JOSEPH S. SEELY.
Mardos Collection
JOSEPH S. SEELY.
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 289
movements looking toward the erection of church buildings, but when Father Howlett was assigned to the charge he relinquished the work in his favor. He organized the congregation and built the church house at Castle Rock; organized the church in Longmont, built an edifice for which he paid personally, also erected a residence and library there. The congregation in Greeley was brought together through his efforts. To these several congregations he has ministered. Politically he is a Democrat. He is a man of splendid education and is fluent in the use of the French, Latin, English and German languages, and the Luxemborgian dialect.
OSEPH S. SEELY is the owner of the lake called by his name and is the proprietor of Lakeside, a charming resort for pleasure-seekers of Weld County. The lake is an artificial one, having been made in 1873, and originally served merely as a waste-reservoir for Ditch No. 2, which irrigates this section of farming country. Twenty-four years ago, Mr. Seely wisely looking forward to the future possibilities of this little lake, purchased the property, and within the past fifteen years has expended large sums of money in the improvement of the grounds, in stocking the lake with perch and black bass, and in other material ways increasing the beauty and value of the place as a resort. In 1895 he built a pavilion and he keeps over a dozen boats for the use of visitors. The fishing here is very good in season, and large parties frequently come here from Denver and other cities and towns, near and far. Born October 30, 1841, our subject is a son of Joseph and Julia (Jackson) Seely, who were natives of Delaware County, N. Y., and spent their early married life there. About two years prior to the birth of Joseph S. they removed to Rome, Bradford County, Pa., and in that locality they spent the rest of their lives upon a farm. Grandfather Seely was a native of Connecticut, and was an early settler of New York. Grandfather Isaac Jackson was a native of England and after coming to this country lived upon a farm on the banks of Trout Creek, in Delaware County, N. Y. The children of Joseph and Julia Seely were eleven in number. George went to California in 1849 and was a county surveyor for a while, but has been lost track of in later years. Silas K, now of Arkansas, was a wagon manufacturer in Rome, Pa., for many years. Mrs. Ada George Harman lives on a farm in Vermont. Charles E., who was engaged in blacksmithing up to the time of the Civil war, then enlisted in the Union army, and later was a Nebraska farmer; he is now managing a fruit farm near Loveland, Colo. Mary R. is the wife of Charles Brown, of Sheshequin, Pa. William H. is a carpenter and a resident of Oakwood, Mich. Isaac J. remained on the old family homestead until recently, when he removed to Nichols, N. Y. Warren A. died when eighteen years of age, and Julia and Melissa were each about nine years old at the time of death.
Joseph S. Seely was born and reared on the parental homestead in Pennsylvania, receiving a common-school education. In January, 1864, he became an employe of the railroad construction department of the army. He worked on roads in Tennessee, Georgia and Virginia for the government, and was advanced to be the foreman of his force of men. When the war had been brought to a close he engaged in the milk business in Chattanooga for a couple of years. Returning then to the north he worked with his brother Henry in Michigan as a carpenter for fourteen months, after which he went back to the old farm and assisted in its cultivation for one season.
When the colony for Greeley, Colo., was organized he became a member, and was assigned a town lot and an eighty-acre farm on section 26, township 6, range 66 west. He built a house on his farm and continued the improvement of the place. He has made agriculture his chief business and has prospered, as he deserves to do. By degrees he increased the boundaries of his farm until he owned three hundred and ninety-five acres. Afterwards he sold a quarter section, and now retains two hundred and thirty-five acres. He also owns a nice residence property in Greeley. For the past five years he has been engaged in the ice business, putting up his supplies when the lake freezes, and running a wagon to Greeley during the season, to meet the demands of the trade there. Politically he is a Republican. He is a charter member of Occidental Lodge No. 20, A. F. & A. M., of Greeley, and is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
October 30, 1877, Mr. Seely married Esther A. Nettleton, of Greeley. Mrs. Seely died in
290
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. June, 1879, leaving an only child, May H., who is a graduate of the Greeley high school and a normal student, and now attending the Metropolitan Business College of Chicago. The present wife of Mr. Seely was formerly Mrs. Kate S. Williams. They were married in Greeley, in January, 1881.
ILLIAM N. BELL, vice-president and factory manager of the Clarkson Cheese Company at Louisville, Boulder County, was born in Lincolnshire, England, August 10, 1850, a son of John and Elizabeth (Newton) Bell. He was one of ten children, six of whom survive. His father, who was a native of Lincolnshire, born about 1823, grew to manhood on a farm, and in 1873 emigrated to America, settling in Iowa, where he bought a farm. However, he did not live to cultivate and improve the place, for during the first winter after coming to America he contracted pneumonia, which terminated fatally. While in England he filled the office of constable for three terms. His father, William, was for many years foreman of the landed estates of an English lord; and his father-in-law, Samuel Newton, was a prominent farmer of Lincolnshire.
