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.

**************************************************************
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

******************************************************************************



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)

The Price of Liberty-James M. Henington, World War I

Working on my various lines from the Hennington family, is a work in progress. I am always surprised at what I discover, as I uncover more, and work the many files that were generously given to me by my cousin Bryan Hennington. Bryan, and his parent's began their journey releasing the Hennington & Related Families book editions. A special thanks also goes to another dedicated researcher, who provided many hours of Hennington work, Jim Voss. Jim was a remarkable man who devoted long hours of archive and library work, and it is very much appreciated. He went out of his way to assist me and answer many questions.

This post is a focus on a cousin, James M. Henington. His family line was originally from one of the 'Alabama Hennington' family we refer to. His parent's were Robert Richard Henington and Sallie Nichols. He was a brother to Maude Henington. He was unmarried. There was some speculation by Jim Voss, that James' middle name was Nichols, his mother's maiden name. This is a copy of his Find a Grave memorial page. Our family thanks James for his ultimate sacrifice to our country. May you rest in peace. 

James M Henington
Born: Dec. 3, 1893 Hereford, Deaf Smith County, Texas
Died: 09 Oct. 1918 France

Fort Worth Star Telegram – Wednesday, December 11, 1918

The Price of Liberty
Brief Stories of Men Who Have Been Killed, Wounded or Have Died in Armed Service of U.S.

Corp. James M. Henington of Hereford, Texas, was killed in action, Oct. 8, the date of the Attigny attack of the Panther Division. He enlisted in the old Seventh Texas Infantry, later the One Hundred and Forty-second Infantry, and was trained at Camp Bowie. He was the son of R.R. Henington.
 (photo by 'soilsister'/France)

Herbert Victor Disney & Effie Bollinger Cruise Papers

I recently found in an auction lot box - a hand written reference to Mr & Mrs Disney, being on board the SS Minnekahda ship, September 1929. By doing research on the Ancestry immigration records, we found the parallel information of Herbert Victor Disney and his wife Effie Bollinger being on board this ship, and the corresponding dates.
Mr & Mrs Disney's name was hand written on the a ship brochure/stateroom layout. They had cruised to London, and were on their way back to America.
If you are a descendant of Herbert and Effie Disney, please email me at teakpub at brmemc.net. I will be glad to send it to you.
Gayle Van Horn

Franklin County, NC Destroys 100 Year Old Records

This has to be one of the worst stories I've heard in a very long time. Those involved MUST be held accountable - Very horrible and disgusting !!

A newly-appointed Clerk of Court in Franklin County, North Carolina, discovered stacks and stacks of books, boxes, loose papers, ledgers, and more in the basement of the county courthouse. The records were from approximately 1840's to the 1960's. The records included Chattel Mortgages from the 1890's, court dockets from post civil war to prohibition, delayed birth certificate applications with original supporting documents (letters from Grandma, bible records, birth certificates, etc), county receipts on original letterhead from businesses long extinct, poll record books, original school, road and bridge bonds denoting the building of the county, law books still in their original paper wrappings, and much, much more.

The records were strewn everywhere. There was obvious mold in the back section and evidence of water damage. Some records had been ruined by the mold, but most were completely viable.

After extensive political wrangling, the county destroyed all the records on December 6, 2013.


You can read all the details in an article by Diane Taylor Torrent of The Heritage Society of Franklin County, NC at http://goo.gl/vnak1s.

My thanks to newsletter reader Sloan Mason for telling me of the sad news.

Comment: I am not an attorney and not qualified to give legal advice. However, I do find it interesting that the North Carolina General Assembly web site shows the following from its "enacted legislation" section at http://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_121/GS_121-5.html:

§ 121-5.  Public records and archives.

(a)        State Archival Agency Designated. - The Department of Cultural Resources shall be the official archival agency of the State of North Carolina with authority as provided throughout this Chapter and Chapter 132 of the General Statutes of North Carolina in relation to the public records of the State, counties, municipalities, and other subdivisions of government.

(b)        Destruction of Records Regulated. - No person may destroy, sell, loan, or otherwise dispose of any public record without the consent of the Department of Cultural Resources, except as provided in G.S. 130A-99. Whoever unlawfully removes a public record from the office where it is usually kept, or alters, mutilates, or destroys it shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor and upon conviction only fined at the discretion of the court.

When the custodian of any official State records certifies to the Department of Cultural Resources that such records have no further use or value for official and administrative purposes and when the Department certifies that such records appear to have no further use or value for research or reference, then such records may be destroyed or otherwise disposed of by the agency having custody of them.

When the custodian of any official records of any county, city, municipality, or other subdivision of government certifies to the Department that such records have no further use or value for official business and when the Department certifies that such records appear to have no further use or value for research or reference, then such records may be authorized by the governing body of said county, city, municipality, or other subdivision of government to be destroyed or otherwise disposed of by the agency having custody of them. A record of such certification and authorization shall be entered in the minutes of the governing body granting the authority.

