A Portrait and Biographical Album of Des Moines County, Iowa

Chicago: Acme Publishing, 1888

Harvey Seeds, p. 277-278

Harvey Seeds, Esq., a resident of Mediapolis, Iowa, is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Mercer County, October 14, 1814. He is a son of William and Martha (Seeds) Seeds, the father being a native of Ireland, County Down, parish of St. Field, and the mother a native of Pennsylvania. William Seeds received a liberal education before he left Ireland. In 1794 he sailed for America, in company with other members of the family. After reaching America he engaged as a traveling salesman for a few years, his route being through Pennsylvania and Virginia. In 1796 he was united in marriage with Martha Seeds, a distant relative of his, and then took up his residence in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, where, in partnership with his brother John, a farm was purchased, consisting of 400 acres of raw land. Here they resided until 1819 when Mr. Seeds, with his family, removed to Pickaway County, Ohio, his brother John having died in Pennsylvania the year previous. In that county Mr. Seeds purchased 150 acres of unimproved woodland, which he proceeded to clear and cultivate, and there spent the remainder of his days, engaged in farming, his death occuring in 1842, at the age of seventy-six. His wife survived him several years, dying in September, 1848. They were both members of the Christian Church, and Mr. Seeds was a man of good business ability. When he came to this country he was without money, but by industry and economy he accumulated considerable property, owning 600 acres of land at the time of his death.

Harvey Seeds, our subject, spent his early life upon a farm. He received but little educational advantages, being compelled to work upon the farm most of the time, only being allowed to attend the subscription schools for a short time during the winter. He lived with his parents until the 3d of September 1837, when he was married to Miss Mary Ann Hatten, who was born April 12, 1820, in Madison County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Edward Hatten, a native of Pennsylvania. The young couple began their domestic life on a piece of woodland comprising seventy-six acres, which Mr. Seeds had purchased. The trees were cut down and cleared away and in the forest was developed a fine farm, upon which they resided until 1854, when they emigrated to Des Moines County, Iowa, settling in Yellow Spring Township on section 19. A partially improved farm of 200 acres, formerly belonging to Dr. Fullenwider, was purchased, and here the family resided until November, 1886, when, renting the land, they took up their residence in Mediapolis.

Mr. and Mrs. Seeds have been the parents of eleven children: Milton J., a farmer and breeder of fine stock of Yellow Spring Township; Melinda, wife of E. Bidwell, who is proprietor of a hotel in What Cheer, Iowa; Martha, wife of F. Wycoff, of Adams County, Iowa; Lewis B., a farmer of Yellow Spring Township; William E., a farmer of Washington Township; Jennie, wife of J. B. Stein, a farmer of Adams County, Iowa; Franklin S., who is engaged in teaching in Lane County, Kansas; Alice wife of C. B. Pilling, a miller in Kossuth, Iowa; Cyrus died at the age of seventeen years; George and Mary Ellen both died in infancy.

For over thirty years Mr. and Mrs. Seeds have been devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Seeds has held the office of Steward and President of the Board of Trustees for many years, and all their children are members of this Church. For eight years, Mr. Seeds held the office of Justice of the PEace, and also served as Township Trustee two terms. He took an active part in Sunday-school work in younger years, and although yet feeling a great interest in the work is unable to perform the part he once did. Now living a retired life in Mediapolis, Mr. Seeds can look back upon a well-spent life and may well be proud of the family of Christian men and women who do honor to his name. On the 3d of September, 1887, a half-century of wedded happiness was completed and their golden wedding was celebrated, at which all their children were present, together with twelve grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Yellow Spring and Huron

Published by the author, J. W. Merrill, in Mediapolis, Iowa, 1897

Harvey Seeds, p. 183

Harvey Seeds came from Columbus Ohio in 1854, and purchased the Dr. Fullenwider farm north of the creek, at Kossuth. He lived on this farm till 1886, when he bought a home in Mediapolis, and retired from active farm life. He was for several years a Justice of the Peace, and was an active member of the M. E. Church. He died in 1890, aged 76 years. His widow still lives in her Mediapolis home. The family are Milton J. and Lewis B., retired farmers, Wm. E., Franklin S., a Methodist preacher, in Minnesota, Melinda, wife of E. Bridwell, Brighton, Iowa; Martha, wife of F. Wycoff, and Jennie, wife of J. B. Stearns, lives in Adams County; Alice, wife of Charles Pilling, lives in Mediapolis.

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