David Way See Jr. (1828 - 1897)

Born 1828 in Kanawha, Virginia, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Lucy (Lenon) See — married 21 Oct 1851 in Carroll Co, IN

Descendants

Died 26 Apr 1897 at about age 69 in Mount Auburn, Benton, Iowa, United States

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Biography

Research and Commentary by Sara Stevens Patton.
Both David See and Mary Lenon grew up in the area just south of Logansport, Indiana. Although David was born in Kanawha Co, Virginia (now West Virginia), his parents moved to Indiana ca 1830 to join other members of the See and Jarrett families who had moved there about 1818. Although they tried several different places initially, the family finally moved to Cass County between 1843-1845, settling in Deer Creek Twp. when David was about 16.

Mary’s parents, both originally from Ohio, met and married in the Paint Creek area of Carroll County, not far from Deer Creek Twp, the location of the See farm. Mary was eight years younger that David and may have met him in church or possibly at the one room school in the neighborhood. Mary was only 15 years old when she married David (then 23). She told her granddaughter that “the day she got married Grandpa came after her a (on) horseback. She could see him coming across the field leading 1 horse & riding another one. Said he helped her on the horse & they left & as far as she could see her folks were standing at the gate crying. It was the last time she ever seen them."

The following spring (around 1852) the young couple joined a wagon train heading to California to seek their fortune in gold. They weren’t alone. David’s brother, Jacob See, had already been to California where he secured interests in mines and ran a provision store for miners. In 1850 he returned to Indiana, and got married just two weeks before David and Mary married. Together the two couples made the trek across country–cooking with buffalo chips, negotiating with Indians, and dealing with the day to day hardships of traveling in unknown territory. Perhaps the most difficult time was when one of Mary’s friends died in child birth, though the baby girl survived. Mary and David took the baby and raised her as their own. Not long after arriving, Jacob’s and his wife had their first child, Eliza but in less than a year, Jacob’s wife also died, leaving Mary to care for Eliza and Nancy, their adopted daughter. Two years later, Mary gave birth to her own child, which they named David Washington See.

The following year, the brothers and their little families decided it was time to return to Indiana. They returned to Cass County, Indiana first by ship along the coast of California and Mexico, then overland crossing through Panama (before the canal was built) and back to Indiana. While they were gone, Mary’s father, Daniel, died and not long after their return to Indiana, David’s mother Leah also passed away.

But life goes on and the following year–1856--, their second son, James, was born, followed by 12 more children every year or every other year, the youngest born in 1877. 1872 was a particularly difficult year for the entire See family. Three of their children–11 year old Daniel, 7 year old John, and little Gail, all died–probably of meningitis; the boys within 3 days of each other.

Deed records show that David and Mary were buying and selling several parcels of land but in 1866, they purchased the original See farm. They remained in Cass Co. for another dozen years, moving to Iowa in 1878. Hayes claims they moved to Benton Co late 1875 or early 1876 but the obituaries of their children as well as most census records indicate that all were born in Indiana, the youngest being Laura b. in March 1877. Deed records in both Indiana and Iowa show that David sold his Indiana farm in March 1878 and bought land in Benton Co, IA in November of the same year thus supporting the claim that the family moved to Iowa in the spring or summer of 1878. It is helpful to know that David’s sister, Elizabeth See Barnett and her family had moved to Benton Co some twenty years prior, sending word back to Indiana that Iowa had good opportunities for farming. Granddaughter, Marie Unger Paige, relates that the family traveled by train to Iowa.

Three of the older children– General, Jenetta, and Lina–had married by 1882: General in Indiana, and Jenetta and Lina in Benton Co, IA. Although the See family is listed in Benton County in the 1880 census, by 1884 the family–all but son General and daughter Lina Unger–had moved to clear across state to O’Brien County. They remained there only a few years, returning to Benton Co sometime before 1888–all but son Jim who married an O’Brien County girl in 1884 and remained there.

David and Mary probably lived in Jackson Twp and/or Bruce Twp as several of their children list these townships in their marriage records. By the mid-1890s, David’s health had begun to decline significantly, and he ultimately became bedridden. Then, on a Tuesday afternoon, in mid April 1897, their home caught on fire. Mary was gone at the time, but fortunately their son Will arrived in time to carry his father out of the burning home. Much of the furniture and clothing was destroyed in the fire. David died six days later. He was 69. David is buried at Mt. Auburn Cemetery next to his wife in Benton Co, IA.

Waterloo Courier 29 Apr 1897 & May 5 "David See died at his home near Bruce Center, Benton county, yyesterday at 4 pm He lost his home by fire a short time ago and at the time was in an enfeebled condition. Mt. See was quite well advanced in years, and has been on the decline for some time. He was the father of Mrs. Henry Unger of this city.(La Porte)

Transcript of another obituary (newspaper unknown) sent to TJJ See by David See's niece, Liza See Nice and was included in TJJ See Mss. p.42 as follows: "It has never before been our lot to communicate sad tidings to the public press, but a sad occurrence moves the writer to engage in the painful talks of paying tribute in honor of the departed because the memory of the deceased demands it.

We speak of the death of David See. After a long and painful illness of Bright's Disease. Dr.(?) See departed from this life at the residence of his son in Bruce Township, Benton County, Iowa, on Tuesday April 27(sic), 1896, at four o' clock p.m. , at the age of 69 years.