The North Carolina Historical Commission is hereby authorized and empowered to make such orders, rules, and regulations as may be necessary and proper to carry into effect the provisions of this section. When any State, county, municipal, or other governmental records shall have been destroyed or otherwise disposed of in accordance with the procedure authorized in this subsection, any liability that the custodian of such records might incur for such destruction or other disposal shall cease and determine.
(Dick Eastman/Online Genealogy Newsletter)

Fannin County Folks and Facts

James DeLay
About 1850 two families came to Texas by covered wagon and became my great-grandparents. James and Harriet DeLay came with their family from Arkansas and settled in Gober.
Robert Henderson and his family came from Alabama and settled in Bonham. Uncle Bobbie, as was affectionately called, was a Church of Christ minister. 
When the Civil War broke out James DeLay fought for the Confederacy and was killed in the battle of Chickamaga, September 30, 1863. His son Jerome, my grandfather, enlisted and served in the commissary department. Jerome was only 16 years old. 
When the war ended my grandfather kept some Confederate money, some printed in Richmond and one bill in the state of Louisiana. I still have these bills.
On November 3, 1869 Jerome DeLay and Margaret Henderson were married and settled in Gober. My grandfather was a farmer. Their family included five boys; Bob, Leo,Sam, Wallace and Warren. There were three girls; Florence, Laura, Zora and Elsie Henderson, a niece who lived with them.
About 1890 the DeLay family moved to Hunt County and stayed several years. In 1899 they came back to Fannin County and settled in the south part of town.
By this time all the boys had gone to employment, one a school teacher, one a real estate dealer and one working for the electric company in Oklahoma. 
The three older girls all attended Carlton College. Elsie went to school at the old high school, later Duncan Elementary. Florence and Laura worked in a millinery shop and Zora worked as a telephone operator. Laura was the first to marry. Bacon S. Titsworth and Laura DeLay were married June 10, 1903. Florence and Zora had a double wedding. Florence married David Shaver and Zora wed Sam Arledge. Elsie married Paul Coleman. Florence and David had three children; twins Mary and Louise and Minnie Lee. Of these Louise, now Mrs Jack LeCroy lives with her husband at Ivanhoe. Laura and Bacon Titsworth were my parents. Elsie and Paul Coleman had a son Paul Henderson.
I started to school at Duncan school; all grades went there. In 1914-1915 a new high school building Was erected. It included a nice auditorium, used during school as the study hall. The manual training shop and the home economics rooms were in the basement.
When I was a child, we enjoyed the streetcar very much. My Uncle Leo was a motorman. He would ring the bell and I’d run out to tje corner and watch the car. Often he would throw off a small bag of candy for me.
In the summer there was an open car that was very comfortable. Often in the summer mother and I would ride to the end of the line and back-just for fun. There were very few cars in town and the hansom cabs met the trains: of course they were horse-drawn. They were replaced by jitneys that cost five cents to ride. 
The fire trucks were also horse drawn. When a fire alarm was turned in, a bell would ring long and loud. When the bell rang, the horses were ready to go. Their harnesses were dropped over them. It was quite a sight to watch the fire truck race by.
The basement barber shop had four big bathtubs and furnished big thick towels. On Saturdays the men could come in and have a bath and a shave and haircut if they wanted it. The barber shops stayed open until midnight on Saturday nights.
I saw my first picture show in the old opera house. Later to opened on the square. They had serials, one episode a week very similar to the soap opera as we have now.
After the show, most everyone went to the ice cream parlor. They had small tables usually glass topped and four wrought iron chairs. Some called they candy kitchens and the proprietor always had homemade candy for sale.
The townspeople enjoyed the band concerts, too. The bandsmen were local talent. Sometimes it would be on the courthouse lawn and often it would be in Simpson Park. 
The first Fannin County Fair was held on fair grounds where the junior high football is now.
My father showed a registered Jersey cow once. The undertakers were a part of the furniture stores then. Halsell and Caldwell and Wise kept undertakers employed who also helped in the stores.
(Jerome) DeLay lived to be one of Fannin County’s oldest citizens. He died in 1936 in the 90th year. One of (Jerome) DeLay’s great grandsons Warren B. Wisdom was killed in the Korean conflict. he was officially declared dead December 1953. Jerome’s youngest daughter Mrs. Zora Arledge celebrated her 90th birthday this year. Mrs. Elsie Coleman reared as a sister, lives in Bonham.
By Zora Wisdom.
(date of article unknown) pgs 165-166
www.rootsweb.com/~txfannin/f78.html 

Josa Hood Family

Josa Hood, son of Wiley Hood and Mary (Polly) Baker, served in Joshua Hightower's Company as a Private in the Confederacy. The company served as part of the County Reserves for Randolph County, Alabama. Josa's father served in the War of 1812, his grandfather, William Hood, served in the NC Continental Line in the American Revolution.

Josa Hood is present as Head of Household, on the 1830 and 1840 Federal Census for Newton County, Georgia; 1850 and 1860 in Randolph County, Alabama. Shortly after his son-law Benjamin Apling Burdette returned home from the Civil War in June 1865, Josa and his family moved to Texas with the Burdette's. He is present as Head of Household in 1870, Centerville, Leon County, Texas.

