Lucius Alexander SEELY

GONE TO HIS REST

Lucius Alexander Seely, one of Oregon’s 1851 pioneers, died at his home near Wilsonville in Clackamas County, Oregon, Friday November 5, 1896, at 8:15 p.m. Lucius A. was the oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Bishop Seely, and was born in Ogden, St. Lawrence County, New York, August 10, 1820, making him at the time of death 76 years, 2 months and 26 days of age.

With his parents at the age of 16 he moved to Illinois and was educated at Pottsdam Academy.

In 1842 Lucius A. Seely at the age of 22 and Miss Sophia H. Buckman aged 18 were united in the holy bonds of matrimony at the home of the bride’s parents at Farmington, Ill and resided near that place 8 years, when the idea of coming to Oregon entered their minds and they with six other families made up an emigrant train of ox teams and crossed the plains as all our forefathers did in those good old days, without any serious accident, only the loss of six horses belonging to Mr. Seely, supposed to have been taken by some of the Salt Lake people, as they were near that place at the time.

A six-month trip landed them in Baker’s prairie, (now Canby) in October, 1851 where they resided six years then moved to Linn City, (now the pulp and paper mill site) only remaining one year, and moved to their present home, and bought of Mr. J.K. Bolton 320 acres of land, about 100 acres of which was covered with water and known as Coffee Lake which Mr. Seely drained by an artificial canal running from the lake into the Willamette River, a distance of one and one half miles and on an average of six feet deep by ten wide which was very expensive in those days, and a great deal of trouble as he had to cross land belonging to others between the lake and the river. Nevertheless, this enabled Mr. Seely to farm 100 acres of as fine farming land as ever man tilled, yielding 100 bushels per acre annually for years.

At first Mr. Seely erected one of Oregon’s famous log cabins where the family lived 18 years, enjoying all the pleasures of pioneer and frontier life in the far West. He then built a handsome one and a half story, plastered house of good dimensions, where with his family around him has resided up to his death.

To Mr. and Mrs. L.A. Seely were born eight boys and one daughter. An adopted daughter, Emma, passed away at the age of seventeen. Jira, George, Hattie, and J. Bem, born in Ill., Frank born on the steamer James P. Flint coming up the Columbia River on the journey to Oregon; Judson L. and Bishop at Canby; Robert and Edward in the log cabin. Hattie was married to James Whitmore and in 1878 died at the home of her parents, leaving five children. Jira J. the oldest died at his home in Portland in 1883, leaving seven children. The remaining seven sons with their families reside near the old home.

Mr. L.A. Seely was of strong, vigorous constitution, always enjoying the best of health and able to labor until the age of 70, then as age came, health and strength failed and the last six years he spent in a life of leisure. His health failed gradually until about two weeks ago when he was confined to his room and about six days to his bed when the end came quietly.

Mr. Seely was a devoted Christian, having joined the Presbyterian Church in Illinois at the age of 18 and after moving to Oregon was united with that Congregational faith in which he died a true believer.

Undated, Unidentified Obituary (Donated to Seeley Genealogical Society Research Center)

[Son of SGS # 3052- Lucius Alexander; Bishop (#3052); Stephen Bishop (#1323); John; John S; Obadiah; Obadiah; Obadiah]

Seeley Genealogical Society