Theodore Alphonzo SEELYE, who is engaged in general agricultural pursuits on section 17, Whitefield township, is there cultivating a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres and is also engaged successfully in raising stock. A native of Illinois, he was born in Peoria county on the 4th of December, 1856. His father, Henry SEELYE, was a native of Massachusetts and came to Illinois when a young man of eighteen years, at which time he settled in Peoria county. He was there married to Miss Mary JOHNSON, who died when her son Theodore was but fourteen months old. Four years after his marriage Mr. SEELYE removed from Peoria county to Marshall county, settling in Saratoga township, where for many yeas he followed the occupation of farming, being one of the well known representatives of agricultural interests in his part of the county. He was a second time married and he had two children by both marriages. His death occurred in 1898 and thus passed away one of the old-time residents of the county, who form any years had been numbered among its worthy and respected citizens. He had filled the office of road commissioner and his political support was given to the republican party.
In early boyhood days Theodore A. SEELYE was a pupil in the Town Hall schoolhouse in Saratoga township, where he mastered the branches of learning usually taught in the common schools. He early became familiar with the work of field and meadow as he assisted in the cultivation of the crops from the time of early spring planting until the harvests were gathered in the late autumn. After his education was completed he remained upon the home farm for a time and then began farming on his own account. He lives on section 17, Whitefield township, where he is cultivating a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres, almost the entire amount being under the plow. He raises the cereals best adapted to soil and climate and he also has live-stock interests, being engaged in the raising of horses, cattle and hogs, while his annual shipments and sales add no undesirable sum to his yearly income.
In 1878 Mr. SEELYE was married to Miss Elizabeth LOCKLAND, of Saratoga, and unto them have been born three children, but Willard Alphonzo, the eldest, died when seven years of age. The surviving son and daughter are Thomas Richard and Ora Ethel, both at home, the latter a student in the public schools. Mr. SEELYE affiliates with Whitefield cam, No. 1653, M. W. A., and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. By his ballot he usually endorses republican principles, but at local elections where no issue is involved frequently casts an independent vote. Almost his entire life has been passed in this county and he has therefore long been a witness of its development and progress, while as an enterprising farmer he has contributed to its substantial development along agricultural lines.
Extracted July 2011 by Norma Hass from Past and Present of Marshall and Putnam Counties Illinois, 1907.
| Bureau Putnam La Salle | |||
| Stark |
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| Peoria | Woodford | ||
