PHILETUS SEELEY OF PINE PLAINS DIES ON SUNDAY
Sudden Demise Bears Out the Saying That Many Truths Are Spoken in Jest
FORMER RESIDENT OF POUGHKEEPSIE
Philetus R. Seeley, a former Poughkeepsian and a well-known resident of Pine Plains, died on Sunday as he sat at the dinner table following his New Year’s dinner.
Mr. Seeley resided with his daughter, Mrs. Harry Rudd, in Gallatin, which adjoins Pine Plains. A bountiful dinner had been served in honor of the day and Mr. Seeley had eaten heartily, commending his daughter’s splendid cooking. He had partaken freely of nut-cake and of the nuts which were served following the last course, when his son-in-law, Harry Rudd said: “Well father, I guess you won’t want anything to eat for a while.”
“Not for a while,” Mr. Seeley returned, laughing, and fell back suddenly in his chair. His daughter ran quickly to her father, but he had died instantly. He had apparently been in the best of health.
Mr. Seeley, who was 76 years old, was a graduate of Eastman Business College. He resided in this city at one time, where, with his brothers, he conducted a photograph gallery in Main street, just east of Liberty. He later became an agent for the old Dutchess and Columbia railroad, and was stationed at Skekomeko. From there he went to Pine Plains as agent. The Central New England took over the road, but Mr. Seeley remained, staying until a few years ago.
Mr. Seeley was well-known in Pine Plains, where he was an elder in the Presbyterian church.
He leaves his wife, who was Miss Mary Bowman, a sister of the late Jacob S. Bowman, of Pine Plains, three sons, William H., of Danbury, Conn., Nelson of New Hampshire, and Herbert of Brooklyn and two daughters, Mrs. Harry Rudd, of Gallatin, and Mrs. Julius Gassner, of Poughkeepsie. He was a brother of the late Rufus Seeley, a prominent member of the G.A.R., of this city, and they were sons of the late William and Sally Anson Seeley, of Stanford.
The funeral will be held on Wednesday afternoon at the Pine Plains Presbyterian church, and burial will be in the Evergreen cemetery in that place.
Published in the Poughkeepsie Eagle News on January 3, 1922 page 5
Philetus R. Seeley died very suddenly on New Years day at the home of his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Rudd, in the town of Gallatin. His age was 78 years. Mr. Seeley and his wife were taking dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Rudd, and had finished the meal, when Mr. Seeley sank back in his chair. Mr. Rudd and Harold Mabbette at once took him to an adjoining room but he was dead before they got him there, his death having been instantaneous. He had been in his usual health up to that time, so his demise was an unexpected as it was sudden. He was born in the town of Stanford, the son of William and Sally Anson Seeley. He married Mary Bowman, sister of the late Jacob S. Bowman, who survives him with three sons, William H. of Danbury, Ct., Herbert, of Brooklyn, and Nelson, of New Hampshire, and two daughters, Mrs. Harry Rudd, of Gallatin, and Mrs. Julius Gasner, of Pokeepsei. (sic.) He had several brothers and sisters, all of whom are dead.
When a young man he graduated from Eastman business college, Pokeepsie, and afterwards with a brother conducted a photographic establishment in Pokeepsie. Later he became station agent of the N. D. & C. Railroad at Shekomeko, and afterwards at Pine Plains. He was in the employ of the railroad for thirty-eight years, and was very popular with the public, so much so that when he wanted to retire a petition signed by a large number of the patrons of the road was sent to him and to the company, urging him to remain, which he did for some years longer. Funeral services were held on Wednesday at the Rudd home, conducted by Rev. C. S. Moser, pastor of the Presbyterian Church, of which Mr. Seeley had for many years been a member and elder. Interment in Evergreen Cemetery.
Published in the Pine Plains Register, Thursday, January 5, 1922
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