Clinton Barnum Seeley Dies at 90 in His Home
Clinton Barnum Seeley, 90 of Ingleside place, a grandson of P.T. Barnum, former bank official, elder citizen of the Bridgeport area known as a benefactor in many civic enterprises, died at 9:45 a.m. today in his home.
A former commissioner on the City Park Board, Mr. Seeley retired from the post in 1938 with “deep regrets” after serving 31 years. During that time he had held the office of the vice president 18 years and president more than a year.
Services for Mr. Seeley will take place Thursday at 2:30 p.m. in St. John’s Episcopal church. The rector, the Rev. J. Warren Hutchens, will officiate. Burial will be in Mountain Grove cemetery.
Mr. Seeley is survived by a nephew, Herbert Barnum Seeley, and several cousins. His wife, Mrs. Florence Tuttle Seeley, died Nov. 10, 1957.
Born in Bridgeport, Mr. Seeley was the son of the late Nathan Seeley, and he was a lineal descendant of Capt. Nathaniel Seeley, a Colonial hero who lived the latter part of his life in Fairfield.
His mother was Pauline T. Barnum, youngest daughter of Phineas T. and Charity Hallett Barnum.
Educated in New York city, Mr. Seeley married Florence Tuttle, of New York. Dec. 23. 1896. They had a son, Clinton Barnum Seeley, Jr., who was born March 19, 1901, and who died Dec. 21, 1915.
Mrs. Seeley, who died at the age of 89, left cash gifts of more than $120,000 to religious charitable and educational institutions.
Although Mr. Seeley’s family lived in New York city they spent the summer months in Bridgeport, and in 1907 he became a permanent resident of this city. He entered the real estate and banking businesses and soon became vice president of the Pequannock National bank. In 1913 he was elected president of the Bridgeport Trust company and held the post until 1927 when he became chairman of the board of directors.
In 1936, Mr. Seeley presented about 36 acres of land at Seaside and Iranistan avenues to the city, and the gift was made in the memory of his famous grandfather. In addition he has given some of P.T. Barnums’s effects to Tufts college.
He became a member of the Park board in 1907 and served as vice present until 1937 when he was elected its chairman. He tendered his resignation a year later.
Mr. Seeley was a member of the former Board of Trade, and was the No. 1 member of the New York Yacht club, and also had a similar classification in the Union League club in New York city. He was rated the No. 1 member of the Larchmont Yacht club. He was a member of the Algonquin club and the Brooklawn Country club.
Published in The Bridgeport Post on March 17, 1958, front page and page 8
Clinton B. Seeley
Services for Clinton Barnum Seeley, 90, of Ingleside place, who died Monday, were conducted this afternoon in St. John’s Episcopal church by the Rev. J. Warren Hutchens, rector. Burial was in Mountain Grove cemetery.
Honorary bearers were Charles H. Bitzer, H.L. Morehouse, Louis A. Shea, William L. Lashar, Oliver T. Osborne, Samuel P. Senior, Sr., DeVer C. Warner, Sylvanus D. Locke, Paul L. Miller, Dr. Thomas Ellis, Jasper McLevy, Heming Prentice, Jr., Henry Hart and H.H. Putnam.
Published in The Bridgeport Post, on March 20, 1958, page 34
[Grandson of George SGS # 2059 – Clinton Barnum; Nathan; George (#2059); Nathan (#640); Seth; Nathan; James; Nathaniel; Nathaniel; Robert]
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