John Joseph Seerley
Encyclopedia
John Joseph Seerley was a one-term Democratic
U.S. Representative
from Iowa's 1st congressional district
in southeastern Iowa.
Born on a farm near Toulon, Illinois
, Seerley moved to Iowa in 1854 with his parents, who settled on a farm in Keokuk County
.
He attended the common schools, and graduated from the University of Iowa at Iowa City in 1875.
While serving as principal of Iowa City High School
in 1876, he enrolled in the University of Iowa College of Law
, graduating in 1877.
He was admitted to the bar
in 1877 and commenced practice in Burlington, Iowa
.
He served as City solicitor of Burlington from 1885 to 1890.
In 1888, he won the Democratic nomination to challenge incumbent Republican Representative John H. Gear
, who was seeking re-election to a second term representing Iowa's 1st district. This would be the first of three consecutive races between the two. Gear won the 1888 general election. Two years later, however, Seerley unseated Gear as part of the 1890 democratic landslide, becoming one of six Democratic U.S. House members from Iowa in the Fifty-second
Congress. In 1892, however, Gear again ran against Seerley. Like all four Democratic freshmen from Iowa, Seerley lost his bid for re-election. He served in Congress from March 4, 1891 to March 3, 1893.
Seerley resumed the practice of law in Burlington, serving again as City solicitor from 1893 to 1895. He was also interested in banking and agricultural pursuits. He remained active in Democratic Party activities, serving as a delegate to the 1920 Democratic National Convention
.
Seerley died in Burlington, on February 23, 1931. He was interred in Aspin Grove Cemetery.
His son and namesake, Major John Joseph Seerley, Jr, (1897–1943) served with distinction in World War I and World War II, losing his life while serving in the latter.
He was the grandfather of George Irving Bell
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
U.S. Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Iowa's 1st congressional district
Iowa's 1st congressional district
Iowa's 1st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Iowa that covers the northeastern part of the state. The district includes Dubuque, Clinton, Davenport and Waterloo....
in southeastern Iowa.
Born on a farm near Toulon, Illinois
Toulon, Illinois
Toulon is a city in Stark County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,400 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Stark County. Toulon is part of the Peoria, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is the northwestern terminus of the Rock Island Trail State Park.-Geography:Toulon...
, Seerley moved to Iowa in 1854 with his parents, who settled on a farm in Keokuk County
Keokuk County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 10,511 in the county, with a population density of . There were 4,931 housing units, of which 4,408 were occupied.-2000 census:...
.
He attended the common schools, and graduated from the University of Iowa at Iowa City in 1875.
While serving as principal of Iowa City High School
Iowa City High School
Iowa City High School is a public high school in Iowa City, Iowa. It was built in 1937 as part of the Public Works Projects started by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to provide jobs. The first classes were held in the fall of 1939....
in 1876, he enrolled in the University of Iowa College of Law
University of Iowa College of Law
The University of Iowa College of Law is one of the eleven professional graduate schools at the University of Iowa, located in Iowa City, Iowa. Founded in 1865, it is the oldest law school in continuous operation west of the Mississippi River. The law school was ranked as the 27th best law school...
, graduating in 1877.
He was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1877 and commenced practice in Burlington, Iowa
Burlington, Iowa
Burlington is a city in, and the county seat of Des Moines County, Iowa, United States. The population was 25,663 in the 2010 census, a decline from the 26,839 population in the 2000 census. Burlington is the center of a micropolitan area including West Burlington, Iowa and Middletown, Iowa and...
.
He served as City solicitor of Burlington from 1885 to 1890.
In 1888, he won the Democratic nomination to challenge incumbent Republican Representative John H. Gear
John H. Gear
John Henry Gear was the 11th Governor of Iowa, United States Representative, and Senator.-Biography:Born in Ithaca, New York, he attended the common schools and moved to Galena, Illinois in 1836, to Fort Snelling, Iowa, in 1838, and to Burlington in 1843, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits...
, who was seeking re-election to a second term representing Iowa's 1st district. This would be the first of three consecutive races between the two. Gear won the 1888 general election. Two years later, however, Seerley unseated Gear as part of the 1890 democratic landslide, becoming one of six Democratic U.S. House members from Iowa in the Fifty-second
52nd United States Congress
The Fifty-second United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C...
Congress. In 1892, however, Gear again ran against Seerley. Like all four Democratic freshmen from Iowa, Seerley lost his bid for re-election. He served in Congress from March 4, 1891 to March 3, 1893.
Seerley resumed the practice of law in Burlington, serving again as City solicitor from 1893 to 1895. He was also interested in banking and agricultural pursuits. He remained active in Democratic Party activities, serving as a delegate to the 1920 Democratic National Convention
1920 Democratic National Convention
- External links :*...
.
Seerley died in Burlington, on February 23, 1931. He was interred in Aspin Grove Cemetery.
His son and namesake, Major John Joseph Seerley, Jr, (1897–1943) served with distinction in World War I and World War II, losing his life while serving in the latter.
He was the grandfather of George Irving Bell
George Irving Bell
George Irving Bell was an American physicist, biologist and mountaineer, and a grandson of John Joseph Seerley. He died from complications of leukemia after surgery.-Education:...