Henry E

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Henry E. Seelye

Son of Moses S. Seelye, Sr. was born Jan 4, 1839, at St. George, New Brunswick. At the age of seventeen he removed with his parents to Minnesota, and in May 1855, he went with his father upon his claim in sections 7 and 8 town of Oak Grove, and has since made his home there and on his own farm on the adjoining section 5. From 1855 to 1862 he was in the pineries and on the log drive. August 16, 1862, he enlisted at Fort Snelling, in Co. A, Ninth Minnesota Regiment, and the company immediately started in pursuit of the Indians who had been engaged in the massacre which had just taken place. At Camp Release (near the present site of Montevideo) 120 women and children were released about October. The company wintered at Fort Ridgeley, 1862-63. As soon as the grass started they went northwest as far as Bismarck, fighting seventeen battles on the way. In the fall of 1863 the troops drove the Indians across the Missouri river. General Sully’s command then took charge of the Indian fighting, and Sibley’s command returned to Fort Snelling. About Nov. 1, 1863,the company went south. Half the regiment was lost at the battle of Guntown, Mississippi. Mr. Seelye was wounded and captured at that battle. He was a prisoner seven months and was then exchanged. He was mustered out May 29, 1865. Worked at lumbering several years. Kept a hotel at St. Francis four years, beginning in 1880, since which time he lived on his farm, known as Woodlawn farm. He has 80 acres in section 5, a part of the original McKenzie claim. Mr. Seelye has been twice married. Aug. 16, 1865, he was married to Minnie Pease, who died five months later. His wife Jennie Bogart, he married Nov. 20, 1867. They have two children, twins: Jennie E. (Mrs. Amadorus Morton) Minnie E. (Mrs. Edward Morton). Mr. Seelye is the earliest living settler of Oak Grove, having turned the first sod and assisted in building the first house in the town.

 

Moses S. Seelye, Sr.

Born in Charlotte Co., New Brunswick, in 1810. He went to California in 1849. He was a millwright, and he built mills and dams to turn the streams. Stayed in California five years. Returning to New Brunswick, he moved with his family to Minnesota in the spring of 1855, and in November moved to his claim in section 7, town of Oak Grove, where he lived until his death in June 1869. He was married about 1835 to Eunice Linton (died in 1868). Children: Rebecca (Mrs. George R. Longley, ied about 1888) Henry E., Eliza (Mrs. David Stewart), Moses S., John M., (died in June 1864), George A. David Lorenzo (died in 1868)

Moses S. Seelye, Jr.

 

Born at St. George, New Brunswick, May 24, 1844. In May 1855 his father came to St. Paul, and the family lived at Richfield, Hennepin Co., during the summer. About Sept. 1, 1855,they came to their new home in what is now Oak Grove. He married May 14, 1870, to Clara Smith, Children: Bertha (Mrs. Albert H. Shadick St. Francis), Linton S., Florence, George E., Ella M, Eunice H., Jesse M. Mr. Seelye has held town and school offices about half of the time during his residence in Oak Grove.

 

source: History of Anoka County by Albert M. Goodrich – published 1905