JAMES SEEVERS, deceased, an honored pioneer of Mahaska County, of 1843, was born: in Frederick County, Va., Oct. 12,1792. His; parents, Henry and Martha Seevers, were descended from the French Huguenots. The family: removed from France to Germany, and thence to: America in colonial times and settled in Pennsylvania. Later the branch from which our subject: sprang was established in Virginia. James served an apprenticeship to the tanner's trade, at which he worked but a few years, and then engaged in farming.
Our subject was united in marriage, in 1820, to: Miss Rebecca Wilkins, who was born Nov. 23,1797. They were the parents of six children who lived to maturity; two died in infancy, and one in childhood. William H., the eldest, is now Judge: of the Supreme Court of Iowa, and a resident of Oskaloosa; he married Miss Caroline M. Lee (see sketch elsewhere in this work). Virginia R. is the widow of M. T. Williams, and a resident of Oskaloosa; Thomas F. married Louisa Knight, and his: death occurred in 1853; John M. was a soldier of the late war, being a private of the 3d Iowa Infantry, and died in 1862 in the hospital, from disease contracted in the service; Theodore L. was a : Lieutenant of the 33d Iowa Infantry; he married: Miss Eliza Boswell, and resides at Marshalltown, Iowa; James A. was a Captain in the 15th Iowa Infantry; he married Mary Collins, and died from disease contracted in the army.
Mr. Seevers emigrated from Virginia to Iowa in 1842. He spent one winter in Jefferson County, and in the spring of 1843 came to Oskaloosa, locating about a mile outside the city, and engaged in farming. He was the first Justice of the Peace in Mahaska County, and held the office many years. He was a true and consistent Christian, holding membership with the Lutheran Church, and was an upright, honorable man, who commanded the respect and good-will of his fellow-citizens. His demise took place at the ripe age of eighty-six years, April 6, 1879. His wife, the cherished partner of his joys and sorrows for many years, and a most estimable lady, died July 4, 1873.
SOURCE: Portrait And Biographical Album Of Mahaska County, Iowa, published by Chapman Brothers, Chicago, Illinois, 1887, p. 240-1
