Jonas Seeley 1831-1920

Years ago, my Dad told me about his grandfather who lived with them when Dad was a little boy.  He didn't remember much other that his name and the fact that an old trunk he had once belonged to this grandfather.  My research has confirmed that this was Dad's great-grandfather, Jonas Seeley, and I still have the trunk that belonged to him.

Jonas was born on March 30, 1831 in Pennsylvania, probably in Wayne County.  he appears to have been the oldest of 13 children born to Isaac Seeley and Polly "Mary" Swingle.  Jonas married Eliza Jane Swingle around 1847.  I have located them in South Canaan in the 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 census records.  They had 10 children, Emarantha, Joseph, Adelia, Aldruda, Levin, Seldon, Jennette (Nettie), Annie, Janet, and Mary Grace. Adelia was the daughter I know of as Della, wife of Ashfield Gray and Dad's maternal grandmother.  Aldruda was Dad's stepmother, Joe Paynter's 3rd wife, after her niece and my grandmother died.

From the following record, I believe Jonas may have fought in the Civil War,
Seely Johns ,  
Enlistment Date:    19 November 1861 
Distinguished Service:    DISTINGUISHED SERVICE 
Side Served:    Union 
State Served:    Pennsylvania 
Unit Numbers:    2076 2076 
Service Record:    Enlisted as a Musician on 19 November 1861
Enlisted in Company B, 101st Infantry Regiment Pennsylvania on 19 November 1861.
Received a disability discharge Company B, 101st Infantry Regiment Pennsylvania on 15 April 1862


This other record could also refer to Jonas, although the age in this reference is off by 10 years:
 American Civil War Soldiers Record about Jonas S Seely:
Name: Jonas S Seely ,  
Enlistment Date: 05 March 1862 
Distinguished Service: DISTINGUISHED SERVICE 
Side Served: Union 
State Served: New York 
Unit Numbers: 1349 1349 
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 05 March 1862 at the age of 19
Enlisted in Company C, 5th Heavy Artillery Regiment New York on 07 March 1862.
Discharged to enlist in RA Company C, 5th Heavy Artillery Regiment New York on 23 January 1863
Enlisted in Company Batty L, 5th Light Artillery Regiment RA on 23 January 1863.

The photo here is of Carrie and Jonas sitting on the porch of their house.  Eliza died in 1888.  His grand-daughter Carrie probably came to live with him at that time.  The 1900 and 1910 census records show Jonas as the owner of a home at 234 Carbondale Road, Waymart, PA.  It also shows his grand-daughter Carrie Gray living with him.    When Carrie married Joe Paynter, Joe came to live in Jonas' house.  Jonas died on November 22, 1920, of broncial pheumonia.  He is buried with Eliza in the South Canaan Bible Protestant Cemetery, on Rt 296.  His obituary, from page 6 of the Carbondale Leader, November 26, 1920:

"Jonas Seeley Dies at Ripe Old Age

The death of Jonas Seeley of Waymart, Wayne County, which occurred Monday evening at Parsons following a sudden attach of pneumonia has been the source of a genuine regret among his circle of friends. Deceased was 89 years old and a lifelong resident of Wayne County, where he was well known and highly respected. Surviving are four children, Mrs Della Gray, Parsons, Seldon Seeley of this city, Mrs Aldrude Shager and Mrs Levin Shager of Kerrick Center, also four brothers, eight grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren. Burial was made in South Canaan cemetery yesterday after services at 1:30 o'clock."

When Jonas died, he left the house to his granddaughter Carrie.  At her death, her two sons, Russell and Clayton inherited the house.  They keep the house until Joe Paynter died in 1952.