Charles Seeley, born in Westphalia, Germany, some time about 1784, died there about 1845-46. He was a farmer by occupation, and served in the German army. His wife Catherine was born in Westphalia, 1786. After the death of her husband, she came to the United States with her son, John H., and his family, about 1848-49, and settled in Glenville, Schenectady county, New York, where she died July 17, 1854. Charles Seeley and wife had five sons and two daughters, and of these three sons, John H., Christian F. and Aaron, came to the United States; the other sons, Charles and Frederick, remained in Germany where they married and died. The two daughters also married and died in Germany; one married William Pepper and the other married ———— Lathrop. Charles, the oldest of the five brothers, had one son who also remained in Germany. Frederick had six sons and two daughters, of these three sons and two daughters came to the United States; Henry and the daughters are living in Schenectady, New York; Frederick is living somewhere in the west, Charles is farming in Indiana, and the other three children remained in Germany. John Henry, see forward. Aaron, born in Westphalia, 1817, came to the United States when a young man, and settled in Schenectady, New York, where he married and died; children of Aaron and Elizabeth Seeley:
- Mary, married William Stevens, whom she survives, and is a resident of Schenectady, with a son, Henry C. Stevens;
- Charles, of West Albany;
- Jacob, deceased;
- Henry, married Mary Gunn; one daughter, Lena, married a Mr. Ouandt [Quandt?] and lives in Schenectady.
Christian F., born in Westphalia, 1819; he was the first of the family to emigrate to the United States, coming about 1842; he located in Schenectady county, New York, where he became a farmer of the town of Glenville; he married three times and removed to Champaign, Illinois, where he died; he was a retired farmer. By his first wife, Barbara Spitzer, he had children:
- Elizabeth, now of Chicago, Illinois;
- Mary, deceased, married Spencer Barheyt, of Schenectady; he is a resident of the state of Texas;
- Harmon, deceased;
- Caroline, died unmarried;
by his second wife, a Miss Bolt, he had one son Eugene and two daughters; by his third wife, name unknown, no issue.
(II) John Henry, son of Charles and Catherine Seeley, was born in Westphalia, Germany, April 3, 1816, died in Glenville, Schenectady county, New York, September 8, 1901. He was well educated in the schools of his native land, and learned the trade of a cabinetmaker. He served three years in the German army as bugler. He married in Westphalia, but left his family in Germany and came to the United States, where he remained a short time, then returned to Germany, and in 1848-49 came to the United States accompanied by his family. He settled in the city of Schenectady, New York, where he was employed at his trade, becoming well-known and prosperous. Both he and his wife were members of the Lutheran church in Westphalia, but in Schenectady became active and prominent members of the German Methodist church. The lot on which the present church building stands, at the corner of Lafayette and Union streets, was purchased by Mr. Seeley for the congregation. He was a Republican in politics. He was a highly respected citizen, and held the confidence and respect of his community to the last. He married (first) in Westphalia, Germany, Elizabeth Bernning, born in that kingdom November 11, 1818, died in Glenville, New York, May 15, 1855. Children:
- Louise, born in Westphalia, died unmarried.
- Mary L., born September 29, 1840, died January 14, 1901.
- John Henry, born in Westphalia, came to the United States with his parents; married in Schenectady, New York, Katherine Zeiser, who survives him, a resident of Albany, New York; children: Emma, Pauline, both unmarried; Walter, died aged twenty-four years.
- Frederick, born in Westphalia, came to the United States with his parents, married in Columbus, Ohio, Louise Lauer, now residents of Urbana, Ohio, children: Harriet, Catherine, John, Arthur, Cora, an infant daughter, deceased.
- Charles E., see forward.
- George W., born in Schenectady in 1853; married Katherine Boney, who died leaving a daughter Mary, who resides with her father in Los Angeles, California.
John Henry Seeley married (second), Marie E. Willner, born in Westphalia, June 8, 1830, died in Schenectady, New York, October 24, 1902. She bore him one daughter, Harriet E., born January 23, 1866, died September 13, 1909. She married Joseph C. Dancer, of Schenectady, and left a son, John Dancer.
(III) Charles E., first child of John Henry and Elizabeth (Bernning) Seeley, born in the United States, was born in Schenectady, New York. He was educated in the public schools, and became a farmer and broom manufacturer. He was very successful in his business, raising the corn largely on his own land and manufacturing in his own factory. In 1890 he established a coal business in Schenectady, which he conducted until 1902. In 1900 he retired from his manufacturing to his farm in Glenville, which is a well-improved and highly-productive property. He is a Republican in politics, and has held many of the local town offices. He is a substantial citizen, highly regarded for his upright character and energetic business ability. He married, in Glenville, Louise Willner, a niece of his stepmother. She was born in Westphalia, Germany, February, 1850, daughter of Frederick and Louise (Remler) Wilner, who died while she was a very young child. She has a sister Mary, who married Henry Shackalman, of Niskayuna, and has a family. Children of Charles E. and Louise (Willner) Seeley:
- Edward, born May 5, 1874, died September, 1879.
- Elizabeth, born September, 1876; married William Mepheu, a farmer of Glenville.
- Anna, born November 7, 1878; married Christian Kruger, of Glenville, and has two children, Gladys and Dorothy.
- Robert E., born March 7, 1880; resides at home.
- Chester Frank, resides at home.
- Spencer, died in infancy.