war, he was united in marriage with Margaret Jarred, after which he settled in Greenbrier County, W. Va., but later removed to Kanawha County; he subsequently became a resident of Indiana, and thence went to Macon County, Ill., where he died at the age of eighty-four years.

On the maternal side our subject is also descended from an old family of Virginia. The grandfather, David Milburn, was born and reared in Hampshire County, now in West Virginia, and during the time of the Revolutionary War was traveling through the unsettled State of Tennessee in company with Sam Lawyers. They encamped one night, and the following morning were awakened at daybreak by gun shots fired by the Indians. Mr. Milburn was badly wounded, the ball striking him in the right breast and coming out at the shoulder. He at length recovered from his injuries, and lived to the advanced age of eighty-four years. In Kanawha County, Va., he was united in marriage with a lady whose maiden name was Susanna Pryer, though she was a widow when she married Mr. Milburn. Her first husband was killed by the Indians, and by that union she had one child, John Harmon.

Charles F. See, the father of our subject, was born in Greenbrier County, W. Va., in 1790. Removing to Kanawha County, he there became acquainted with and wedded Miss Sarah Milburn, who was born in that county in 1794. They were the parents of twelve children, four sons and eight daughters, eight of whom are now living: Charles F., who was a member of the 25th Iowa Regiment, was wounded during the service, and is now a pensioner, living in Nebraska; John W., of the 45th Iowa Infantry, is engaged in farming in Dakota; Susanna, widow of Asa Elison, is living in this State; Margaret, also a widow, resides in Iowa; Lois makes her home in Dakota; America is living in Iowa; Aldoolah is also located in Dakota; May died in this State; Urbain is the wife of Rev. J. W. Anderson, a member of the Des Moines Conference, and traveled with her husband over his circuit for twenty years; Sarah died in childhood. The father of this family died in Missouri at the age of seventy-nine, and the mother in Iowa, when sixty-four years of age. They were earnest Christian people, teaching their children, both by precept and example, the true way of life.

Michael See was born Feb. 22, 1817, in Kanawha County, Va., and when four years of age removed with his parents to Indiana, locating in Henry County, which was then an almost uninhabited wil- . . .

Pg 559

. . . derness. His education was there received in the subscription schools. In 1835 the father sold his farm, and the following spring removed with his family to what is known as the Black Hawk Purchase, purchasing a claim in Henry County, fifteen miles west of Burlington. Previous to the fall of 1836 the country was entirely unsurveyed, but at that time a line was laid, which divided Des Moines and Henry Counties, and was called the meridian line. In the fall of 1839 our subject entered land at the first land sale ever held in the State, it taking place in Burlington. The farm which he then secured was situated in Des Moines County, and at the sale of 1840 his father also entered land. The country was then new, times were hard, difficulties surrounded them on all sides, but the brave pioneers toiled on with the hope that one day they might rest from their labors.

In Des Moines County, Iowa, in November, 1838, Mr. See was united in marriage with Elizabeth Miller, who was born in Kentucky, in 1819, and moved with her parents to Illinois, and thence to the Black Hawk Purchase in 1836. By their union eight children were born, six of whom are yet living: Lucretia, now Mrs. Turkington, who resides on a farm in Washington County, Iowa; Lois, now Mrs. Williams, who is living on a farm in Union County, Iowa; Rebecca, now Mrs. Latta, living on a farm in Muscatine county; Mary, now Mrs. Thompson, who resides on a farm in Henry County; Anna, now Mrs. Wilkins, of Washington County; and John W., who married Arta Greary, and is living in Louisa County. The mother of these children died in Grand View, Louisa County, Aug. 24, 1865. She had traveled with Mr. See over different circuits for twenty years, was a faithful Christian woman, and her faith in the promises of the Bible never faltered. Her parents, William and Nancy (Hanks) Miller, died in Des Moines County, Iowa. Her mother was a relative of Abraham Lincoln. In 1866 Mr. See was again married, in Wapello, Louisa Co., Iowa, becoming the husband of Jane E. Thompkins, who was born in Essex County, N. J., Jan. 3, 1831, and is a daughter of Isaac and Nancy (Candad) Tompkins, who died in New Jersey. Two children have been born of their union—Aldoolah and Adah.

In 1842 Mr. See united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, in Henry County, Iowa, soon afterward was licensed to preach, and joined the Iowa Conference in 1845, with which he has since been connected. Forty years of his life he has spent in traveling over circuits, preaching the Gospel of Christ, and during his ministry has received about 2,000 persons into the Church of Christ. Although meeting with difficulties and trials, his faith in the teachings and promises of the Bible has never forsaken him. He has now retired from active life and is living upon a small farm of fifty-eight acres in Louisa County, where he expects to pass the remainder of his days.