Santa
Clara County
Biographies
GEORGE
W. SEAY
GEORGE W. SEAY. The excellence of its situation, the
diversity of its interests, and the exceeding promise held out by its people
and its general advantages, have been potent factors in retaining within the
boundaries of Gilroy the men whose abilities and characters best accord with
its growth and development. The expert
builder has found an especially fertile field of activity under these favorable
conditions, and at least in one instance has remained, with growing appreciation
of his opportunities, for about sixteen years.
Reference is made to George W. Seay, builder of the Casey, C. C.
Morse, and other public buildings, and such beautiful and artistic residences
as those of E. A. Halloway and
George A. Wents.
The Seay shop and office on Martin street, near the railroad, is
probably as busy a place of the kind as one would find anywhere in the county,
and here the intelligent and highly capable owner negotiates for contracts
aggregating many thousands of dollars a year. His residence, at the corner of Fourth and
Rosanna streets, conveys an impression of comfort and homelikeness,
and the many friends who approach its hospitable doors give indication of the
popularity and social standing of the family.
Mr. Seay is not only a builder of
extended experience, but he is a politician and an all around enterprising
citizen. Born in Louisville, Ky.,
December 12, 1861, he is the eldest of six living children of a family of
ten, and was reared on a farm in the neighborhood of the southern city. His family was established in the Bourbon
state by his paternal grandfather, Samuel, a native of Campbell county, Va.,
who settled in Shelby county, where Benjamin Seay, the
father of George W., was born, as was also his mother, Elizabeth (Hinkle)
Seay. Benjamin Seay gained a fair
livelihood as a builder and contractor near Louisville, later in life turning
his attention to farming in the vicinity of the town, where he died at the age
of sixty-three. His wife still lives in
Kentucky, as do the majority of her children, George W. being the only one
on the coast. The latter learned the
carpenter’s trade from his father, and, seeking a more prolific field of
activity, went to Texas in 1882, and in Hillsboro engaged as a builder and
contractor. Work was plentiful and
prospects bright, and in the bustling town he met and married, June 15,
1884, Martha M. Minning, born in Erie, Pa., and
daughter of George Minning, a railroad operator by
occupation. Mr. Minning
removed from Pennsylvania to Nebraska, and from there
to Missouri and Texas, in all of which states he engaged in lumbering and
farming. He married Margaret Elliott, in
Erie, Pa., and besides Mrs. Seay, who is the oldest, there were four
children in his family, all of whom are living.
Mr. and Mrs. Seay have two children, Ruth E. and Orpha E.
Mrs. Seay is a woman of culture and studious inclinations, and is a
member of the Universal Brotherhood.
In October, 1887, Mr. Seay arrived
in San Bernardino, Cal., and in February, 1888, came to Gilroy. His association with the building interests
of the town has been most gratifying and creditable, and has added not only to
the residence but business sections. In
June, 1903, he was elected to the city council, at a special election, to fill
the vacancy created by the death of Albert Enstice,
and in 1904 he was re-elected on the Progressive ticket. He has served as chairman on the committees
of public grounds and buildings and ordinance, and was a member of the
committee on ways and means, and of the fire department. In politics he is a Republican, and is an
ex-member of the city and county committees.
Mr. Seay is a member and past officer of the Independent Order of
Foresters and Red Men. As one of the
practical men and expert builders he occupies a prominent place in the
municipal life of the community, contributing to its stability by his excellent
views, his promotion of its educational and religious life, and by his well
balanced and upright character.
[Inserted by D. Toole]
1903
Apr 22, Evening News, P8, San Jose, California
Councilman
Chosen
George
W. Seay was elected councilman at Gilroy to fill the
unexpired term of the late Councilman Eustis.
Seay was backed by the labor union element and
won out by a good majority.
1904
Mar 1, Evening News, P3, San Jose, California
Will
Build at Gilroy
A
builder’s contract has been filed in the office of the county recorder by the
terms of which George W. Seay will erect for M. M.
Casey a two story brick building on Monterey street in
Gilroy. The plans were made by Theodore Lenzen and the building when completed will cost $2742.
1905
Aug 16, Santa Cruz Sentinel, P2, Santa Cruz, California
Secret
Marriage of Gilroy Couple Leaks Out
June
Nuptials of Orpah Seay and
Walter Davis Just Announced.
Gilroy
– Friend and acquaintances were somewhat surprised to learn last week of the
marriage of Miss Orpah Seay
and Walter Davis, two young Gilroyans. The marriage ceremony took place in Hollister
during the last of June, but the young folks told no one in this city of the
fact until a few days ago.
1958
Jan 13, Santa Cruz Sentinel, P10, Santa Cruz, California
Rites
Pending For Ruth Seay, Retired Nurse
Ruth
E. Seay, 73, a retired nurse who came to Santa Cruz
in 1950, died at the home of her niece, Jacqueline Spires of 601 Happy Valley road, yesterday after an illness of two months. Funeral arrangements are pending at the
Bissell mortuary. Besides her nieces,
she is survived by a sister, Mrs. Orpah Davis of Long
Beach, Calif. A native of Texas, she
moved to Berkeley as a young girl and later nursed at the Alta Bates hospital
there until 1940. Her home was at 321
Laurent street.
1958
Jan 14, Santa Cruz Sentinel, P12, Santa Cruz, California
Services
Set For Ruth Seay
Private
graveside services will be conducted Thursday at 1 p.m. in the Golden Gate
national cemetery in San Bruno for Ruth Seay, a
retired nurse who died Sunday in a local hospital. The Bissell mortuary is in charge of
arrangements.
Transcribed by Donna Toole.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 1007-1008. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2016 Donna Toole.