My Genealogy Hound

SEELEY, A. STEWART, farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 30, P.O. White Hall, one of the most prominent farmers of Greene County, whose generous nature makes him universally respected, was born at St. Louis, Missouri, December 27, 1812. He was left an orphan at the early age of eleven years, and thus early thrown on his own resources, he made his way to Illinois, locating in Greene County in 1823, near his present magnificent property. For a boy he developed an energy of character that accounts for his success in life. He first hired out as a farm hand. In his twenty-first year he was married to Miss Laney Hodges, a daughter of Samuel Hodges. About this time Mr. Seeley had for capital a wife, energy and perseverance. But in a short time he was enabled to purchase eighty acres of land. To break the stubborn soil he first used a Bull plow, subsequently a Carey, Borshire and Diamond. The young man worked hard, living in a simple way, his home being a rough cabin, where venison frequently graced the table. Often he would go miles to a horse mill to procure a little meal to supply the family larder. Mrs. Seeley relates that prairie chicken were so numerous that they were a burden. At this date, to use the language of Judge Seeley, Carrollton was but a hamlet, where some half dozen stores and dwellings went to make up the place, and here the early settler was wont to lay in his provisions. As years went by the orphan boy of former years began to accumulate property, and soon took a leading position as a farmer. He today owns over 2,000 acres of land, in township 12, range 12, township 12, range 13, and township 11, range 13. The success of the pioneer boy was something wonderful. For fourteen years Mr. Seeley was county commissioner, and for a number of years justice of the peace. Of ten children born of this marriage, what is somewhat remarkable, all are living: Rufus G., Louisa, John, William, Ann, George, Frank, Americus, Anthony, Emma, and Ada.