William Seeger

Apr 21, 2026 - 01:11
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William Seeger

clean up, typo(s) fixed: May 12, 1810 → May 12, 1810, (4)

← Previous revision Revision as of 19:39, 20 April 2026
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== Early life and career ==
== Early life and career ==
Seeger was born on May 12, 1810 in the city of [[Lauenburg]] in [[Schleswig-Holstein]].{{cite web |last=University of Minnesota Libraries |first= |title=Candidate: William Seeger |url=https://mn.electionarchives.lib.umn.edu/candidate/william-seeger/ |access-date=April 20, 2026 |website=Minnesota Historical Election Archive}}{{Cite news |date=May 23, 1888 |title=William Seeger, Who Had Lived in the State Thirty-Two Years, Died Saturday |url=https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn90059522/1888-05-23/ed-1/?sp=2 |access-date=April 20, 2026 |work=St. Paul Daily Globe |pages=2}} According to the ''Minnesota Historical Election Archive'' Seeger emigrated to the United States in 1852 and moved to [[Minnesota Territory]] in 1856. Seeger was one of the founding citizens of [[New Ulm, Minnesota]] in 1856 alongside [[William Pfaender]] and A. Prieser.{{Cite book |last=Fritsche |first=Louis A. |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofbrownco0012unse/page/n133/mode/2up? |title=History of Brown County Minnesota |date=1916 |publisher=B. F. Bowen & Company Inc. |location=Indianapolis |pages=135 |language=en}} Seeger was also an early citizen of [[St. Peter, Minnesota]] where he was employed as a [[brewer]] alongside Joseph Engesser.{{Cite book |last=Gresham |first=William G. |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89064048309&seq=132&q1 |title=History of Nicollet and LeSueur Counties, Minnesota: Their People, Industries and Institutions: With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of many of the Old Families |date=1916 |publisher=B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc. |volume=2 |location=Indianapolis |pages=112 |language=en}}
Seeger was born on May 12, 1810, in the city of [[Lauenburg]] in [[Schleswig-Holstein]].{{cite web |last=University of Minnesota Libraries |first= |title=Candidate: William Seeger |url=https://mn.electionarchives.lib.umn.edu/candidate/william-seeger/ |access-date=April 20, 2026 |website=Minnesota Historical Election Archive}}{{Cite news |date=May 23, 1888 |title=William Seeger, Who Had Lived in the State Thirty-Two Years, Died Saturday |url=https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn90059522/1888-05-23/ed-1/?sp=2 |access-date=April 20, 2026 |work=St. Paul Daily Globe |pages=2}} According to the ''Minnesota Historical Election Archive'' Seeger emigrated to the United States in 1852 and moved to [[Minnesota Territory]] in 1856. Seeger was one of the founding citizens of [[New Ulm, Minnesota]] in 1856 alongside [[William Pfaender]] and A. Prieser.{{Cite book |last=Fritsche |first=Louis A. |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofbrownco0012unse/page/n133/mode/2up? |title=History of Brown County Minnesota |date=1916 |publisher=B. F. Bowen & Company Inc. |location=Indianapolis |pages=135 |language=en}} Seeger was also an early citizen of [[St. Peter, Minnesota]] where he was employed as a [[brewer]] alongside Joseph Engesser.{{Cite book |last=Gresham |first=William G. |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89064048309&seq=132&q1 |title=History of Nicollet and LeSueur Counties, Minnesota: Their People, Industries and Institutions: With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of many of the Old Families |date=1916 |publisher=B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc. |volume=2 |location=Indianapolis |pages=112 |language=en}}