In the public schools our subject obtained a fair education. At seventeen years he began railroading in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, where he worked for three years, and later was similiarly employed for three years in Skipton, Yorkshire. He joined his parents in their emigration to America and on his arrival in Iowa secured work at the Red Head mine in Des Moines, where he remained as fireman for five years. His next position was with Lumsden & Beck, coal operators, whom he assisted in sinking two shafts, and afterward worked two years in their employ. In 1880 he came to Colorado and secured employment in the coal mines at Louisville. After six years of mining he decided to embark in farm pursuits, and accordingly bought one hundred and sixty acres situated five and one-half miles east of Louisville. During the summer months he cultivated the farm, while in the winter months he worked at mining.
In April, 1897, the Clarkson Cheese Company was organized with John A. Ross as president, William N. Bell vice-president and manager, and J. G. Eversman secretary and treasurer. After the erection of their brick factory operations were begun May 12, 1897, since which time the factory has been in constant operation. The enterprise has proved a successful one, and the company, by the reliability and excellent quality of its products, has gained a wide and enviable reputation.
The marriage of Mr. Bell took place at Kay Thorp, Lincolnshire, England, in 1871, his wife being Miss Mary Gibson. They became the parents of eight children, six of whom are living, namely: Fannie, who is the wife of Adam Ginter, a farmer of Arapahoe County; William, Alberta, Lizzie, Newton and Alta, who are with their parents, the sons assisting in the cultivation of the ranch. In political views Mr. Bell is a Populist, and fraternally he is connected with Hiawatha Tribe, Improved Order of Red Men, at Louisville.
The parents of the above-named gentleman were David and Sarah (Likens) Murphy, who were married in Kentucky. The father was a native of that state, but the mother was from eastern Tennessee and removed to Kentucky with her family in girlhood. After their marriage David Murphy and wife removed to Calloway County, Mo., and there William R. was born June 4, 1838. The family lived in various counties in Missouri, Linn, Platte and Leavenworth, but were not well suited with the country. They arrived in the county last named in 1854, and were thus among the
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 291
first settlers there. Five years later, the father sold out his property and started for Colorado, in company with his family and a few friends and neighbors. They set out on their long journey May 10, and did not reach Denver until July 19, 1859. Proceeding expeditiously as far as the head of Smoky Hill River, on the Smoky Hill trail, they soon found that they were not provided with sufficient water for their cattle in the desert. After anxious deliberation it was decided to turn back, but when the men began looking for the oxen, which had been allowed to wander away in search of pasturage, the animals could not be found. The only resource of the little party was their three horses, which had been picketed. With a few things they started back for water, being obliged to leave their wagons and loads. Returning, the father of our subject again went on search for the missing cattle, and while gone, passed another trail, which, if they had taken, would have led them within fifteen miles of water. Being unsuccessful in finding the oxen, Mr. Murphy conveyed his party to a point known as Twenty-second Station, and also took some supplies from their wagons, which had to be abandoned by the way. The very day that they reached the station mentioned, a train passed and Mr. Murphy prevailed upon the head of the company to take his own party through to Denver. As soon as he had arrived in that city he hired a man to take five yoke of oxen and go after the wagon and goods, his payment to be the sum of $80 for the trip. Mr. Murphy accompanied him and the night that they found the wagons they camped there and to their dismay the next morning their oxen had disappeared and were never again recovered. Their only resort then was to await another company going across the plains, and to get them to trail their wagons after their own. This was finally done, and one of Mr. Murphy's wagons was given in payment for the service. He was thus left in a bad condition, financially, and being an old man, he settled down in Denver.
William R. Murphy, now a young man, left home and went to the mines, but he did not like the business and soon located on some rented land in the valley. Later he entered a tract, and then sold the property, finally renting it of the owner for five years. When he made a fair start, he bought a quarter-section of his present homested (sic), and began raising live-stock.
He married and lived for some years in an humble house, which was supplanted by his present home, as soon as he was able to build it. For many years he has been a director and the treasurer of the Colorado Agricultural Ditch Company, and has placed irrigating ditches on his farm. A few years after making his first purchase of land he bought twenty acres more. He favors education and good school privileges for the young. In politics he is a Republican.
