BIOGRAPHIES:  Thomas SELDON, Pepin, Pepin Co., WI

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Submitted by Nance Sampson, Pepin Co. Archives File Manager on 19 November 2004
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**Posted for informational purposes only - submitter is not related to the
subject of this biography and has no further information.

Thomas Seldon, farmer, P. O. Pepin, was born in Kentsbury Parish,
Devonshire, England, July 21, 1832, a son of Christopher and Jane
(Charley) Seldon.  He attended school a part of the time until nearly
thirteen years old when he began work as a hod carrier, receiving five
pence a day for the first year and boarded with his parents.  Later he
worked as a farm laborer until twenty-two years old, and received for
the last year about thirty dollars and board.  From the age of fifteen
he cherished the hope of coming to America, and began saving from his
scanty earnings for that purpose, although his parents strongly opposed
the idea.  Having saved enough money to pay for steerage passage, he
sailed from Plymouth April 7, 1854.  His mother, of whom he cherished a
fond remembrance, fainted on his departure.  Landing at Quebec he went
to London, Ont., and upon his arrival had but seventy-five cents in is
pocket.  In the following year he came west and bought his first farm
in Frankfort township, Pepin county.  In 1857 he bought a part of his
present farm, sections six and seven, township twenty-three, range
fourteen.  He entered the United States service September 27, 1864,
arriving at Atlanta, Ga., three days before Sherman's departure for the
sea, and served until the close of the war, when he returned to his farm.

July 28, 1866, he married Margaret A., daughter of James and Frances
(Howard) Stewart, born March 1, 1845.  To their union have been born
the following children:  Jane M., May 19, 1867, died December 16, 1890;
James S., June 11, 1869; Effie P., October 16, 1871; William S.,
November 7, 1873; Sarah A., November 17, 1877; Mary F., December 19,
1880.  Mr. Seldon's father died March 9, 1868, leaving his mother
penniless and he sent money for her support at intervals until her
death in 1878, which so affected his mind that he was sent to the State
hospital at Mendota for four months.  By patient industry and frugality
Mr. Seldon has become the owner of 370 acres of land.  He is a
republican in politics.  He is taking considerable pains to give his
children good educations.

-Transcribed from the "Historical & Biographical Album of the Chippewa
Valley Wisconsin, 1891-2," pages 690-691.


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