CANTON MOURNS THE DEATH OF ONE OF ITS
MOST PROMINENT C1ITIZENS AND BUSINESS
MEN THIS WEEK
This community was greatly
shocked last Friday morning to
learn of the sudden death, from a
complication of troubles, of Chas.
M. Seely at Long Heach, Cal..
Thursday evening, Nov. 11th. The
body was brought to Canton by
Mrs. Seely, reaching here Tuesday
noon, just four weeks from the day
they left for California and on the
29th anniversary of their marriage.
Mr. Seely had been in falling
health for some months and it hadbeen
hoped by his friends that the
change of scenei^and milder climate
of California would be beneficial
and tliat he would return in the
spring with health fully restored,
but the trip was exhausting and
his vitality too low to respond to
treatment or climate.
The funeral was held at 2:30
Tuesday afternoon at the home he
loved so well. The beautiful ritual
service of the Episcopal church
was impressively rendered by Rev.
Cash of Sioux Falls, after which
the Masonic fraternity of Silver
Star Lodge No. 4, of which the deceased
bad been a member, took
charge of the services and burial
was with full Masonic honors conducted
b y Past Grand Master
James Lewis. The floral tributes
were many and beautiful, testifying
to the high esteem in which
the deceased was held.
Charles Merrttt-Seely was born
at Rlpon, Wis., Nov. 6th, 1857,
and was educated in the schools of
that place and in the high school
at St. Louis, Mo. He was employed
In a bank at St. Louis later
movlug to Wtchata, Texas, where
be engaged ic. banking and ranching.
He came to Canton in the
fall of 1886 as landlord of the Harlan
House and on Nov. 16tb of
that year was married to Miss
Lizzie Winter of Sanborn, la , and
to them was born one son, Merritt
Winter Seely, now a student at
Yale University.
Mr. Seely joined the Masonic
lodge In 1894 and was one of its
most devoted and faithful members
up to the time of his death.
He was twice elected Master of
Silver Star Lodge No. 4, was also a
member of Siroc chapter, Royal
Arch Masons and of the Order of
the Eastern Star of this city. He
also was a member of Cyrene Commandery
No. 5, Knights Templar
and El Riad Temple, Mystic Shrine
of Sioux Falls. He held membership
also in the Elks Lodge and
Knights of Pythias.
Mr. Seely was active In the business
life of the city and at the
time of his death was a member of
the Canton Commercial Club and
a director In the First National
bank as well as Senior member of
the firm of Seely & Tank.
He early took an active part in
politics and for several years was
chairman of the Republican Central
committee of Lincoln County
and member of the stale committee.
He was recognized by election
as Mayor In 1897 and again In
1898. He was appointed by the
National government, Financial
clerk of Hiawatha Asylum for Insane
Indians upon its completion
in 1901 resigning this position in
1908 to devote his full time to his
clothing business and other Interests
Charley Seely as he was popularly
known will be missed in this
community in civic, social and
business affairs. He will be missed
on the streets, In the daily walks
of life.
He was of a likable personality,
quiet, self reliant, approachable,
dependable, a lover of truth and
veracity, he despised cant and
hypocrisy and his word was his
bond. True and loyal to his friends
it will be hard to believe we will
meet him no more. His death has
cast a gloom over the city and the
hearts of our people go out in loving
sympathy, and condolence to
the stricken wife and fatherless
son in this their hour of desolation.
Time only, the great healer, can
assuage their grief and lighten the
great load they are now required
to carry.
As printed in the Dakota Farmers Leader, Canton, SD
Friday, November 19, 1915