David See was born in Kanawha County, Virginia, in the year 1828. Two years later he moved with his parents to Logansport, Indiana, and in 1849 (incorrect) was united in marriage to Miss Lucy Lenon. Mr. See was the father of fourteen children, nine of whom are still living. Eight of this number sorrowfully gathered around the death bed of their father.

In 1878 Mr. See moved to Iowa and settled in Benton County, where his straightforward, upright life has won many frinds who all unite in saying that he was an honest man in every sense of the term.

We feel that society has lost a member whose presence will be missed. The funeral occurred Thursday 11 a.m. at the Christian Church at Mt. Auburn, conducted by Rev. Carr, and was attended by a large concourse of friends. Deep sympathy is felt for the bereaved mother and children. All are admonished to remember that the day of the Lord cometh as a thief in the night." (SSP Note: The date 1896 on the transcript must be a typo based on official estate documents giving David’s death date as April 26, 1897.

Benton Co, IA Estate Records for David See includes a petition of Mary See, widow, administrator requesting that Henry Unger be granted letters of administration.

"Petition of Mary See, widow, concerning the estate of David See deceased, for administrator.

Your petition Mary See, respectfully shows that David See late of said County, now deceased, died at Bruce Twp in Benton Co, IA on or about the 26 day of April 1897, leaving no last Will and Testament...That said deceased left surviving him Mary See as his widow, who resides at Benton County and also the followng heirs-at-law, viz:

• Nettie Hamilton aged 36 years
• James B. See aged 41 years
• Lina Unger aged 33 years
• Ida Driscol aged 25 years
• Ada Rodgers aged 22 years
• Julia Feris aged 21 years
• Laura See aged 20 years
• Wm H. See aged 28 years
• Chas. See aged 26 years

minor Heirs of D.W. See and all residents of Iowa......

Your petitioner being Widow of said deceased, therefore prays that H. C. Unger may be granted Letters of Administration on the estate of David See deceased.... I Mary See, being duly sworn, upon oath, do say that the facts averred in the above petition are true as I verily believe. (signed) Mary See,

Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 15 day of June 1897 Hugh Mossiman, Deputy Clerk of District Court, Benton Co, IA

Not listed is David Washington(General) See who died in 1893 before his father. NOTE: Many of the heirs sold their portion of father David's property to brother in law, Henry Unger.

Benton Co DEEDS "General Index" P p. 300 Grantor Wm H. See & wife to Henry Unger, Feb. 4, 1899. Sec. 22, Twp 86. Rng. 12.

1900 June 25, Grantor David See. Dec., widow & heirs to Grantee H. C. Unger, Sec 22, Twp 86, R 12.

1900 July 24 Grantor Maggie See to Grantee H. C. Unger Sec. 22, Twp. 86, R 12.

In 1967, granddaughter Hazel Rogers Raitt writes to Carol Browning (punctuation added):
"These are Grandma & Grandpa See's family The oldest was "General" David Washington See. He must of been born in Calif. He married Margret McClusky they had Guy, Ray, Amy, Alga & Orrie. Guy had 9 boys & 2 girls. Ray 2 boys in Chicago which I haven't found. Amy, 1 boy Ray & girl Harriett. Algo no living children Arie 1 boy 1 girl. Ray, Guy & Amy are dead.

James See lived at Primgar Ia. They had Maude, Maynard, Marjee & Harold. Uncle Jim died first & Aunt Eva, Maude & her husband were killed in auto train accident. Maynard never had any children-he is dead. Harold had children & ran a hardware store at Worthington, Minn. He also died young. but my mail came back & I don't know whare Marjee is.

Aunt Lina Unger married Henry Unger. They had Edgar, Cliff, Marie & Harold. Edgar died.

Aunt Net Hamilton lived at Charles City IA married Lincoln Hamilton. She had Glen & Gladys. there all dead. Glen never had children Gladys had 1 boy from second marriage. He lives in Calif. but don't know his name or share.

Aunt Ida Driscol married Jerry Driscol they had Pearl, Grant, Dallas, Wellwood, Helen, Wallace . Aunt Ida, Jerry, Helen, Dallas & Pearl are all dead.

Uncle Chas family (blank)

Ada See Rogers married Frank Roger. Had Hiram, Hazel, Carl, Paul, Chas, Gladys, Frances, Wade, & Lyle. Mother Dad & Paul are gone.

Uncle Will See married Eliza Harteen. Had Ray, Goldie, Alice & Ralph. Ray See lives in Calif. Has 2 sons there also live in Calif. The Sons have boys, so they have extended the See name I don't have there address. Alice was here but dident have them & Ray had stroke -can't write or talk.

June See Faris married Wm Faris. Had Curtis, Mary, Leslie & Harland. June & Wm & Curtis are gone. he was a preacher & also Harland & Leslie. The History shows a no. of ministers, so maybe aren't so bad after all.

Lara See Abrams married Clarence Abrams. had Wayne, Cleo, Inez, Dorthy, Burr, Thelma, Wilma I think there is another Girl. Burr died youing & his folks are gone. Wayne is in Org. the girls are in Waterloo Ia.

Sources

Sara Stevens Research Notes-Land deeds, census, marriage records, death records, correspondence.

• WikiTree profile See-246 created through the import of unger.ged on Mar 8, 2012 by Sara Patton. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Sara and others.

• Source: S8 Abbreviation: "I Remember" Title: C.M. Unger. "I Remember: Memories of C.M. Unger as told to Barbara Unger" (Unpublished Manuscript, 1968. - age 80)

• Correspondence of Hazel Rogers Raitt