John Joseph SEERLEY, Congress, IA (1852-1931)

SEERLEY, John Joseph, a Representative from Iowa; born on a farm near Toulon, Stark County, Ill., March 13, 1852; in 1854 moved to Iowa with his parents, who settled on a farm in Keokuk County; attended the common schools; was graduated from the University of Iowa at Iowa City in 1875; principal of the Iowa City High School in 1876; was graduated from the law department of the University of Iowa in 1877; was admitted to the bar in 1877 and commenced practice in Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa; city solicitor of Burlington 1885-1890 and 1893-1895; unsuccessful Democratic candidate for election in 1888 to the Fifty-first Congress; elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-second Congress (March 4, 1891-March 3, 1893); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1892 to the Fifty-third Congress; resumed the practice of law in Burlington, Iowa; also interested in banking and agricultural pursuits; delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1920; died in Burlington, Iowa, on February 23, 1931; interment in Aspin Grove Cemetery.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present