The Washington times., 1907-03-31
HIS DYING WISH WAS LAW
Unique Story of Iowa's Only Endowed
Cemetery.

DIES MONIES, Iowa. March S0.-Sup-
ported by the income Of 30 acres OF as
fine farm land as can be found in the
State Of Iowa and surrounded by fence
OF Vermont granite and iron-an exact
( replica. even to dimensions. Of the fence
which surrounds the California State
/ house grounds at Sacramento-theS har-
/ on Cemetery at la Crew, Lee county.
Iowa. is not only memorial TO young
/ Iowan but is the most unique burial
/ place in the United States. So far as
can be learned by interested parties who
have made Investigations. no other GENE
| terry in America is endowed 50 literally
! by one person for the use Of the general
public OF is such a memorial 10 hltal
/ love.
Lying on his deathbed near San An
tonic. Tex, George Lincoln Seely con-
hded to his watching brothe' and sister
shat Sharon Cemetery was tie dearest
spot on earth to him and added his wish
and request that il be made into veri-
table garden spot. As the angel Of death
lowered near by the dying man gave
I particulars as 20 the work which he
/ wished 20 be done. even 10 the dimen-
sions of the stcne which was 10 go into
the inclosing fence. The brother and
sister, bending low that they might not
miss a word, took notes OF the dying
mans wishes. These notes transcribed
have been the plans and specifications
OF the improvements which make Sharon
Cemetery today an object Of curiosity
for miles around and the most unique
burial ground in America
After his wishes as 10 the spot most
dear Of all on earth 10 him had been
/ known another project which had lain
near his heart for many day was out
lined By the dying man. George Lin
/ coin Seeley wished 20 endow an edu-
cational institution which should give
! the boy not born with a silver spoon
In his mouth the middle class boy who
must fight his own way through life and
( rise> or fall on his individual merits,
an education and a chance 20 equip
himself. mentally and physically, for
\ the battle OF life. Unlike the improve
ment Of the cemetery. there was no
/ weIl-dehned plan for his work Only
as the dying man breathed his last he
told Of his wish. leaving Il to others to
take up the work.
Training School Is Founded.
The Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton Of Mount Pleasant. with its allied
manual training school. stands today
as the realization Of those unvoiced
plans Of the dying man down in Texas.
with his brother and sister standing
. sorrowing near by and eagerly taking in
every word.
Back of the story, Of the Sharon Gem
! eterv and the Mount Pleasant Y. NJ c.
\ A. and manual training school lies a
story OF hllal devotion such as is seldom
T given the world to know.
George Lincoln Seeley was born on the
Seeley homestead near Primrose, in Lee
county, on May 10, 1850, the Youngest son
! of Eli and Martha b Seeley- he was
J educated at HOWe'S Academy IN Mount
/ Pleasant and on attaining manhood took
up. with his brothers. the work OF man
:, aging the extensive Seeley estate com
/ prising several hundred acres OF the
: finest farm land in southeastern Iowa
On the death of Eli Seeley IN April,
1886. George Lincoln Seeley had charge
of the conduct OF the business @IIalIs TOT
z some time The hard work Of this re-
sponsibility proved too much for the
frail young man. IN December OF that
year he went South in search OF health,
locating at a small town about fifty
= brother, T. F. SeeIey, Of San Antonio,
I and HE sister. Lucy J. Seeley Davis.
] now Of Kansas City.
The young mans health did not i'm
prove as had been hoped and on May 10,
T 1897. he passed away. His brother. w.
. j. Seeiey. now a member OF the Iowa
State senate. had been hurriedly sum-
>, moned and reached the bedside a few
? hours before the dying man passed
, away
! It vas during those last days down in
; / Texfs that George Lincoln Seeley out
! lineG his plans for the Improvement OF
! the Sharon Cemetery and the erection
of some sort Of an educational insti-
: tuition for the common boy. The
= Sharon Cemetery was dear to him by
: reason of the fact that his father and
two sisters were Inferred there. It was
beautiful little burial ground, -four
. | acres In extent, located four miles north
{ west Of the Seeley family homestead.
Jl When the end had come the remains
2 of George Lincoln Seeiey We're brought
2 from Texas to Iowa and inferred in the
= Sharon Cemetery. Later another brother
has been buried there.
Dying Man Made No VIII.
The young man left no will: the only
! documents on which the family had to
work were the transcribed notes of the
+ conversations the dying man had had
! with his brother and sisters. With these
! as a basis the family decided to so
/ ahead and carry out every wish of the
] dead man as though it were a rigorous
2 order Of court. from which there was
no appeal
The situation was peculiar. The
! under my charge there were at leas
~ 1T Fill. 1nr-