Charles E. Seeley Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1043-1044 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	CHARLES E. SEELEY, one of the well-known and representative citizens 
of Clark county, is a native of the Wolverine state, having been born in 
Oakland county, Michigan, on the 31st Of May, 1841, and being a son of 
Edward H. and Calista (Walker) Seeley, the former of whom was born in 
Seneca county, New York, and the latter in Connecticut, while it may be 
stated that the original ancestors of the subject in the maternal line 
settled in New England. in the pre-Revolutionary days.  Edward H. Seeley 
devoted his life to farming and was one of the pioneers of the state of 
Michigan, where both he and his wife died.  His father was a prominent 
lawyer in New York, and served for a number of years as county judge of 
Seneca county.  The subject of this review received his early 
educational training in the common schools of his native state and also 
attended a select school for a short time, just prior to the outbreak of 
the war of the Rebellion, in which he participated. On the 17th of 
August, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company D, Fifth Michigan 
Volunteer Infantry, and a few weeks later proceeded with his command to 
the front.  He was wounded in the battle of Williamsburg, Virginia, on 
the 5th of May, 1862, and rejoined his regiment three days before the 
opening of the seven days' fighting before the city of Richmond.  He 
received his honorable discharge in the autumn of 1862, by reason of 
disability, and then returned to his home in Michigan.  He there 
continued to be engaged in farming about five years, after which he 
learned the trade of carpenter and became a successful contractor and 
builder.  In 1893 he came to South Dakota and located in Maydell 
township, Clark county, and here he. has continued contracting and 
building, having contributed materially to the substantial development 
and progress of this section and having also become the owner of a well-
improved and productive farm, to whose management be has given his 
attention to a greater or less extent.

	Mr.  Seeley has gained and retained the respect and confidence of 
the people of the county and is recognized as a loyal and progressive 
citizen.  In politics he has given his support to the Republican party 
from the time of attaining his legal majority, having cast his first 
presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, at the time of his second 
nomination, and having ever since been a stalwart upholder of the 
principles and policies of the "grand old party." He has been called 
upon to serve in various township offices and is at the present time 
incumbent of that of justice of the peace.  He is treasurer of the 
Garden City Co-operative Creamery Company, one of the leading business 
concerns of the county. Fraternally, he is identified with the Grand 
Army of the Republic, and for the past score of years he has been a 
zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mrs. Seeley 
also is a member.

	On the 22d of March, 1865, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. 
Seeley to Miss Lucy 0. Green, who was born in the state of Michigan, 
being a daughter of Z. R. and Zerilla Green, and they have seven 
children, namely: Elmer G., Harry M., Emmet C., Eugene, May R., Frank A. 
and Alice Louise.