Setting the record straight on Rev. Charles George Seely

One of my ancestors is the Seely family. For the past thirty years, I've done alot of Seely research, and found a great deal of wrong information that continues to be taken as "fact."

One of the most prominent ones, is the confusion over Charles George Seely and his son Charles Harvey Seely.

Charles George Seely, was born 31 August 1826 in Missouri. Charles Harvey Seely, his eighth child was was born 26 May 1866 in Lawrence County, Missouri. He was not a "Jr." as been reported.

Charles George is present on the 1850 and 1860 Census in Lawrence County, Missouri with his wife and children. He is also present as a land owner in the Lawrence County Deed Books, 1867.

On the June 1, 1870 census, in the Osage Township, Benton County, Arkansas, is the first time we see mention of his four year old Charles. Charles George Seely, noted as a Farmer is with his wife Cynthia (she actually spelled it as Synthia) and other children; James, John, Mary, and Elzora. His older son William Henry was married about 1868 to Rozalia Ann (Elizabeth) Dye.

Two days prior the census being taken, Charles George became a Baptist preacher in Benton County, Arkansas. The Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church on Highway 72 east of Gravette, approximately six miles, was organized on Saturday May 28, 1870, in a log school house above the Cash Spring. Elder Charles Seely was moderator at the organization of the church, and was chosen as the first Pastor. Elder John Givens was the first clerk.

On the 1880 Census, Charles Seely and his wife Synthia are still in Osage Township in Benton County, Arkansas. The two remaining children in the household, are Eliza (Elzora) and Charles H. That is also the last time Charles George Seely is present on any census. He died 30 January 1891.

From there, you can follow his son, Charles Harvey to the 1900 census in Benton County, Arkansas, and is listed as Harvey C "Selly" with his wife and six children. Despite having the two given names reversed, it now gives us a middle name for Charles as Harvey, and contiues on the 10 May 1910 Census in Elmo, Kaufman County, Texas and ther 1920 Census in Navarro County, Texas. Finally, on the 1930 Census in Kaufman County, Texas, he is listed as Charles H Seely.

So where did the confusion over father and son begin ? I have received numerous emails from Seely researchers, that believed that Charles Harvey was the reverand/father and Charles George was the son. Find a Grave also list a Rev. Charles Harvey Seely in the Gamble Cemetery in Benton County, Arkansas. This is Rev. Charles George Seely, not Charles Harvey. His wife Synthia is also buried nearby.

The following Family Group Sheets, list Charles George Seely and his family - and his son Charles Harvey Seely.

Good luck to those researching all the Seely lines.

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Family Group Record for Charles George (Rev) Seely

Husband: Charles George (Rev) Seely

Born: 31 Aug 1826 - Missouri
Died: 30 Jan 1891 - Benton County, Arkansas
Buried: - Gamble Cemetery, Centerton, Benton County, Arkansas
Marriage: 15 Oct 1845 Place: Lawrence County, Missouri

Other Spouse: Mary Ann Pendergraft (1837-1914)
Date: 2 May 1886 - Benton County, Arkansas

Wife: Synthia Arrena Foster

Born: Nov 1824 - South Carolina
Died: 23 Jun 1884 - Benton County, Arkansas
Buried: - Gamble Cemetery, Centerton, Benton County, Arkansas
Father: Frederick Foster (1787-1864)b. South Carolina
Mother: Mary Unknown (1789-1865)b. Ireland

Children

1 M Elijah L. Seely
Born: 2 Sep 1846 - Lawrence County, Missouri
Died: 26 Jan 1864 - Missouri

2 M William Henry Seely
Born: 14 Apr 1848 - Lawrence County, Missouri
Died: 11 Apr 1916
Spouse: Rozalia Ann (Elizabeth) Dye (1852- )
Marr. Date: Abt 1868 - Poss. Missouri

3 M James Francis (Frank) Seely
Born: 22 Mar 1850 - Lawrence County, Missouri
Died: 8 Sep 1946 - Anderson, McDonald County, Missouri
Buried: - Forest Park Cemetery, Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri
Spouse: Martha Deema Costley (1854- )
Marr. Date: 22 Feb 1876 - Lawrence County, Missouri

