Paul Edgar Seeley
1910-1994
(Generation 210)
Born 19 Jan 1910, Cairo, Green Co., NY
Married to Ida Pauline Oliphant
Died 1 Mar 1994 Cave Junction, Josephine Co., OR
( Colon Cancer )
Paul Edgar Seeley was born in Cario, New York in 1910. His parents were
unable to support he and his brothers Leo, Carl and Harold. The four boys
were put into an orphanage of the Children's Aid Society and eventually
were put on the "Orphan Train" arriving in Bethany MO. in January 1918.
The only names Paul remembers are Rudy and Joe Spencer who may have been
the first family he was placed with. Joe Spencer stood up with Paul when
he married Ida Pauline Oliphant. Paul has said he moved several times
from one family to another before running away "to make it on his own".
- - - - - - - - - -
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE "ORPHAN TRAINS". In 1852, over 175,000 German
immigrants arrived in America. In 1854, the number rose to 250,000 with
New York City being the main port of arrival. For a time, before these
immigrants could move on, New York City suffered chaotic conditions of
overcrowding, disease, and a breakdown of families.
Having left their Parents and Grand Parents in the old country, many
young families did not have extended families to turn to in times of
crisis. By 1883, conditions were appaling in New York City. It was that
year Charles Loring Brace and friends founded the Children's Aid Society
of New York City.
Unable to care for all the children who needed to be cared for, Brace
devised a plan for sending children out on trains to live with farm
families. During the 75 year period, 1854 to 1929, an estimated 150,000
children and poor families were relocated.
Children who came under the guardianship of the CAS were often sent to
the Brace Farm School for training. Industrial schools were estabilished
with the hope of teaching each child a trade so they could make their own
way in life and become productive and useful citizens.
From the schools and institutions, children were taken by agents to the
West and Midwest. They traveled by train. In 1879 Dorthea Petrie wrote
about them in her book, Orphan Trains. The name of the mass movement
became known as the "
Orphan's Trains era" in America's history.
- - - - - - - - - -
A BACKGROUND OF THE SEELEY NAME:
Originally the Seeley name came from the
Old English word "Saelig" meaning a happy person. Strangely enough the
same root word produced the word 'silly'. Often misunderstood in England
was the occasionally used phrase "silly Suffolk" which actually meant
"happy or prosperous Suffolk". The corresponding German name is Selig.
Early tax roles recorded a Richard Seli in 1200, Lincolnshire; Roger Cely
of Shropshire in 1255; Thomas Sali, 1279 on the Huntingdonshire rolls;
and Thomas Zely from Worchestershire in 1327.
John Edward Bernard Seely was the 1st Baron Mottistone and an important
political leader at the turn of the century. Sir John Robert Seeley was
an important historian and essayist in England during the 1800's.
First Seeley in America - Captain Robert Seeley (Cilley). Son of William
Seeley of London, England.
Seeley was also a prominent name in the colonization of America. Robert
Seeley and his wife Mary landed at Salem with Governor
Winthrop in 1630. He was a founder of Watertown, Mass. and Marshall of
the New Haven Colony.
Other Spellings: Seally; Seely; Seelyes; Seley; Sealy. (all of the same
Origin)
Revolutionary Surrender of Burgoynes Army on a farm owned by Captain
Nehamiah Seeley Ruby.
