Senator William Beeler Seeley View All Years

WILLIAM B. SEELEY

The committee appointed to prepare a memorial commemorating the life, character and public service of Honorable William B. Seeley of Mt. Pleasant, Henry County, Iowa, begs leave to submit the following report:

Senator William B. Seeley was born in Harrison township, Lee county, Iowa, March 4, 1862. After attending the local schools at Primrose, he attended Elliott’s Business College at Burlington. Later he graduated from the law department of the State University at Iowa City with the class of 1886, with the degree of L.L.B. Upon his return to his old home, he was associated with his father in extensive agricultural, real estate and financial interests. This association continued until the death of his father.

In 1890, Mr. Seeley was married to Miss Elizabeth Ketcham who was a daughter of the old and highly respected pioneer Ketcham family of Van Buren county. Mr. and Mrs. Seeley made their home at what today is still known as the Clover Lawn farm, west of Le Crew station. This home is still owned by the family. The children were born there, and lived there until in 1900, when the family moved to Mt. Pleasant, which has been their home ever since.

The arrival of Senator Seeley and his family in the city of Mt. Pleasant was welcomed by the citizens of not only the city but also of the entire county. His reputation as a citizen of high ideals and splendid business ability had preceded him, and he soon became a prominent figure in the business interests of the town and county.

He was soon called into active service by his fellow citizens to be a member of the Board of Trustees of the Public Library, also to serve as a member of the city school board. His good judgment and splendid executive ability also attracted the attention of both Parsons College in Fairfield and his own home Iowa Wesleyan College in Mt. Pleasant, for both of whom he gave his careful counsel and sound judgment as a trustee for many years. He was one of the leading members, as well as an official, of the Presbyterian Church of his home city.

Several years ago, through the death of a brother, he was left the responsibility of placing his estate in some worth while institution and he builded and presented to the city of Mt. Pleasant a very fine Y. M. C. A. building at the cost of $80,000.00.

He was a republican in politics and, while filling many minor offices for his party, he was distinctly honored by being elected to the position of State Senator from the counties of Henry and Washington, serving most ably during the Thirty-second and Thirty-third sessions of the General Assembly of Iowa.

Senator Seeley is survived by his wife, two daughters, Mrs. W. D. Lodwick of Winnetka, Illinois, and Mrs. C. B. Morton of River Forest, Illinois, and one son, Ben E. Seeley, who lives in Mt. Pleasant.

In the passing of Senator Seeley, Mt. Pleasant and Henry county have lost one of their highest type of citizens. He was born and reared under the influence of the staid and substantial pioneer father and mother of our early days, and his early training was that of strict integrity, faithfulness to duty, fine ideals of business affairs, and the highest conception of morality and Christian standards of living.

Seldom has there been found a finer type of citizenship than was possessed by the very capable and distinguished citizen, former Senator William B. Seeley.

The state of Iowa and its people have lost a capable and distinguished citizen; and the members of the Senate hereby tender their sympathy to the bereaved family.

The committee directs that a copy of this memorial be printed in the Journal of the Senate and an engrossed copy be forwarded to the family of the deceased.

WILLIAM CARDEN,

J. R. FRAILEY,

JOHN N. CALHOUN,

Committee.