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From: Christine Havnar <>
Subject: [CASCLARA] George Brainard SEELY (1864 - 1954)
Date: Fri, 11 Aug 2000 18:20:15 -0700

Posted on: Santa Clara County, California<BR>Biographies
Reply Here: http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/gc/USA/Ca/SantaClaraBios/6

Surname: Seely, Southern, Sarsfield, Smith, Turner, Graft
-------------------------

GEORGE B. SEELY - The accomplishments of one of the interesting American
pioneer families of enviable association with the development of the West
is recalled in the life-stories of George B. Seely, of 1651 South First
Street, San Jose, and his highly-esteemed father, the late Charles R. Seely,
who crossed the plains twice before settling in San Jose, after which he
became one of the oldest and best-known citizens of Santa Clara County.
He was born in New York State on December 29, 1830, and when twelve years
old, accompanied his parents to Jones County, Iowa. Subsequently, he chose
for his life companion Miss Selena Southern, and they were married on September
1, 1849; and when in 1854, he found himself the father of two sons and
the lure of California beckoning him westward, he left his loved ones in
the hands of friends and sailed for the Isthmus of Panama, and hurried
north by water. In 1857, he returned to the East and rejoined his family.

Two years later, in the spring of 1859, Mr. and Mrs. Seely and family,
together with one or two other families, started on the long and dangerous
journey across the plains, and they took nearly half of the year to make
the trip. There were nine in the little company, and when at Goose Creek,
they were attacked by Indians, but through the coolness and courage of
Mr. Seely, who had been elected captain, the lives of the party were saved,
and the Redskins forced to retreat. Immediately on arriving in California,
Mr. Seely engaged actively in agriculture; and this occupation he followed
successfully until 1969, when he concluded that he had acquired sufficient
of this world's goods to permit the spending of declining years in comfort.

Accordingly, he sold his farm and took passage with his family on board
a steamer bound for New York harbor, and from there he came west by rail
to Chicago, and then went to Cambridge, Ill., where they visited for a
short time their relatives. In Cambridge, Mr. Seely purchased a family
carriage and a beautiful span of bay horses, and with his family drove
over to Iowa, to the little town of Olin, where his father had resided
ever since he first settled in the state; and supposing that their roaming
was at an end, Mr. Seely purchased his father's farm and built a beautiful
residence. Two winters there, however, made him sigh for the more congenial
climate of California, and he once more outfitted to cross the plains.

In the spring of 1871, Mr. Seely started out on the old emigrant trail
accompanied by his father, Norman B. Seely, and a younger brother, M.J.
Seely, who later successfully entered the medical profession. Mr. Seely
once more took up his old occupation in the production of California's
natural and most staple product, wheat, cultivating thousands of acres
in different sections of the country until 1880, when he again retired
and settled on Tenth Street, San Jose, where he resided with his family
until 1884, when he purchased one of the finest orchard and residence properties
in Santa Clara County, known as the McAlister place, on Bascom Avenue.
There he again took upon himself the cares of an active business career,
and engaged in horticulture, and remained until 1894. Then death took away
Mrs. Salena Seely, his estimable companion through all of his wanderings
and varied successes, and the mother of thirteen children. In 1895 Mr.
Jeely took o himself a second wife, Eliza Judson (Ed. should be maiden
- Sarsfield, married Smith) before her marriage, and by her he had another
son and daughter. He left a valuable estate, although he spent thousands
of dollars in giving financial assistance to his more unfortunate fellowmen.
He was liberal-minded, sympathetic and tender-hearted, a member of the
Methodist-Episcopal Church nearly all his life, and withal a stanch, true
Christian of the genuinely old-fashioned and practical type.

George B. Seely was born near Dixon in Solano County, on February 28, 1864,
the second son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles R. Seely, and a nephew of G.W. Seely,
who became well known in California, Idaho and Oregon for his mining operations,
and lived to retire on his farm near Aromas. George was reared on the home
farm, sent to the local public schools, and then for a term or two, attended
the Garden City Business College. For seven years, 1874 to 1881, he was
engaged as an extensive grain farmer near Waterford, in Stanislaus County,
the Seelys being the first to engage in wheat raising in that section of
the San Joaquin Valley. Oakdale was then the market-center, as the railroad
from Stockton ran only to Oakdale.

In 1889 Mr. Seely was married to Miss Margaret Turner of San Jose, a native
of Alleghany, Pa., who came with her parents, Joseph and Anna McClellan
Turner, via the Nicaragua route to California in 1867. She attended the
San Jose State Normal School in 1886-1887, where she further acquired a
liberal education, and has since participated ideally in all of Mr. Seely's
ambitious plans and in the social life of their circle. Since 1889 Mr.
Seely has been active as a rancher in Santa Clara County, and he has also
been a leader in dairying. In partnership with his brother, Charles Seeley
(ed. Seely) and George Graft, he founded the Garden City Creamery of San
Jose, ran it four years and sold it and continued dairying. He has also
been a pioneer in the wholesale and retail distribution of milk and creamery
products in Santa Clara Valley, and for many years he has been a very successful
hay-farmer and dealer in hay, at times operating as many as 2,000 acres.
His ranches lie several miles from San Jose and his home, off the State
Highway towards Gilroy. He owns 500 acres in the Yaqui Valley, Mexico;
devoted to growing rice, and with associates owns 6,000 acres in Sinola,
Mexico. Mr. and Mrs. Seely reside at 1651 South First Street, San Jose,
and are loyal members and supporters of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Pages 1210-1211 History of Santa Clara County, California: with biographical
sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified
with its growth and development from the early days to the present By Eugene
Taylor Sawyer Historic Record Co., Los Angeles, CA - 1923

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• [CASCLARA] George Brainard SEELY (1864 - 1954) by Christine Havnar <>