He died in 15 Feb 1870, and is buried in the Friendship Cemetery in the same county. His grave is the oldest grave in the cemetery. In September 2001, a plaque and a medallion were placed at the cemetery, as part of the Texas Historic Cemetery. His name is included on the marker.

Friendship Cemetery Marker

Civil War
Alabama ADAH: Civil War Database; Josa Hood; (Date of birth blank); Occupation: Mechanic; Branch Home Guard, Co. Unit Name: Capt. J. Falkner's Co.; Authority: Muster-in-Roll 1864/09/13; Remarks: Eyes blue, hair dark, height 5ft 10 in., complexion dark, age 56, Rank: Private.

Family Group Record for Josa Hood

Husband: Josa Hood
Born: 15 Feb 1808 - Jasper County, Georgia
Died: 23 Nov 1870 - Jewett, Leon County, Texas
Buried:  - Friendship Cemetery, Jewett, Leon County, Texas
Father: Wiley Hood (1773-1813)
Mother: Mary (Polly) Baker (1780-1849)
Marriage: 3 Jun 1832  Place: Jasper County, Georgia

Wife: Harriet S. Robertson
Born: 15 Dec 1815 - Jasper County, Georgia
Died: 3 Mar 1887 - Meridian, Bosque County, Texas
Buried:  - Hanna Family Cemetery, Meridian, Bosque County, Texas
Father: William Brown Robertson
Mother: Polly Williams




Children
1  M  William Henry Hood
 Born: 6 Feb 1834 - Jasper County, Georgia
 Died: Bef 1850 - Georgia (or) Randolph County, Alabama
     
2  F  Millie Elizabeth (Amelia) Hood
 Born: 1 Oct 1838 - Newton County, Georgia
 Died: 23 Apr 1926 - Meridian, Bosque County, Texas
 Buried:  - Meridian  Cemetery, Meridian, Bosque County, Texas
 Spouse: Benjamin Apling Burdette (1835-1921)
  Marr. Date: 4 Jan 1855 - Wedowee, Randolph County, Alabama
   
3  F  Sarah Ann Hood
Born: 28 Feb 1841 - Newton County, Georgia
Died: Jun 1923
     
4  M  John Alexander Hood
 Born: 10 Feb 1842 - Newton County, Georgia

5  M  Benjamin Franklin Hood
Born: 10 Feb 1845 - Newton County, Georgia
Died: 26 Feb 1930 - Dublin, Erath County, Texas
Buried:  - Old Dublin Memorial Park, Dublin, Erath County, Texas
Spouse: Susan Abigail (Abbie) Moore (1844-1939)
Marr. Date: 4 Mar 1866 - Randolph County, Alabama
 
6  F  Susan America Hood
 Born: Dec 1847 - Randolph County, Alabama

7  F  Mary Jane Hood
Born: 1849 - Randolph County, Alabama
 
8  M  Joseph Wiley Hood
 Born: 14 Sep 1852 - Randolph County, Alabama
 
9  M  Isaac Parker Hood
Born: 22 Feb 1854 - Randolph County, Alabama
Died: 8 Jan 1936 - Oklahoma
Buried:  - Plainview Cemetery, Mangum, Greer County, Oklahoma
Spouse: Martha Josephine Story (1855-1916)
Spouse: Elenor Eliza (Ellen) Spencer (1869-1948)
Spouse: Mattie King Baines
 Marr. Date: Texas
   
(any additional information on this family is welcome)

Rev. Henry Hennington DNA Match

This morning I was able to confirm through DNA testing (autosomal) via Dan Spivey, that Henry Hennington is the brother of Rev. John Hennington. Both of them are the son's of Ann Howell.

Although we always knew this is, it was circumstantial at best. Thanks to Dan,this test confirms it. Dan's line is through Lillie Etta Hennington>James William Hennington>Green William Hennington>Rev. Henry Hennington.

Thomas Hennington from the original Hennington Red Book (Hennington and Related Families), is another story. No one has ever confirmed he is a son of Ann Howell. He was not listed as an heir to her estate - which would have been required by state law. He never lived around the family, and his name was spelled differently. There has never any evidence to indicate he was related to Rev. John and Henry.

It is possible, Thomas is related to the Ephraim Hennington out of South Carolina or perhaps from North Carolina.

If there are any descendants of Thomas reading this message, we would certainly appreciate you taking an AncestryDNA test. It will be the best $ 99.00 you will ever spend. That also applies to any of our other Hennington cousins who would like to prove their lines biologically / scientifically by taking the Ancestry DNA test. These results can then be prepared with existing testers to check paper trails. Remember, you no longer have to be a male Hennington to test you're Hennington line. Male or female can test.

If you do decide to test, please contact me at gayleh@brmemc.net so I can watch for your results. You do not have to be a subscriber to Ancestry to take their DNA test.

Thanks very much
Gayle Hennington Van Horn
Hennington DNA Project Manager