At the outbreak of the [[American Civil War]] Seeger volunteered for service in the [[Union army|Union Army]] on August 19, 1862 and was enrolled into the ranks of Company D of the [[9th Minnesota Infantry Regiment]] as a [[Sergeant]] under the command of Captain [[Asgrim Knutson Skaro]].{{cite web |title=Soldier Details |url=https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-soldiers-detail.htm?soldierId=ED269BCE-DC7A-DF11-BF36-B8AC6F5D926A |access-date=April 20, 2026 |website=The Civil War (U.S. National Park Service) |ref={{sfnref|The Civil War (U.S. National Park Service)}}}}{{Cite book |last=Minnesota Adjutant General's Office |url=https://archive.org/details/annualreport01minn/page/424/mode/2up |title=Annual Report of the Adjutant General, of the State of Minnesota, for the Year Ending December 1, 1866, and of the Military Forces of the State from 1861 to 1866. |date=1866 |publisher=Pioneer Publishing Company |location=Saint Paul |pages=424 |language=en}} Company D of the 9th Minnesota acted as the military guards for the [[1862 Mankato mass execution]].{{cite web |title=Battle Unit Details |url=https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-battle-units-detail.htm?battleUnitCode=UMN0009RI |access-date=April 20, 2026 |website=The Civil War (U.S. National Park Service) |ref={{sfnref|The Civil War (U.S. National Park Service)}}}} Seeger was discharged from service on February 28, 1863 due to disability.{{Cite book |last=Gresham |first=William G. |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89064048291&seq=252&q1 |title=History of Nicollet and LeSueur Counties, Minnesota: Their People, UIndustries and Institutions: With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families |date=1916 |publisher=B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc. |volume=1 |location=Indianapolis |pages=234 |language=en}}
At the outbreak of the [[American Civil War]] Seeger volunteered for service in the [[Union army|Union Army]] on August 19, 1862, and was enrolled into the ranks of Company D of the [[9th Minnesota Infantry Regiment]] as a [[Sergeant]] under the command of Captain [[Asgrim Knutson Skaro]].{{cite web |title=Soldier Details |url=https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-soldiers-detail.htm?soldierId=ED269BCE-DC7A-DF11-BF36-B8AC6F5D926A |access-date=April 20, 2026 |website=The Civil War (U.S. National Park Service) |ref={{sfnref|The Civil War (U.S. National Park Service)}}}}{{Cite book |last=Minnesota Adjutant General's Office |url=https://archive.org/details/annualreport01minn/page/424/mode/2up |title=Annual Report of the Adjutant General, of the State of Minnesota, for the Year Ending December 1, 1866, and of the Military Forces of the State from 1861 to 1866. |date=1866 |publisher=Pioneer Publishing Company |location=Saint Paul |pages=424 |language=en}} Company D of the 9th Minnesota acted as the military guards for the [[1862 Mankato mass execution]].{{cite web |title=Battle Unit Details |url=https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-battle-units-detail.htm?battleUnitCode=UMN0009RI |access-date=April 20, 2026 |website=The Civil War (U.S. National Park Service) |ref={{sfnref|The Civil War (U.S. National Park Service)}}}} Seeger was discharged from service on February 28, 1863, due to disability.{{Cite book |last=Gresham |first=William G. |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89064048291&seq=252&q1 |title=History of Nicollet and LeSueur Counties, Minnesota: Their People, UIndustries and Institutions: With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families |date=1916 |publisher=B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc. |volume=1 |location=Indianapolis |pages=234 |language=en}}


Following his service in the military, Seeger was appointed as deputy to the State Treasurer and served from 1867 to 1871 under [[Emil D. Munch]]. Beginning in 1871 Seeger ran for the political office of [[Minnesota State Treasurer]] as a [[Republican Party of Minnesota|Republican]].{{cite web |last=University of Minnesota Libraries |first= |title=1871 Treasurer Election |url=https://mn.electionarchives.lib.umn.edu/election/2318711099925600/ |access-date=April 20, 2026 |website=Minnesota Historical Election Archive}} Seeger won the November 7, 1871 treasurer election against [[Minnesota Democratic Party|Democrat]] candidate Barney Vosberg and [[Prohibition Party]] candidate William L. Mintzer with a majority vote of 60.41% and a margin of victory of +21.00%. In 1873 Seeger was indicted by the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]] and investigated by the [[Minnesota Senate]] for the [[embezzlement]] of state funds and corrupt misconduct.{{Cite book |last=Minnesota Senate |url=https://www.lrl.mn.gov/docs/2017/other/170489.pdf |title=Proceedings of the Senate of Minnesota, Sitting as a High Court of Impeachment, for the Trial of William Seeger, Treasurer of State, for the Corrupt Conduct and Misdemeanors in Office |date=March 7, 1873 |publisher=Johnson & Smith |year=1873 |location=Minneapolis |pages=11, 16, 17–18 |language=en}} Seeger resigned from office before he could be charged, he was replaced by [[Edwin W. Dyke]].{{Cite web |title=Treasurers, 1849-present - Minnesota Legislative Reference Library |url=https://www.lrl.mn.gov/mngov/treas |access-date=2026-04-20 |website=www.lrl.mn.gov}}
Following his service in the military, Seeger was appointed as deputy to the State Treasurer and served from 1867 to 1871 under [[Emil D. Munch]]. Beginning in 1871 Seeger ran for the political office of [[Minnesota State Treasurer]] as a [[Republican Party of Minnesota|Republican]].{{cite web |last=University of Minnesota Libraries |first= |title=1871 Treasurer Election |url=https://mn.electionarchives.lib.umn.edu/election/2318711099925600/ |access-date=April 20, 2026 |website=Minnesota Historical Election Archive}} Seeger won the November 7, 1871 treasurer election against [[Minnesota Democratic Party|Democrat]] candidate Barney Vosberg and [[Prohibition Party]] candidate William L. Mintzer with a majority vote of 60.41% and a margin of victory of +21.00%. In 1873 Seeger was indicted by the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]] and investigated by the [[Minnesota Senate]] for the [[embezzlement]] of state funds and corrupt misconduct.{{Cite book |last=Minnesota Senate |url=https://www.lrl.mn.gov/docs/2017/other/170489.pdf |title=Proceedings of the Senate of Minnesota, Sitting as a High Court of Impeachment, for the Trial of William Seeger, Treasurer of State, for the Corrupt Conduct and Misdemeanors in Office |date=March 7, 1873 |publisher=Johnson & Smith |location=Minneapolis |pages=11, 16, 17–18 |language=en}} Seeger resigned from office before he could be charged, he was replaced by [[Edwin W. Dyke]].{{Cite web |title=Treasurers, 1849-present - Minnesota Legislative Reference Library |url=https://www.lrl.mn.gov/mngov/treas |access-date=2026-04-20 |website=www.lrl.mn.gov}}


