The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1868-03-05
RANDONI TlEOUGHTs No. 10.
BY THE EDITOR.


On last Friday week Peter ,seel died at his res
Hence in jefferson Township in this county
He was quite healthy until week before his
DEATH NC had been attending a protrpeted
mcetlpJTaH6 took cold, which settled ~ his
aRes.
Mr.. seel was over eighty fOur years old, and
his wife, who survives him. Is over eighty one
and they had lived together as husband and W ife
for more than sixty years, and their descendants
number nearly one hundred and fifty persons
Mr. Seel was the first white man whO settled In
jefferson township. His cabin was few rods
west of the present residence of John Phillips
near the railroad, mile east of Galla Station
This was in the year 1914 The county of Jack
son was not organized until two years after this,
and the township was not then named, but was
known as township No. 3, range No. IS, Ross
county. The nearest nei eighbor Mr.. seel then
had was Lewis Adkins, who lived four miles from
him, on the on the farm now owned by Josph +.
Cacklcy, one mile north cast from Oak Hill His
next nearest neighbor was John Clingman where
Webster is now located, in Scioto county, and
ten miles from where Mr. secl lived. Ten wears
after Mr. Se.I settled in Jefferson township
can first remember, and think the following
were the only families residing in the township:
Joseph Phillips, Abner Phillips, Robert Massey,
Moses Massey, George Crump, Teter Null, Jesse
Kelly, Solomon Mackley, John Mackley, my faith
or, John Walton, Jsmes Kelly, DIR. Gabriel
McNee Joel Arthur, Wm. II. G. jenkins,
Amos Jenkins, Enoch Ewing, John White, John
Horton, Matt Farley, John Farley, Thomas
Farley, and perhaps two or three others.
Mr.. Seel paid the first tax ever paid In JefTor-
son township, being the sum of seventy five
cents. lie lived to see the township In which he
was the pioneer, the most pOpulous in jackson
county. 1t contains the most churches and
school houses, the most wealth, pays the most
taxes, has the fewest delinquences, sent the
most soldiers 10 the war to save the country,
and never had a draft for her quota, gives the
lar ;est Republican vote and the largest Repub-
lican majority of any township in the county
OF all thcs' things Mr.. seel felt just pride, and
like to speak of them, as lived in that town
ship for thirty years myself.
Mr.. see was a native of Germany, and came
to this country when a youth. He was always
proud of his Fatherland He never could speak
the English language plainly and he never tried
to do 80. He could talk huently, but it was
broken. Ny father could talk Dutch, and many
a chat did he have with Mr.. seel in their mother
tongue Mr. See know my father, and my
grandfather, in Virginia, and when my grand
father died there in the last century, his Ducth
Bible was given to Mr.. seel and the last time
staid oil night with him he told me that he still
had my grand-fsther's Bible, with the ages ofmy
father uncles and aunts recorded in it, in the
Dutch language.
Mr.. Seo possessed large amount of sterling
good senseSand considerable fund of native wit,
for Dutchman. lie was patriot. He loved
Germany and he loved the United States and he
loved jefferson township In his younger days
no partook Of the reckless ways of the back
,EooIs.A KSsSsErmsa=z =ztriE.s,'affr~tiSs=EA Some
thirty Years ago he was converted and Joined
the church fthe United Brethren, and remained
Il worthy member until his death. He was Al-
ways Jealous in the cause Of religion, after his
conversion. lie was strictly an honest man, and
always batsatgickeryo or dishonosS i was much
about his house. and he was always hospitable,
as was his good wife. My first school was
taught near where he lived and several Of his
boys were my pupils.
The last time / saw Mr.. Seel he was In my Of
fee. That was the carly part of the present win
tor. lie was then vigorous both in mind and
in town, as he had been so intimately acquainted
with the family for nearly three quarters of a
century, and had known ME from my infancy.
d. NJ