George Lincoln Seeley

As printed in 1906

GEORGE LINCOLN SEELEY.

George Lincoln Seeley, whose name is endeared to all residents of Mount Pleasant and a monument to whose life and memory is seen in the beautiful Young Men's Christian Association building of this city, was born in Harrison township, Lee county, Iowa, May 15, 1865, his parents being Eli and Martha (Beeler) Seeley, mention of whom is made on another page of this work. He began his education in the graded schools of Primrose, Iowa, and afterward attended Howe's Academy in Mount Pleasant. He early became associated with his father in business, being the youngest and only child remaining at home, was a great help and comfort to his aged parents. After his father's death he was appointed adminis-

I i'U.U: C.fBKARY trator of the estate, but his health soon began to fail and in December followinghe, with his brother, T. F. Seeley, and family, went to Texas, where he remained until his death on the 24th of May, 1897. He was well-to-do for a man of his age, and when realizing that the end of his days was drawing near he expressed a desire that his means might be used to beautify Sharon cemetery and also for the benefit and advancement of young men. His plans were not matured but were expressed to his brother and sisters, who were with him and though he did not definitely decide upon any course for them to pursue, his administrators— his brother. W. B. Seeley, and his friend, Sherman Taylor, who had been appointed at his request — have carried out his wishes. He had remarked that "Sharon was the dearest spot on earth to him," and since his death his administrators have carried out his desire to have Sharon cemetery beautified and improved. They enlarged the grounds to twice the original size and have fenced the entire plot by first making a foundation three feet in the ground and building thereon a fine granite coming surmounted by a galvanized iron fence. At the entrance there is a beautiful and massive gateway and through the efforts and labors of the administrators Sharon has been made one of the most beautiful rural cemeteries in the country. After much study and investigation the administrators have also built a fine memorial building for the Young Men's Christian Association at Mount Pleasant, in connection with which is a fully equipped manual training school.

Thus the locality in which Mr. Seeley lived and labored is yet benefiting by his efforts, his forethought and his generosity. He was a member of the Sharon Presbyterian church and a man highly respected by all who knew him. In business transactions he was the soul of honor and integrity, and he had a broad humanitarian spirit which reached out to his fellow men, desiring the greatest good and best development for all. The splendid Young Men's Christian Association building is a fitting monument to an honorable career.

As printed in Biographical review of Henry County, Iowa, containing biographical and genealogical sketches of many of the prominent citizens of to-day and also of the past .. (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.