Following his political career Seeger was placed in charge of the Minnesota Board of Immigration.{{cite web |last=Kroeker |first=Elaine E. |date=October 30, 2017 |title=How Mennonites came to Cottonwood County, Minnesota |url=https://www.minnpost.com/mnopedia/2017/10/how-mennonites-came-cottonwood-county-minnesota/ |access-date=April 20, 2026 |website=MinnPost}}{{cite web |last=Backerud |first=Thomas K. |date=September 19, 2012 |title=Mennonites of Mountain Lake |url=https://www.mnhs.org/mnopedia/search/index/group/mennonites-mountain-lake |access-date=April 20, 2026 |website=MNopedia}} Seeger was instrumental in the establishment of a Russian expatriate colony of [[Mennonites]] in Minnesota from the [[Chortitza Colony]] in the Russian Empire and the [[Molotschna|Molotschna Colony]] in modern-day [[Ukraine]] who ended up settling in [[Mountain Lake, Minnesota]] and [[Cottonwood County, Minnesota]]. Seeger chose Mennonites due to their strong [[work ethic]]. Seeger later established another Mennonite colony in [[Yankton, South Dakota]].
Following his political career Seeger was placed in charge of the Minnesota Board of Immigration.{{cite web |last=Kroeker |first=Elaine E. |date=October 30, 2017 |title=How Mennonites came to Cottonwood County, Minnesota |url=https://www.minnpost.com/mnopedia/2017/10/how-mennonites-came-cottonwood-county-minnesota/ |access-date=April 20, 2026 |website=MinnPost}}{{cite web |last=Backerud |first=Thomas K. |date=September 19, 2012 |title=Mennonites of Mountain Lake |url=https://www.mnhs.org/mnopedia/search/index/group/mennonites-mountain-lake |access-date=April 20, 2026 |website=MNopedia}} Seeger was instrumental in the establishment of a Russian expatriate colony of [[Mennonites]] in Minnesota from the [[Chortitza Colony]] in the Russian Empire and the [[Molotschna|Molotschna Colony]] in modern-day [[Ukraine]] who ended up settling in [[Mountain Lake, Minnesota]] and [[Cottonwood County, Minnesota]]. Seeger chose Mennonites due to their strong [[work ethic]]. Seeger later established another Mennonite colony in [[Yankton, South Dakota]].


== Death ==
== Death ==
Seeger died on May 22, 1888 from [[dropsy]] (edema). Seeger is buried in [[Oakland Cemetery (St. Paul, Minnesota)|Oakland Cemetery]] in [[Saint Paul, Minnesota]].{{cite web |title=Oakland Interment Search |url=https://oaklandcemeterymn.com/map/ProcessDocument.asp?doc_id=?18224 |access-date=April 20, 2026 |website=Oakland Cemetery |ref={{sfnref|Oakland Cemetery}}}}
Seeger died on May 22, 1888, from [[dropsy]] (edema). Seeger is buried in [[Oakland Cemetery (St. Paul, Minnesota)|Oakland Cemetery]] in [[Saint Paul, Minnesota]].{{cite web |title=Oakland Interment Search |url=https://oaklandcemeterymn.com/map/ProcessDocument.asp?doc_id=?18224 |access-date=April 20, 2026 |website=Oakland Cemetery |ref={{sfnref|Oakland Cemetery}}}}


== References ==
== References ==

[[Category:1810 births]]
[[Category:1810 births]]
[[Category:1888 deaths]]
[[Category:1888 deaths]]
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