Craftsman bungalow

Circa 1925 Kansas Handyman Craftsman Bungalow $55K

OHU50K Notes   $55,000

 

The Craftsman bungalow may be a handyman special. but those floors, built-ins and kitchen cupboards could be restored in no time! I really went down a rabbit down with the story behind this house.

 

If interested in a property, please contact the realtor whose link is provided in the post below, or contact an agent of your own choosing. Independent verification of details and status is recommended.

1006 N Olive St, Abilene, KS 67410     $55,000

 

 

Family History

This was the city home of John Mason Seelye (1830-1916) who also owned a farm six miles out of town.

Per Find-A-Grave:

Early Life

John Mason Seelye is a native of Vermont, and was born on his father’s farm in Bennington county, April 1, 1830, the son of Barns and Bethany (Young) Seelye, and is one of the sixth generation in descent from Capt. Robert Seelye, the founder of the family in America. The first twenty years of his life were spent in his native county, where he was reared a farmer. He obtained a good education in the district schools, and in 1850 decided to seek opportunity for advancement in the undeveloped West. Illinois, at that time in the early stages of settlement, seemed to him the place for his activities, and he journey there, first stopping at Chicago, where he was offered 160 acres of land, now in the heart of the city, for $200; an offer he scoffed at, as it was virtually a marsh and much better suited for raising frogs than farming.

Work Life

On July 4, 1850, he joined his brother, Danforth Seelye, at Peoria, and shortly after engaged in farming near that city, and remained a resident of that section until 1856, when he removed to Marshall County. He was occupied in farming and stock raising in Illinois until 1890, when he disposed of his interests and came to Kansas, locating in the city of Abilene. He had accumulated a comfortable fortune from his agricultural enterprise and he employed his funds in assisting his son, Alfred B. Seelye, who had established at Abilene, in 1890, a laboratory for the manufacture of proprietary medicines. This enterprise, now one of the important factors in its line in the United States. Many of the preparations manufactured bear the portrait of Mr. Seelye as a trade mark.

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Personal Life

Mr. Seelye married at Kickapoo, Ill., December 25, 1855, Miss Ellen Seely, daughter of Samuel and Delia (Richmond) Seely, who was born at Wyoming, Ill., December 31, 1837. Her father, Samuel Seely, was a native of Tioga county, New York, born in 1798. He was one of the early settlers of Illinois, removing there from his native State in 1829, was a farmer throughout his life, and died in 1863. His wife was born in Indiana, and died in 1857. To this union were born the following children: Franklin Danforth, born October 7, 1856, a manufacturer of proprietary medicines at Oklahoma City, Okla.; Albert, born March 21, 1860, who died in 1863; Alvin William, born May 24, 1863, a successful stockman of Ellis county, Kansas; Emma, born April 3, 1865, the wife of Wesley Organ, a farmer and stockman of Julietta, Idaho; Alfred Barns, a review of whom follows this article; and Jennie, born December 22, 1872, the wife of J. A. Gish, of Abilene, Kan. Mr. Seelye retired from active business several years ago, and resides at No. 1012 Olive street. He is remarkably well preserved for a man of his age, eighty-four, and is a familiar figure on the streets of Abilene, where he enjoys the respect and esteem of all.

 


Death

Upon Mr. Seelye’s death in 1916, he left the house to his daughter, Jennie Gish, and her family. Dr. Albert Seelye, son of John who went into the patent medicine business, certainly did not need the Craftsman bungalow, for he built himself a gigantic mansion in Abilene.

After Jennie’s husband passed away, the widow sold the family home sometime before 1940 and moved to Boise, Idaho.

 

 


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