Michael SEITZ

                   Family listed in article "Johann Henrich SEITZ", by Richard (Fritz) Toler,
published in History of Stone County, Missouri, by Stone County Historical
Society.  "Michael and Mary SEITZ moved from Warren Co, TN to Tower Hill Twp.
in Shelby Co, IL.  They settled on 280 acres of land and cleared it for
farming.  This property stayed in the family until 1944.  Mary was left a widow
in 1853 with a large family to raise alone."

Census Warren Co, TN 1830.  Michael SEITZ, p. 334, 10001-0001

From Judy Keeler, RR #2, Box 177 Lot 20, Shelbyville, IL  62565:
History of Mt. Victory School District, Tower Hill Township, Shelby County,
Illinois:  "In 1845 there were only five families living in the south part of
Tower Hill Township, who were Stephen Jester, Johnathan Riley, Washburn Wade,
Thomas May, and William Wyrick.  In the west part on Beek's Creek (which runs
through our district) there were here and there a "squatter" but as the country
settled they lest for better hunting grounds.
     The earliest settlers found three-fourths of the district covered by heavy
timber, the only clearing being in the northeasterly portion.  The first family
who settled permanently in this district was the SEITZ family, who had come
from Tennessee in 1831 and lived near Middlesworth Station.  There Logan Seitz
was born in 1848, and before he was a year old, or in the spring od 1849, the
family moved to the present Seitz home.  The parents, Michael and Mary Reed
Seitz, had bought 280 acres of lamd, and carved out of the forest a homestead,
building a double log house just north of where their present house stands.  No
doubt they had their share of hardships with ten children to care for.  They at
once cleared enough land to put out an apple and peach orchard, the first in
the district.  In 1853 Michael Seitz died leaving to the mother the task of
raising this family.  She was a real pioneer mother and proved equal to the
task.  The Seitz brothers were partners in operating the home place and Logan
and Lawson continued to work together until Lawson passed away in 1880.  The
mother had previously passed away and others had married and moved elsewhere
leaving Logan in possession of the home.  He had also married Miss Mary Karnes,
daughter of Alexander and Matilda Karnes who had come from Pennsylvania and
lived near Tower Hill.  Logan Seitz and his wife passed the most of their
married life on this farm.  After their seven children were married they moved
to Pana, where Mrs. Seitz now lives.  Mr. Seitz passed away very suddenly in
October 1917, having come out to the farm to stay over night.  The next morning
after helping his son, Chloe, harness the team, he went to the house.  Feeling
tired, he lay down and in a few moments was gone.
     Logan's mother, Mrs. Michael Seitz, not only raised her own nine children
but also raised a grandson, Sevier Kennedy, as her own; his mother, Margaret
Seitz Kennedy, having died soon after his birth.  Sevier grew up with his
uncles to him seeming as brothers, and was well-known in the community.  He
married Fanny Puckett of Pana and for a short time livied in the home now
occupied by the Sloan family.  Later they moved to the State of Washington.
Mrs. Kennedy's mother, Grandma Puckett, as she is known to all is a cousin of
Mrs. Marcella Stumpf of Tower Hill and was 101 years of age last March.  She
passed away at her home in Walla Walla, Wash. in the fall of 1928.
     Dave Seitz, the eldest son, married a lady from Shelbyville, Illinois, and
shortly afterwards moved to Missouri.  They had several children.
     James Seitz married Lydia Craddick, a sister of Bud Craddick, who lived then
in Tower Hill.  Their children were Michael, May, and Melissa.  Melissa married
a Mr. Gross.  This family lived in Pana and all have passed away except May,
who lives near St. Louis.
     Disey Seitz married John Shanks of Pana, where they lived for the greater
part of their lives.  Their daughter, Zina, married Wm. Gaughan, now of Pana.
     Minerva Seitz married Louis Kennedy and lived for a time in Windsor, later
moving to the state of Washington.
     Michael Seitz married Emma Stevens and they lived on the home place for a
time and then moved to Washington.  Two children were born in Illinois, namely
Herbert and Etha.  A son, Ernest, and a daughter, Edith, were born in
Washington.
     Mary Jane Seitz married Isaac Higginbotham of Tower Hill.  Mr. Higginbotham
came to Illinois from Kentucky.  Four daughters were born to them, Eve passing
away in young womanhood.  Beatrice married Melvin Murray of Pana, and Cora and
Patience remained at home.  Their mother passed away some years ago and Mr.
Higginbotham died in August 1927.
     Eliza Ann Seitz married George Topping and lived in Pana.  They had two
children, Homer and Frrances.  The Toppiing family have all passed away.
     The Seitz family were always the best of neighbors and would go far to help
any in need.  They have all left this community excepting the youngest son,
Chloe Seitz, who married Miss Florence Hoy of near Assumption.  They live on
the home place and their two children, Hazel and Robert, are enrolled at Mt.
Victory.
     Nolan Seitz married Josephine Donaldson of south of this community and lives
in Tower Hill.  Carrie Seitz married Charles Carpenter and lives north of tower
Hill on the Neil farm.  Rossie Seitz married Charles Sibbitt and lives in Tower
Hill.  Glapha Seitz married Elza Bechtel and lives in Shelbyville.  Charlos
Seitz graduated from Quincy Business College and has since been employed at
Brookfield, MO.  He marrried a lady from Missouri and they have four sons.
Lula Seitz, the youngest daughter, married William Saatkamp and they live on a
farm north of Pana.
     The nearest neighbors with whom the Seitz family visited in those early days
were the families of Mr. Hudson, Gilbert Scovil, John Wesley, and Mat Neil,
John Killam, the Middlesworths, Conrad Eiler, the Warren family, Conrad Hanson,
James Vermillion, and the Pugh family.  These families came from Virginia,
Kentucky, Tennessee, and other eastern and northern states, and all settled
near the Massey Knobs, named for the first settler who came.  However, this was
not the Massey family that later lived in this district.
     Written in January, 1929 by Luella Bonser