Christopher Seals, who for fifty-four years has been a resident of Adams county and has operated land of his own since 1853, was born in Clermont county, Ohio, February 22, 1831, his parents being James and Catherine (Smith) Seals. The father was born November 15, 1786, in Pennsylvania, and the mother, also a native of that state. was born April 19, 1789. His death occurred February 1, 1864, while his wife passed away April 15, 1869. Mr. Seals of this review has two sisters and two brothers, who are yet living: Aben, who was born July 23, 1824, and resides in St. Louis, Missouri; Mrs. Sarah A. Ketchum, who was born May 17, 1825, and lives in Loraine; James, who was born March 27, 1833, and makes his home in Loraine; and Rebecca, who was born September 3, 1835, and now lives in Mendon township.
Christopher Seals pursued his education in the public schools of Ohio and remained a resident of that state until about twenty years of age, when in 1851, he came to Illinois, settling in Keene township, Adams county, where he has since lived. He purchased his first land in 1853 and has since owned good farm property, to which he has added as the years have passed by until he is today the owner of a valuable farm of one hundred and seventy acres located on Section 23. He also owns a large amount of property in Loraine and has always carried on agricultural pursuits save for a brief period of six years, when he went to Quincy, building Cedar Creek Hotel on Twelfth street. This he conducted for about six years after which he resumed his farming operations. He now lives about one and three-quarters of a mile southeast of Loraine, where he has a comfortable home and a farm that is supplied with all modern equipments and accessories.
On the 17th of August, 1851, Mr. Seals was married to Miss Margaret Lukemeyers, who was born October 27, 1836, in Clermont county, Ohio, and died October 3, 1884. They had one child Rebecca A., who was born January 24, 1854, and became the wife of Charles Bowles. After his death she married Joseph Cubbage and following his demise became the wife of William Richards, her home being now in Quincy. Mr. and Mrs. Seals have also reared an adopted son, who came to their home in infancy and to whom they gave the name Charles H. Seals. He has now grown to manhood and occupies the position of foreman in the wheel works in Quincy.
Mr. Seals was again married February 26, 1885, his second union being with Kezia McDonald, who was born in Marshall county, Indiana, February 6, 1836. Mr. Seals has been prominent in the Odd Fellows society, and was instrumental in organizing the lodge in Loraine. He has served as commissioner of highways for several years and is also interested in the public progress of development and improvement. His wife holds membership in the Christian church. Mr. Seals well deserves mention among the honored pioneer settlers of Adams county, for he has long been a witness of its growth and upbuilding, taking an interested and active part in the work of improvement as far as possible
Source: Quincy and Adams County History and Representative Men, pp 506-507; by David Wilcox. Chicago: Lewis Publishing, 1919.
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