Bio of Seeley, Ira O. (b.1815) Wabasha Co., MN
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Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Barbara Timm and Carol Judge
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This bio comes from "HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY" 1884.
Check out Barbara's site for more great information on this book:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~mnwabbio/wab1.htm
There are also some pictures and information from descendents for some 
of the bios on her pages.

Seeley, Ira O., (page 1274), retired farmer, was the first to make a claim
and build a house in Mazeppa township. Mr. Seeley's parents were of
Vermont birth. His father was christened Ajax T., and his mother, born
Painter, was called Delight. In 1815 this couple lived in the town of
Luzerne, New York, at which time and place the subject was born. While he
was yet an infant, the family removed to Ashtabula county, Ohio, where he
was reared on a farm till sixteen years old, receiving a limited education
at the log schoolhouse of that new region. From the age above named till
he came to this state he followed carpenter work. After six years'
residence at Berlin, Wisconsin, he came with his family to his county, in
1853. In June, 1854, he set out with three companions to explore the
western portion of the county. In the fall of this year he made a claim on
the present site of Mazeppa, and built a log pen to signify a claim.
During the winter he piloted several exploring parties to the new region,
and built a log house, to which he removed his family in April following.
This was the first actual settlement in the township, and was not made on
his original choice, but on section 5, on the bank of Trout brook, where
Daniel Mack now dwells. In 1869 this place was exchanged for one at that
time owned by Mr. Mack, in Zumbrota township, near Mazeppa. In 1881 Mr.
Seeley removed to Appleton, Minnesota, his present home, where most of his
children live. He was elected to the first state legislature by the
republicans, and also served several years as chairman of Mazeppa town
board. He was a democrat up to the opening of the civil war. His marriage
occurred in 1836, the bride being Miss Sarah Loveland, a native of
Ashtubula. She died in 1868, leaving eight children, who still survive.
The eldest will be spoken of below. The fifth, Emma, married F. L. Bonney
and resides in Smyrna, New York. The sixth, Nellie (Mrs. John McClellan),
lives at Mazeppa. She was the first girl born in the town. All the others,
named in order below, reside in Appleton: Elizabeth A. (Mrs. O. F. Davis),
Robert, Elvira (Mrs. Winfield Greenleaf), Albert and Elmer C. Albert is
postmaster at Appleton.
War of Rebellion (Civil War)