Dickinson Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and
Biographical Album of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and
Marion Counties-Caleb C. Seidel
Portrait and Biographical
Album of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and Marion
Counties
Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1893
CALEB C. SEIDEL, a retired farmer residing
in Banner City, is of German birth. He
was born on the 25th of May, 1849, in
Oberambde Vaenger in Wurtemberg. His father,
John G. Seidel, was also a native of that locality.
After attaining to years of maturity he married
Barbara Geiser, and unto them were born fourteen
children, twelve of whom grew to mature years,
while two died in infancy. In the fall of 1853,
they emigrated with their family to America,
crossing the Atlantic in a sailing-vessel which
reached New York after a voyage of fifty-six days.
On landing in this country they went direct to
Ohio, and settled in Columbus, where they lived
for one year, after which they located on a farm
in Franklin County, Ohio. In 1860 they went to
Illinois, spent a few months in Sterling, that
State, and then settled on a farm near by in
Whiteside County. For fifteen years John Seidel
there engaged in the cultivation of his land, after
which he sold out and returned to Sterling, where
he and his wife lived retired until called to the
home beyond. Her death occurred May 11, 1883,
and he passed away on the 10th of November,
1885. They were highly-respected people of the
community where they resided.
Our subject was the tenth child in their family.
He was a lad of but four summers when with his
parents he crossed the broad Atlantic. He remained
under the parental roof until nearly
twenty-six years of age, his time being spent in
the usual manner of farmer lads, unmarked by
any event of special importance. On leaving
home he came to Kansas and purchased a farm on
section 11, Banner Township, Dickinson County,
where he continued to engage in agricultural pursuits
for some years.
Mr. Seidel was married in Newbern Township,
this county, October 11, 1877, to Miss Barbara
Sommer, a native of Stark County, Ohio, born in
Massillon, August 29, 1856, She was the third in
a family of ten children whose parents were Henry
and Catherine (Winger) Sommer. Her father was
born on the ocean when his parents were emigrating
to America, Her mother was a native of
Switzerland and died in May, 1875. By the union
of our subject and his wife three children
were born, Clara B., Lilian C. and Milton J.
Mr. Seidel continued to reside upon his farm
until the autumn of 1891, when with his family
he removed to Banner City, where he has since
lived a retired life. He has there a pleasant home
supplied with many comforts. Farming and stockraising
have been his chief business and he yet
owns his farm of two hundred acres which is well
improved with a fine set of buildings and all the
accessories of a model farm. Among the valued
citizens of the community he is numbered. The
cause of education finds in him a friend and he
manifests a commendable interest in all that pertains
to the upbuilding of the community. He is
an active and prominent member of the Lutheran
Church and one of its chief supporters. The industry,
enterprise and good management which
have characterized the life of Mr. Seidel have won
for him success, and the comfortable competency
which he has thus acquired now enables him to
live a retired life. He expects to spend his remaining
days in the enjoyment of the fruits of his
former toil, and this privilege has been well merited
by him.
(c) 2009 Sheryl McClure for Dickinson County KS AHGP