CIVIC, CHURCH LEADER DIES
Former Mayor Drops Dead in Store; Was Prominent as Woolman
MT. PLEASANT – Joseph Seely, former Sanpete county commissioner and mayor of Mt. Pleasant from 1925 to 1928 dropped dead about 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Erickson Meat and Grocery store. Mr. Seely had just completed a purchase of supplied for coal teams and was standing by a counter when he sank to the floor. Dr. W.P. Winters pronounced death instantaneous, due to a cerebral hemorrhage.
Mr. Seely, a prominent farmer and woolgrower, was born here March 30, 1862, a son of Justus W. and Clarissa Jan Seely, Mt. Pleasant settlers of 1859.
He was married to Miss Sarah H. Allen in the Logan L.D.S. temple December 11, 1885. She died March 4, 1887. His second wife, whom he married in the Manti L.D.S. temple October 25, 1893, was Miss Adella E. Olson of Moroni. She died in May 1911. He was married to Miss Lena Jorgensen of Mt. Pleasant in the Manti temple June 20, 1912.
He was a prominent L.D.S. church and civic worker, having performed two missions in Kentucky from 1890 to 1892 and in the Manti temple from 1895 to 1897. He served many years in the North ward bishopric, and was a member of the stake high council until a year ago. At the time of his death he was first counselor in the high priests quorum.
He was a staunch Republican and served two terms as Sanpete county commissioner prior to 1910 and served as mayor from 1926 to 1928.
He had been president of the Pleasant Creek Irrigation company more than 20 years.
He is survived by his widow and nine sons and daughters: Mrs. Canute Beal, Manti; Mrs. Lester Jorgensen, Castle Dale; Ray Seely, Moroni; Thoron Seely, Preston, Idaho; Justus, Reuel, Carlton, Elva and Alice Seely, Mt. Pleasant; 12 grandchildren; two brothers and two sisters, Stuart Seely, St. Anthony, Idaho; Hyrum Seely, Mrs. Miranda Ontan and Mrs. Evan Christensen, Mt. Pleasant.
Funeral services will be held in the North ward chapel at 1 p.m. Friday.
Published in The Salt Lake Tribune, Wednesday January 6, 1932 page 8
MT. PLEASANT – Funeral services for Joseph Seely, 69, prominent civic and church leader here, who died suddenly Tuesday at 6 p.m., will be held Friday at 1 p.m. in the North ward chapel.
Mr. Seely was a former mayor of this city and a former Sanpete county commissioner. He was born in Mt. Pleasant, March 30, 1862 and had lived here all his life. He was one of the county’s prominent wool growers and also was active in L.D.S. church circles.
He died of a cerebral hemorrhage.
Published in The Salt Lake Tribune, Friday January 8, 1932 page 10
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