December 10, 1863, Mr. Murphy married Sarah E. Smith, a native of Ohio. She moved from the Buckeye state to Missouri and thence to Colorado in 1859, with her father. She was only twelve years of age when she crossed the plains with her father. They were only a small party and in constant danger of the Indians. The five children of Mr. and Mrs. Murphy are: William A., who married Dilla Ciardo, and is a farmer; Alice, wife of Edward Marsh, and living near Denver; May, Mrs. Charles C. Moore, also a resident of the environs of Denver; Katie, Mrs. Eugene O'Connor, of Deliver; and Edward R., a youth of thirteen years.
292
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. August 20, 1864, on account of physical disability, after having been in the service two and a-half years. The boys who wore the blue have a very warm place in his heart, and he has been an active member of the Grand Army of the Republic for years. He has been the commander of R. B. Hayes Post No. 90, of New Windsor, and in 1898 was a delegate to the national encampment in Cincinnati.
W. W. Kennedy is the third of a family of eight children whose parents were Philip and Susan (Jones) Kennedy. The father was a well-to-do farmer of Coshocton County, Ohio. The eldest of his children is Rachel E., wife of A. S. Eaton, of Greeley. Ann E., deceased, was the wife of William Smith, of Ohio. Thomas P. was engaged in the drug business in Clinton, Mo., for many years and is now deceased. John A., an early settler of Colorado, is now retired. He resides in Boulder, and is an extensive land-owner. Harriet B. is the wife of Prof. W. C. Thomas, principal of the Longmont public schools. Mary is the wife of T. W. McCurdy, a farmer of Morgan County, Colo. He is the county assessor, and at present his family is living near Fort Morgan. Emma J. is the wife of L. M. Hanks, salesman for George Ady, of Denver, Colo.
The birth of W. W. Kennedy occurred in Coshocton County, Ohio, October 12, 1843. He received thorough training in farm work and remained at home until he was eighteen years of age, when his patriotism led to his enlistment in the army. At the close of his service he went to Muscatine County, Iowa, and there taught school and farmed rented land for a number of years. In the spring of 1880 he came to this state and rented the farm which he now owns, as the following year he purchased the place. Originally comprising three hundred and twenty acres, he has disposed of forty acres and has made great improvements. There are now one hundred and sixty acres under cultivation, and it is the thriftiest place in the neighborhood. In 1893 he erected his pretty and comfortable home. He is a stockholder in ditch No. 2, and has been president of the school board. He has made one of his chief aims the educating of his children, and has fitted them to be good and useful citizens in any community. A member of the Masonic order, he belongs to Windsor Lodge No. 69, A. F. & A. M., and is also an Odd Fellow, being connected with Poudre Valley Lodge No. 88, of Windsor, and Columbia Lodge No. 16, Eastern Star.
March 19, 1866, Mr. Kennedy was married in Muscatine, Iowa, to Sarah P. Beard, daughter of John and Rebecca (Fisher) Beard. She was born in Pennsylvania, of which state her parents were also natives, and in early days they settled in Iowa. The five children of our subject and wife are: Alice A., Mrs. Clarence McNeal, of this county; Susie, wife of William Mahood, a farmer and stockman of Weld County; Julia M., Mrs. John Kern, of Milwaukee, Wis.; John H., a graduate of Greeley high school; and Ethel, now a student in the Greeley high school.
OUIS L. PRINCE, one of the capable farmers of Boulder County and the owner of a farm near Canfield, was born in Cooper County, Mo., October 30, 1862, and is a son of Hiram and Helen M. (Lindsay) Prince. The sketches of his father and two brothers will be found elsewhere in this volume. He was only three years of age at the time the family removed to Colorado and in this state he passed the days of boyhood and youth, meantime acquiring a fair education in the common schools. To the knowledge gained in schools he has added by self-culture and thoughtful reading, which has made him a man of splendid general information.
September 25, 1892, occurred the marriage of Mr. Prince and Miss Cora Smith, an estimable young lady then living in Ashland, Ore. She was, however, a native of Washington Territory, where her parents, G. W. and Elizabeth (Lindsay) Smith, resided for many years. This union has been blessed by the birth of a daughter, Clara E., who was born July 31, 1893.
After his marriage Mr. Prince began farming a tract of one hundred and sixty acres which had been given him by his father. Here he has since remained, giving his attention to the improvement and cultivation of the place. He is fond of travel, and in 1886 made a tour of exploration through California and Utah. He was also on a tour through the west at the time of his marriage, and since then he and his wife, in 1895, returned to Ashland on a visit and also traveled through other parts of the northwest. In politics he is a Republican.
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