• Lynda Simmons, President
• Paul Taylor, 1st Vice President & Publications Editor
• Jesse S. Crisler, 2nd Vice President
• Patricia Brooks Palmer, Secretary
• Margaret Petersen, Treasurer
• Linda L Crocker, Chief Genealogist
• Terry Tietjens, Director
• Wesley Waring, Director
• Ruthetta Seelye Hansen, Director & Historian
• Katherine M. Olsen, Past President
• Marie Seelye, Membership Chair
• Dian Little, Assistant Genealogist – Obadiah
• Pauline Cilley Gamer, Assistant Genealogist – Other Lines
• Chris Havnar, Assistant Genealogist – Robert/Nathaniel, Webmaster & SGS Ancestor File Co-Chair
• Linda L Crocker, Query Editor/SGS Ancestor File Co-Chair
• George Seeley, Parliamentarian
• Terry Tietjens, Seelye Research Center
• Pamela D. Turner, Librarian, Seelye Research Center
• Pamela D. Turner, SGS CD-ROM Project Director
• Walt Seelye, DNA Lineage Project Manager

The Mid-Ohio River Valley proved to be a wonderful setting for the 2017 Seeley Genealogical Society Reunion. Not only is it beautiful and picturesque, but it is also full of history. Everything between Parkersburg, WV, and Marietta, OH, was filled with interesting, informative, and fun things to do.

Members were able to learn about the history of the area, hear more about Seeley research, ancestors, and DN and, creating family books, share family memories, and keep updated on the Seelye Research Center. One of biggest bonuses of any reunion is getting to know our Seeley cousins better and enjoying their company.

The reunion extended from June 14 to June 18. We had forty-nine people in attendance from twelve different states. We really had such a good time together, as we learned much about Seeleys and this historic and beautiful part of our country.

Linda Crocker, SGS Chief Genealogist, graciously hosted the SGS Executive Board Meeting in her home on Wednesday afternoon. Members are always invited to attend board meetings. Since most of the reunion attendees were in town on Wednesday night, we all enjoyed a delicious dinner together. Afterwards, we all met at the Wingate Hotel for a welcoming meeting, introducing ourselves, telling where we were from, and becoming better acquainted. Registration materials were given out and the reunion agenda discussed. It was a good beginning.

Thursday, June 15, began with a spectacular view of the Ohio River and Parkersburg from Fort Boreman Historical Park. Historian Bob Enoch met members there to inform us of the rich history of this area. Fort Boreman was built in 1863 as a Civil War fortification to ensure that the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad link between Wheeling and Parkersburg would not be controlled by the Confederate Army. The area had been surveyed by George Washington before the Revolutionary War, and many of his men settled in the area after the war.

We then moved to the Memorial Church of the Good Shepherd, where all of our subsequent meetings were held. The church proved to be a wonderful place to meet because the auditorium was very comfortable with a kitchen close by. The chapel itself is beautiful, and Marjorie Bevans, the rector, and her staff were very welcoming. Linda and Bob Crocker brought drinks and anything we needed and had food delivered; Linda even made a delicious salad to go with our pizza lunch.

Linda was also the most valuable person behind this reunion. Last summer when it was time to organize the reunion, Linda and I were the only ones who could be in West Virginia. She had made a list of all possible sites for meetings and tours. We visited each site and decided which would be best, allowing us to complete much of the agenda at that time. During the year, what one of us did not think of, the other one did. We decided that we made a good partnership, but Linda in West Virginia was the one who made things happen. I am very grateful for her leadership and many, many hours of service!

At the opening session I welcomed everyone, gave an overview of planned activities, and set up carpools for them. Mark Seely gave a realistic reenactment of Justus Wellington Seely who was born in 1815 in Pickering, Canada. His family joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormons) and moved to Nauvoo, Illinois. They travelled down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and could have camped on the river near where we were meeting and staying. Justus and his family with other Mormon pioneers were forced to leave Nauvoo and trek to Utah, where he was a leader in his community, served a mission, reared a large family, and died in 1894 in Mt. Pleasant, Utah. Besides giving many details about his ancestor’s life, Mark also then played his harmonica for us. The members enjoyed both his presentation and his music.

Wesley Waring, SGS Director-at-large, followed Mark with an informative overview of Society research. Wesley told about the latest research done by Apryl Cox, focusing on the Obadiah line in both America and England. Wesley and the Research Committee would like Apryl to continue working on Obadiah’s line, checking Robert’s line, and also looking for additional Seeleys who came to America around the time that both of them did. All members appreciated Wesley’s presentation and hard work as the chairman of the Research Committee.

At breaks and lunch, members enjoyed delicious Seely Mints from the Seely Mint Company. Mike Seely and his wife Candy own and operate a mint farm in Clatskanie, Oregon. They sent four varieties for us to try: Peppermint Patties, Mint Bark, and both ivory and dark Belgian Chocolate Melts. To find a store that carries these delicious Seely Mints near you or to order them, go to their website: www.seelymint.com.

Members were also able to purchase great Seeley Genealogical Society T-shirts. You can, too, for only $12.00 (or $14.00 for size XXL). There are still some left. Get in touch with Linda Crocker to order one. They make great gifts for your Seeley relatives.

Everyone who registered for the reunion received a colorful Seeley bag, which was handy to carry materials and notes in. Additional bags can be purchased for only $5.00 from Terry Tietjens at the Seelye Research Center.

