Rufus Rice Seay

Rufus R. Seay, merchant, miller and blacksmith, is the son of Obadiah and

Sallie (Rice) Seay. The parents moved from Tennessee to Van Buren, Crawford

Co., Ark., in 1829, and here the father left the remainder of the family and

went on foot to Washington County, of the same State, in order to find a good

location. With an ox team he moved to Cane Hill, of the last named county,

and lived for some time in a log house, 16x18 feet, the logs of which he carried

on his back. He was a farmer all his life, was a Democrat in politics, and both

he and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church: After the death

of his wife Mr. Seay married again. To his first marriage were born three children

and to the second marriage five children. Rufus R. was the eldest of all

the children. He was born October 12, 1830, in Washington County, Ark., was

reared to farming, and educated in the old subscription schools. At the age of

eighteen he began learning the blacksmith trade, at which he worked until 1880.

In the fall of 1861 he enlisted in Capt. Buchanan's company, Arkansas State

troops, and served about three months. A year later he hired as blacksmith for

Col. Waitey's regiment, but was soon released, returned to Cane Hill, this county,

and here followed his trade. In 1868 he married Miss Jane Kimbrough, d11ughter

of Thomas and Elizabeth Kimbrough, and by her became the father of five

children: Bettie S., Austell, Thomas Obadiah, Belle and Ellen. In 1880 Mr.

Seay moved to Dutch Mills. He is the owner of a store, half of the mill at

Dutch Mills, and is also the owner of 240 acres of land; is a Democrat in his

political views, and a Master Ma.son. Mrs. Seay is a member of the Baptist

Church at Dutch Mills.

SEAY, Rufus - (from The Prairie Grove Herald) Mr. Rufus Seay, one of the oldest and most highly respected citizens of the Dutch Mills vicinity, died suddenly Monday at 12:30 o’clock. Last Friday Mr. Seay had a congestive chill but had improved and his death Monday came as a surprise. [Washington County Review 5/24/1906]

Rufus Seay, one of the old settlers of the county, died rather suddenly on Monday of last week at his home near Dutch Mills, the result of a congestive chill. Deceased was 76 years of age and is survived by a wife and five children. [The Springdale News 5/25/1906]

Mr. Rufus Seay, one of the oldest and most highly respected citizens of the Dutch Mills vicinity, died suddenly Monday at 12:30 o’clock. Last Friday Mr. Seay had a congestive chill, but had improved and his death Monday came as a surprise. Mr. Seay was 76 years of age, and the greater part of his life had been spent in the neighborhood where he died. He was a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows Lodges, and was held in high esteem by those who knew him. He is survived by his wife and five children, Mrs. Thomas Edmiston, who lives in California, and Mrs. Al Ewing, Mrs. Al Chandler, Ostell Ewing and Obe Seay of Dutch Mills. The remains were buried Tuesday in the Dutch Mills cemetery. [Prairie Grove Herald 5/17/1906]

In Memoriam - :Thou shalt go to thy father in peace: Thou shalt be buried in a good old age.”

It is with sadness we pen this tribute to the memory of one of our beloved dead. At the noontide of May 14, 1906, the angel of death came and released from toil and suffering Brother Rufus Seay. He had lived to a ripe old age, the exact year of his birth not being known on account of the family record having been destroyed during his early life. He was somewhere near 76 years old. Shortly after the war he was married to Miss Jennie Kimbrough and seven children blessed their union, five of whom are living. Uncle Rufe was a good friend, a kind neighbor and a loving husband and father. He was true to his country and faithful to his Lodge, having been a Mason some fifty years. As such we will ever remember him and assure Mrs. Seay that we will ever assist her and regard her as our sister and we pray that we may so live that when death comes to us we may be ready and all meet in that Celestial City where all is joy. His remains were tenderly and carefully laid to rest in the Dutch Mills cemetery by his brethren of the Masonic Order. Whereas, it has pleased God in His infinite wisdom to call from the walks of men, by the angel of death, our beloved Brother, Rufus Seay, to a nobler and brighter world than this, therefore be it. Resolved, That we of the brotherhood of the Masonic fraternity of the Dutch Mills Lodge extend to the heart broken wife and children our sympathy and condolence in their sad bereavement, commending them to Him whose grace is sufficient in all hours of need, and a copy of this memorial be sent to them. Resolved further, That this brotherhood wear the usual badge of mourning and that a copy of these resolutions be published in the Prairie Grove Herald and a copy be spread in the minutes. (Signed) J.A. English, M.B. McCarty, J.R. Weber - Committee [Prairie Grove Herald 5/31/1906]

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1850 Census of Northwest Arkansas:

Washington Counties - Bobbie Jones McLane and Desmond Walls Allen

Cane Hill Township

SEAY, Allen 60, Rufus 18, Columbus 16, Sarah

14, Joseph 12, Mary 10, Nancy 7, Rebecca

5 VA/AR dwg 59, Cane Hill twp