"Solomon Seery, Sr. his father, was born in Washington Co., Penn. andwhen 10 years old accompanied his mother to Ross Co. Educationaladvantages were meager at best, but he, being the only child, wascompelled to forego these, and labor for the support of his mother,and is said to have learned to read after his marriage. His motherwas afterward united to Jacob Foy, and came to this county. He wasmarried in Ross Co., to Magdalena Van Gundy, who had come there fromPennsylvania when yet young. He developed a farm there, and in thefall of 1832, with his two eldest sons, came here, and commencedclearing, having entered three 80-acre lots. He returned to hisfamily, and the following spring came here, erected a cabin, planted asmall crop of corn, and then leaving his eldest son and daughter tokeep house, himself and second son went back, and, after harvesting,started for the place with the family, and arrived here Sept. 1, 1833.He afterward entered three 80-acre lots, making 480 acres ofGovernment land taken by this one man, which he and his sons developedas fast as possible. He died July 2, 1860, and his companion on July24, 1873."
Residences & events:
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1799-1800 Ross Co, OH. At age 10, he and his widowed mother moved,pr obably with her family, where some descendants believe they livedwith P eter Van Gundy, Jr. If so, is it possible that his mother wasPeter's g randdaughter, daughter of Christian?
One history said of him: "Educational advantages were meager at best,b ut he, being the only child, was compelled to forego these, andlabor f or the support of his mother, and is said to have learned toread after h is marriage."
1808 Both he and his mother married that year and moved out ofPeter's h ouse.
Springfield Twp, Ross Co, OH. His step-father, Jacob Foy, helped himb uy a farm where all of his children were born.
Item No. 37. Solomon Seery judgment against Thomas Asher, $4.00, $1.37½ c osts, Arch. McClean, J.P. May 27, 1818.
1820 Springfield Twp, Ross Co, OH was where the census taker foundhim , recording his name as Seary. Solomon's family consisted of: 4males u nder 10 years of age, Solomon at 26-45, 1 female under 10, 1at 10-15, a nd probably his wife, also 26-45. Just down the road wasJohn Van Gund y, over 45 years old, and on the previous page wereJoseph and Corneliu s Van Gundy, both over 45. Matty's brothers oruncles?
1830 Same place. That census taker listed him as Solomon Sere with ah ousehold of: 1 male under 5, 2 at 5-10, 1 was 10-15, 2 at 15-20,Solom on at 40-50, 1 female under 5, 1 at 5-10, 1 was 10-15, 1 aged20-30, an d 1 was 40-50. Four doors down was John Van Gundy, Jr, andJohn Sr far ther down with John Zuck between them.
Fall, 1832 Crawford Co, OH. Moving in those days took some planninga nd fortitude. The local history recorded his efforts: "With histwo o ldest sons (John and David), (Solomon) came here and commencedclearing , having entered three 80-acre lots."
Ross Co, OH. They returned to the family for the winter.
Spring, 1833 Crawford Co, OH. Again from the history: "the followings pring (he) came here, erected a cabin, planted a small crop of corn,an d then leaving his eldest son and daughter (Mary) to keep house,himsel f and second son went back."
Ross Co, OH. He harvested the crop planted there, then started backto t he new place.
Sept 1, 1833. Crawford Co, OH. The move was finally complete. Laterh e entered 3 more 80-acre plots for a total of 480 acres ofgovernment l and which the history says "he and his sons developed asfast as possib le."
1840 Lykens Twp, Crawford Co, OH. At census time Solomon was againli sted as Seary at 50-60 years old and had living with him 1 maleaged 5 -10, 1 was 10-15, 1 at 15-20, and 1 at 20-30, 1 female was10-15, 1 at 1 5-20, 1 aged 20-30, and 1 also 50-60. Son David livednext door. Ther e was a Benjamin Van Gundy in the same township.
11/5/1850 Same place. The census recorded him as Solomon Gerry, 61.M agdalene was 63, and living with them were Mary, 41, and Solomon,27. T he elder Solomon was a farmer with $8860 in real estate, theyounger So lomon had no occupation. Next door was an M Wilsey withwife Magdalene ( Solomon's daughter?), with Peter "Gerry" beyond them.
6/19/1860 Still there. That year his name was finally recordedcorrec tly by the census taker. He was 71, Magdalena was 73 and stillin the h ouse Mary, 50, and Jeremiah, 27, were still at home. Theylived betwee n sons Solomon Jr and Jacob with Peter down the road.Benjamin Van Gund y, 30, lived in the same county.
There was a Solomon and Mary Seery who had wills recorded in Polk Twp,C rawford Co, OH. Was it this man or son Solomon? And who was Mary?
The cemetery is behind the Seery Church.
