Seeley Genealogical Society
ISSUE # 62 FEB. 1990
Seelyville, Vigo Co. Indiana
From Walter Davis of Santa Ana, CA.
As we were returning home from the August reunion in Ft Wayne, Ind. on U.S. 40, we discovered that there was a small town of Seelyville. Unfortunately we were past it before we noticed it. When we got home we wrote for information on the town and received a letter from Mrs. Anna Louise Coltharp with the following story. Seelyville Ind. Which is located on U.S.40 in the western can central part of the state, began to be settled in the early 1820’s. At that time there were almost no homes on what was then known as the National Trail, which was a corduroy road. There was one tavern built in 1824, which was used as an overnight stopping place for travelers going through in covered wagons.In time a railroad came through our town. It was called the St Louis, Vandalis, Terre Haute and Indianapolis Railroad. Along the Railroad were erected several log cabins and one large lodge, known as the Seely House and owned by Jonas Seely.
For years the village was known as Woods Mill or Woodville. The town progressed very slowly until 1864 when the first coal mine was sunk. It was sunk on land that belonged to Jonas Seely and it was known as the Seelyville mine. At about the same time the name of the village was changed to Seelyville.
Jonas Seely was born near Hamilton, Canada, February 1807. His father’s brother was engaged in the U.S. service and the elder Seely moved with his family to a point in N.Y. near Buffalo at the outbreak of the war of 1812, his Canada property being confiscated. In 1819 the family moved to the southern part of Vigo Co., Ind. Jonas Seely lived there until he arrived at man’s estate when he went to Galena, Ill. during the lead mining craze. He moved to Terre Haute, Ind. After two years in Galena. Later he moved to Wood’s Mill, where he conducted a milling business and to which he gave the name of the present town, (Seelyville) Sellyville. Jonas lived in Terre Haute in 1875 and then went to Newport, where he resided with his son Thomas. He lived in Tampa Fla. at one time. He served in the war as captain of Company M, Ind. Cavalry in 1863.
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