Montgomery County Journal
See Family History
Adam See and Michael Frederick See were the first of the name to come to America in 1734 from Prussia [Silesia]; with the colony of Schwenkfelders to avoid religious presecution of the Baptist Sect. They settled first in Bucks County, Pennsylvania and moved to present day Hardy County, West Virginia in 1745. [Hardy County formed from Hampshire 1785- Hampshire formed 1752 from Frederich & Augusta Counties, Va].
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Today the Schwenkfelder Denomination continues with six Churches in Pennsylvania. The descendants of the original Schwenkfelders are found throughout the United States and world.
By 1700, all Schwenkfelders were living the village of Harpersdorf and the surrounding area--. By 1726, many of the families were desperate to escape. They decided to settle in Pennsylvania, already home to German immigrants and others seeking religious freedom. They arrived at the port of Philadelphia in six migrations from 1731 to 1737. The largest group of Schwenkfelders set sail on the St. Andrew from Haarlem, Holland in June, 1734. After a grueling and often tragic voyage, they landed at Philadelphia on September 22, 1734
Adam See [1] had one son George, and several daughters. George See married Jemima Harness of Hardy County circa 1767. They were the parents of nine children: sons: Adam [2], Michael [2], George, Charles and John; daughters: Barbara, Hannah, Elizabeth and Dorothy. George See and son Charles by lightening in 1794 while stacking hay. adam and Michael moved to Randolph County in 1795.
Michael See [2] married Catherine Baker and also had a family of nine children: sons: Adam [3], Anthony, Jacob, John, Solomon, and Noah [2]; daughters: Mary, Elizabeth and Barbara.
The second Noah See moved to Missouri circa 1837 and was followed by his parents, three brothers and two sisters.
Michael See and his wife Catherine were the parents of Anthony, Adam, George, John, Noah and Barbara.
Michael Frederick See moved to Greenbrier County in 1760 and was killed by Indians, July 17, 1764. His wife Catherine and their four children were captured and taken by the Indians to "Old Town", now Chilicothe, Ohio. At the close of the French and Indians War by treaty of peace 1765, they were freed and re-united with their relatives, with the exception of John See, a seven year old who remained with an Indian family, after eluding his relations. He was later ransomed some years later by his Uncle Adam See.
He [John] became a soldier in the Revolutionary War was was wounded at the Battle of Brandywine. He died at Peoria, Illinois in 1845.
This branch of the See family mostly remained in Randolph County, West Virginia.
A granddaughter of Michael See married Washington Ward.
Footnote: Refer: Randolph County, Sest Virginia by Dr. A. S. Bosworth
Jacob See
of Montgomery County
Biography abstracted from History of St. Charles, Montgomery and Warren Counties, Missouri-Danville Township-Page 806
Jacob See was a son of Michael See [2 above] who was the youngest of three brothers in the family of ten children of George See of Hardy County, Virginia [now a part of West Virginia], the other two brothers having been Adam and George, all of whm lived to reach years of maturity and married. The families of the seven sisters made their homes in Kentucky.
Jacob was the 6th child of the family, born in Randolph County, Virginia [ now West Va], September 1 1810 and was reared on his father's farm n that county. In the spring of 1833 he married Miss Rachel Morrison, the daughter of Samuel of that county; and four years later removed to Missouri, bringing his family and settling on land adjoining the town of Danville, where he engaged in farming and also kept a tavern. he continued there with some sucess for 13 years until the outbreak of gold fever. He then outfitted a train for the gold regions, the men agreeing to work for him in the mines on shares. Out of this he made little or nothing, but by his own industry and management, he had fair sucess. After his return in 1852 he gave his tavernn or hotel property to his son in law, Daniel Nunnelly and bought a farm about a mile west of New Florence, on which he settled and engaged on a more extensive scale in farming and stock raising. he continued n his place near New Florence until la few years ago, and ther gave his attention largely to stock raising and he raised the famous steer "Stonewall Jackson". known as the largest ox in the world, and exhibited at a number of the leading cities of the Union. This steer weighted over 4,000 pounds and although a monster in size, was hansomely formed.
Mr. See became a large land holder and although he has given each of his numrous family of children a comfotable property, he still has an ample competency.
Less than a year ago, September 26 1883, he had the misfortune to loose his wife, she, who for over fifty years had shared with him, his labors and trial, his sorrows and joys, his hopes and disappointments. She had just passed her seventy first year.
Five of his family of children are living: Michael, Cecelia, the wife of Nathaniel Patton; Charles; Samuel; Randolph and Thomas. The others, except Kittie, who died while the wife of Daniel Nunnelly a few years ago, died at a tender age.......
Noah See
Biography abstracted from History of St. Charles, Montgomery and Warren Counties, Missouri-Danville Township-Page 807
Noah See-- the wealthist man in the county and one of the large land owners in North Missouri........
he came to Montgomery County nearly a half century ag with only a small amount of means; .......... Mr. See is a brother of Jacob See and a worthyprominent member of the old and respected Viginia family whose name he bears.
He was born in Randolph County, Virginia [now W. Va] September 19, 1815. ....He became well advanced in mathmatics and throughly proficient in surveying and became a surveyor after coming to Missouri.
While a resident of West Virginia, he was married to Miss Margaret W. See, a daughter of Adam See, his first cousin, January 8 1838 and of Randolph County, West Virginia. In April 1838, he removed with is family to Missouri. He had also learned the carpenter trade and he followed this at Danville for some time after coming to this state.
Mr. See's wife becoming dissatisfied with her surroundings, in this new country, returned to her father's people in West Virginia. Mr. See, having identified all his property interestes with the country, found it impossible to return with her and hence a legal separation took place between himself and his wife.
Steady and substantial progress prospered in in the accumationof land here. He becam one of the wealthist men of this part of the state; and at one time owned over 8,000 acres of land and he still owns some 7,000 acres in Montgomery and other counties, besides the large tracts he has given his children.
In 1853, some 15 years after his settlement in the county and living a lonesome life for 12 years, Mr. See was married to Miss Mary A. Sailor October 18, 1853. This has proved a long and happy union and has been blessed with a numerous and worthy family of children; eight of whom are living: Anna M., wife of Roger W. Weeks; Milliard F.; Virginia Missouri, wife of Samuel T. Weeks; Robert E. Lee; Thomas J. Jackson; George W. Sylvester Clay and Edward Everett. The three older children are comfortably settled in life, the others are still at home. Mrs See is a worthy member of the christian Church. She was the daughter of James and "Sibbe" [Cobb] Sailor of Montgomery County..........