Wandering Around The Family Tree

Genealogical Summary [160] Generation One 1. Uriah Sornberger , son of John Sornberger and Deborah Rau, was born about 1788 in New York and died 17 September 1850, most likely in Hillsdale, Columbia County, New York. He married Betsy Cole before 1813. She was born about 1789 in Connecticut and died 10 January 1858 in Hillsdale. Uriah and Betsy had four children, all likely born in Egremont, Berkshire County, Massachusetts.         2.        i.        Edward , born about 1813, died 11 January 1842 probably in Hillsdale. +      3.       ii.        Eliza , born 28 April 1816, died 29 October 1859.         4.     iii.       George , born about 1818, died 1885 probably in Hillsdale. He married Harriet Newell Osborn , daughter of Melvin O...

  Julia and Merret Seeley Two of Merritt and Lizzie Seeley ’s children died unmarried within a few years of their father’s death. Julia died at age fourteen of typho-malarial fever at Great Barrington on 11 January 1887.[133]   Typho-malarial fever was likely a joint infection of typhoid fever and malaria. Common symptoms were diarrhea, the red rash of typhoid fever, and the periodic fever of malaria. A case of typho-malarial fever usually lasted between two and six weeks.[134] Like his mother, Merret Seeley died of consumption.[135]  Merret had been in ill health for several years prior to his death. As early as 1895, he was spending winters in warmer climates in hopes of improving his health.[136]  When his health permitted, he worked as a clerk in a clothing store, Hatch & Dewey, in Great Barrington. [137] Figure 14. Battery Park Hotel. Asheville, North Carolina, 1902 [138] Sometime in the fall of 1896, Merret arrived in Asheville, Buncombe County,...

Merritt and Lizzie's Children Isaac Seeley Shortly after Merritt ’s death, his son Isaac established his own family. On 13 October 1886, Issac married Sophia Curtiss van Schaack in St. James Episcopal Church in Great Barrington, the same church where his parents had been married. At the time, Isaac’s occupation was listed as a solicitor from Boston. [103]  A year later, on 12 October 1887, Sophia gave birth to her only child, a son, George Slingerland Seeley in New York City. Isaac was working as an express agent at the time. [104] Figure 10. Isaac Seeley Photograph from Colorado State Penitentiary [105] By mid-1892, Isaac, Sophie and their son George were living in Colorado, when the family fortunes took a dark turn. [106]  On 20 June 1893, while Issac was working as a foreman at Gardens Ranch in El Paso County, he was arrested and charged with forgery and larceny. He was accused of forging checks and using the proceeds to gamble. [107] Isaac was sente...

  Merritt Seeley After Lizzie ’s Death After Lizzie ’s death, Merritt returned to Detroit and his work at the American Express Company. His work kept him quite busy. In November 1879, he sent flags from Detroit to Chicago for a reception for President Grant. [82]  In 1880, shipping around the holidays meant long hours for Merritt. In November, he put in eighteen hour days, and in December, was on duty for a week with only ten hours of sleep. [83]  During these years, he was active in local dramatic societies, and church activities. [84]  He remained in Detroit until late December 1881, when he left to take a job in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. [85]  Before he left, several events were held honoring his time and service in Detroit. [86] Figure 8. 1884 Aerial Map of Great Barrington. Crop showing likely location of Seeley home. [87] While Merritt worked in Detroit, his children remained in Great Barrington with his family. In 188...