Henry Seelig

    Henry Seelig, one of the old and h9onored pioneers of Blackford County, who is now deceased, is a native of Ohio, born in Ross County, March 28, 1814. In July, 1837, he came with his brother Frederick to Blackford County, Indiana, where they made their home until their death. They put up a log cabin on land owned by Frederick, in which they kept bachelor's hall for a few months when Frederick married.

    Henry Seelig continued to reside in his brother's house until he was married in 1851 to Miss Mary C. Hadden, who was at the time of her marriage living in Washington Township. She died April 1, 1852, leaving one child, a daughter, Mary C., who became the wife of D. Jessup. Our subject was a second time married June 27, 1855, to Miss Louisa Wilson, a native of Fayette County, Indiana, born September 6, 1831. To this union were born five children -John O., born March 21, 1856, married and living in New Castle, Indiana; Lewis, born June 25, 1860; Elizabeth A., born December 30, 1862, died December 24, 1874; Sylvester, born December 25, 1865, died October 21, 1866, and Jacob, born March 16, 1870.

    Mr. Seelig was very fond of hunting, and in the early days of the county found ample opportunity to indulge in this pastime. He was a man of remarkable memory, and was never tired of relating incidents of pioneer days. He died at his home in Washington Township, March 20, 1877, at an advanced age. He always took an active interest in the advancement of the township or county which had been his home for so many years, and none of the early settlers were more respected than he. He was of German ancestry. His widow still survives. She is a daughter of John and Nancy (Swoop) Wilson, her father born in North Carolina, in 1790, of Irish descent, and the mother born in Virginia in 1795, of German ancestry. Both are deceased, the father dying in Dublin, Wayne County, Indiana, and the mother in Henry County, Indiana.

Source: Biographical and Historical Record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana by The Lewis Publishing Company, 1887.