We had a tasty, boxed lunch and then drove to Marietta, about twenty minutes away. Marietta was the first settlement in the Northwest Territory. The Marietta Historic District contains charming buildings and shops on cobblestone streets. SGS members enjoyed trolley tours of Marietta, visited the Campus Martius Museum, the Ohio River Museum, and the Washington County Public Library, which has Seeleys in its genealogical section, and in the evening, had a delicious dinner on the Valley Gem Sternwheeler, part of a delightful two-hour cruise on the Ohio and Muskingum Rivers.

On Friday, June 16, we met at Good Shepherd Church again. Paul Borelli spoke about his photography. He owns thousands of vintage photographs of events that happened in and around Parkersburg, some of which he shared with us, including photos of the Wright Brothers when they brought their Kitty Hawk to the area and when it crashed. He also showed photos of famous people who had visited the area, such as Amelia Earhart and the original Munchkins. We were fascinated by his photos and stories. He was like a custodian of a national treasure.

Pam Turner, SGS Librarian, then presented an update of the Seelye Research Center, noting that the Center’s goals continue to be to preserve the genealogical legacy of the Seeley name (all spellings), to collect and house artifacts related to the Seeley surname, and to share information with the public in accordance with privacy protection policies. Pam described the Center’s acquisition policy and general rules for accepting donated materials. Members in attendance now have a new appreciation of her work.

Next, Stephanie Mills Moore helped explained how DNA testing works. Y-DNA testing is only for males because the Y chromosome is passed only from father to son. Mitochondrial (mtDNA) testing is for females because the mtDNA, a small circular genetic molecule found outside the nucleus, is passed by mothers to their sons and daughters, but only the females can pass it on to the next generation. Autosomal (atDNA) testing can be done for everyone but is less specific. Stephanie also provided a list of DNA testing companies and DNA databases.

We had another delicious, boxed lunch and then went to the Blennerhasset Museum, just a paddle boat ride away on Blennerhasset Island, where we also took wagon rides around the island and toured the beautiful Blennerhasset Mansion. We all enjoyed relaxing and conversing with each other amidst lovely surroundings.

That evening we went to dinner at DaVinci’s Restaurant. The food was delicious and the speaker fascinating. Bill Reynolds, Campus Martius Museum Historian and collaborator with American historian, David McCullough, talked about Rufus Putnam, an engineer and colonel during the Revolutionary War, who surveyed and settled Marietta at the confluence of the Ohio and Muskingum Rivers. Putnam was thus an important leader in the development of the Northwest Territory. Reynolds’s talk was fascinating.

On Saturday, June 17, we had the SGS Membership Meeting, which began with a slide show, created by Ron Sandquist, of pictures from the reunion. Patricia Brooks, SGS Secretary, read the minutes of our previous meetings, which were approved. We then re-elected SGS officers, all of whom had agreed to serve again. We are very thankful for their tireless service. They are part of the strength of the Society. We welcome LeAnne Seely who has agreed to produce the next Reunion Souvenir Book. We talked about ways to improve SGS. SGS Treasurer Margaret Petersen then presented a financial report, and Paul Taylor, SGS First Vice President and chair of the Communication Committee, reported on progress of the website redesign. Wesley Waring, Chair of the Research Committee, reported on the past research done and what more we would like to have done.

Members voted to dedicate the 2017 Reunion Souvenir Book to Jerry Havnar for his many years of service to SGS in setting-up and maintaining the website. Our love and thanks go to his widow, Chris, SGS Assistant Genealogist, who worked by Jerry’s side.

Three different sites, two in New York and one in California, were presented for the 2019 Reunion. Members voted to hold it in San Diego, CA. Discussion ensued regarding what month would be best for the reunion; the Reunion Committee will take that into consideration as we plan the Reunion.

LeAnne Seely then presented information on creating family books. She and her mother, Kathryn, just completed the third volume of Seely History, the story of the progenitors and descendants of Justus Azel Seely. LeAnne’s father, Montell, started them on this wonderful project.

Carol Haddon next gave a delightful history of her Seeley ancestors, telling humorous stories about them. All enjoyed her presentation.

For lunch at the end of the meeting we had pizza and salad. Members then had free time in the afternoon to pursue any of several activities: Henderson Hall, the Ohio River National Wildlife Refuge, the Mid-Ohio Valley Multicultural Festival, the Parkersburg Art Center, Holl’s Chocolate Factory, shopping for antiques in Marietta, or relaxing.

The Executive Board Meeting was held at 4:30 p.m. We discussed possible changes to the Constitution, ultimately deciding that changes were not needed. Minutes of the two Board meetings and the Membership Meeting will be published in both the Newsletter and the Reunion Souvenir Book.

That evening we had our farewell dinner, a delicious buffet, at the Grand Point Convention Center, where the Treble Makers, a barbershop quartet, provided entertainment. We enjoyed both the music and the food. Marshall Seelye entertained members as he introduced the Volunteer of the Year. He called up three volunteers and then announced that Kathie Olsen was the SGS Outstanding Volunteer of the Year. Kathie served as President of SGS for eight years. She and her mother, Madeline Mills, wrote the three Seeley generation books about the descendants of both Robert and Obadiah Seeley. She organized four reunions as well as trips to England and New England to visit the places where Robert and Obadiah lived. She also obtained SGS’s 501(c)(3) tax status, to mention only some of what she has done for the Society. We thank Kathie for all of her service.

At the end of the dinner, we bade a fond farewell to our Seeley cousins. We had a wonderful time together in West Virginia and Ohio, learning about new initiatives in genealogical research, enjoying the beautiful Mid-Ohio Valley, and meeting and greeting each other.

SGS reunions are a great time for fellowship and finding out more about Seeley ancestors and our nation’s history. Begin making plans now to attend the next reunion in San Diego. We hope to see everyone from this 2017 reunion there as well as many more Seeleys.

Linda Crocker,
SGS Chief Genealogist