Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 4.djvu/464

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HOMER H. SEERLEY was born near Indianapolis, Indiana, August 13, 1848. He came with his parents to Iowa in 1854, locating at South English, where his early education was acquired in the public schools. He entered the State University, graduating in 1873. The following autumn he began his career as a teacher by accepting a position as assistant in the high school of Oskaloosa. The following year he became principal of the school and in 1875 city superintendent of schools. In 1886 he resigned to accept the presidency of the State Normal School at Cedar Falls. For twenty-five years he has been identified with the State Teachers' Association of which he was president in 1884. He is also a member of the National Educational Association and the National Educational Council. Mr. Seerley has written many educational articles for the press and delivered numerous addresses before educational assemblies. He is one of the authors of Seerley and Parish's History of Civil Government in Iowa. He has been president of the State Normal School for more than seventeen years.

JOHN J. SEERLEY was born at Toulon, Illinois, March 13, 1852. He removed to Iowa and graduated at the State University in 1875. He was principal of the Iowa City high school in 1876. The following year lie graduated from the Law Department of the University and entered upon the practice in Burlington, was elected city solicitor, holding the position six years. In 1888 he was nominated by the Democrats of the First Congressional District for Representative and was defeated by Ex-Governor Gear, the Republican candidate. In 1890 he was again the Democratic candidate and was elected over his former competitor.

WILLIAM H. SEEVERS was born in Shenandoah County, Virginia, April 8, 1822. His boyhood was passed on his father's farm and his education was acquired in the common schools. He began to read law in 1843 and removed to Oskaloosa, Iowa, in 1844, where he began practice. Mr. Seevers was elected Prosecuting Attorney in 1848, serving one term. In 1852 he was elected judge of the Third Judicial District, serving until 1856. In 1857 he was elected to the House of the Seventh General Assembly and was chairman of the judiciary committee. In 1872 he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention which nominated General Grant for President the second time. He was a member of the commission to revise the laws of the State and was editor of the Code of 1873. In 1875 he was again elected to the General Assembly. In 1876 he was appointed Judge of the Supreme Court to fill a vacancy where he served until 1888. Judge Seevers died at his home in Oskaloosa, March 24, 1895.

CATO SELLS was born in Vinton, Iowa, October 6, 1859. Losing his father at an early age he was obliged to provide for the family, attending