4 M John Frederick Seely
Born: 25 Apr 1852 - Lawrence County, Missouri
Died: 30 May 1927 - Montgomery County, Kansas
Buried: - Robbins Cemetery, Montgomery County, Kansas
Spouse: Sarah A. (Sadie) Spivey (1845-1927)
Marr. Date: 4 Feb 1872 - Benton County, Arkansas

5 M George W. Seely
Born: 27 Apr 1854 - Lawrence County, Missouri
Died: 19 Dec 1854 - Lawrence County, Missouri

6 F Mary Ann Seely
Born: 6 Jul 1858 - Lawrence County, Missouri
Died: 5 Oct 1951 - Dickson, Benton County, Arkansas
Buried: - Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Hiwasse, Benton County, Arkansas
Spouse: George C. Bates (1856-1940)
Marr. Date: 1880 - Arkansas

7 F Elzora (Eliza) Josephine Seely
Born: 21 Sep 1862 - Lawrence County, Missouri
Died: 9 Nov 1921 - Centerton, Benton County, Arkansas

8 M Charles Harvey Seely
Born: 26 May 1866 - Lawrence County, Missouri
Died: 11 Nov 1956 - Terrell, Kaufman County, Texas
Buried: 12 Nov 1956 - Oakland Memorial Park, Terrell, Kaufman County,
Texas
Spouse: Rosa Bell Burress (1867-1955)
Marr. Date: 23 Sep 1888 - Benton County, Arkansas

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Family Group Record for Charles Harvey Seely

Husband: Charles Harvey Seely
Born: 26 May 1866 - Lawrence County, Missouri
Died: 11 Nov 1956 - Terrell, Kaufman County, Texas
Buried: 12 Nov 1956 - Oakland Memorial Park, Terrell, Kaufman County,
Texas
Father: Charles George (Rev) Seely (1826-1891)
Mother: Synthia Arrena Foster (1824-1884)
Marriage: 23 Sep 1888 Place: Benton County, Arkansas
Wife: Rosa Bell Burress

Born: Feb 1867 - Arkansas
Died: 12 Dec 1955 - Terrell, Kaufman County, Texas
Buried: - Oakland Memorial Park, Terrell, Kaufman County, Texas
Father: John Henry Burress (1826-1900)
Mother: Margaret Allen (Abt 1830-Abt 1870)

Children
1 M Ireton McElvin (Erty) Seely
Born: 7 Sep 1889 - Benton County, Arkansas
Died: Apr 1975 - Siloam Springs, Benton County, Arkansas

2 F Nellie Mae Seely
Born: 10 Jun 1891 - Benton County, Arkansas
Died: 12 Apr 1972 - Terrell, Kaufman County, Texas
Buried:
Spouse: Clarence Edward Chilcoat (1888-1951)

3 F Myrtle Lee Seely
Born: 10 Aug 1893 - Gravett, Benton County, Arkansas
Died: 8 Oct 1972 - Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana
Spouse: Charles H. Coffman ( - )

4 F Bertha Ann Seely
Born: 9 Mar 1895 - Benton County, Arkansas
Died: 26 Feb 1976 - Cedar Hill, Dallas County, Texas
Buried: - Oakland Memorial Park, Terrell, Kaufman County, Texas
Spouse: Homer Malcolm Roberts (1893-1977)
Marr. Date: 3 Nov 1913 - Kaufman County, Texas

5 M Oliver Truman Seely
Born: Mar 1898 - Benton County, Arkansas
Died: 24 Dec 1982 - Austin, Travis County, Texas
Buried: - Cook-Walden Capital Parks Cemetery and Mausoleum, Austin,
Travis County, Texas
Spouse: Verna Campbell (1893-1930)
Marr. Date:
Spouse: Ola Mae Unknown (1910-1983)

6 M Henry Clay Seely
Born: Apr 1899 - Benton County, Arkansas
Spouse: Rossielou Fincher (1896- )

7 M Frank Lafayette (Sr.) Seely
Born: 1902 - Texas
Died: 26 0ct 1979 - Navarro County, Texas
Spouse: Bertha Beatrice Doss (1904- )

8 F Mattie Virginia Seely
Born: 1905 - Texas
(photos: Ancestry/Find-a-Grave)